Poor Outdoor Air? Prepare With Indoor Air Quality Products

April 8, 2024

Dealing With Poor Outdoor Air: Use Air Quality Products to Improve Indoor Air Quality While it’s nice to open your windows and doors and allow fresh air to come inside your St. Louis, MO, home, there are times when outdoor air quality isn’t healthy. This can be because of things like pollution, smoke and pollen. For people who are extremely sensitive and suffer from allergies or asthma, it may be a better idea to keep windows and doors closed and remain indoors. Unfortunately, many homes experience poor indoor air quality as well. This creates a confusing situation that makes you wonder if you should be inside or outside. The solution is to utilize your HVAC system along with indoor air quality products to mitigate any indoor air quality issues. Air Filters As a very affordable and simple method of keeping your indoor air free of pollutants and allergens, it’s recommended that you replace the filter in your HVAC system once every 30 to 90 days. The exact frequency will depend on the filter that you’re using as well as how frequently you run your furnace or air conditioner. Not only does this filter help you maintain healthy indoor air, but...

View Article

Read More

Signs Your HVAC Air Compressor Is Failing

April 2, 2024

Signs Your HVAC Air Compressor Is Failing An air compressor is an integral component in every air conditioner and heat pump in St. Louis, MO. Heat pumps and ACs work by transferring heat energy from one medium to another. When running your AC to cool your home, it transfers the heat energy inside it to the ambient air outdoors. This is possible through refrigerant, which can absorb heat energy and facilitate transitions between liquid and gas. The role of the compressor is to pressurize the refrigerant. As it does, the refrigerant temperature rises. That prepares the refrigerant for the condenser, which then moves the heat energy to the ambient air. There’s a lot that can go wrong with a compressor, so let’s explore the indications that something has occurred. 1. Rising Electricity Costs A spike in your electricity consumption during the cooling season is one of the first signs that your compressor is failing. It can indicate other HVAC problems as well. This is why we encourage homeowners to track their energy usage on a month-to-month and year-to-year basis. If you experience a sudden spike when running your air, call a technician. The compressor is one of the primary power...

View Article

Read More

What Color Should My Furnace Flame Be?

March 16, 2024

What Color Should My Furnace Flame Be? If you have a commercial property in the St. Louis area, you need a way to keep it warm. This is not just a matter of keeping things comfortable: Low temperatures can damage your property. Cool weather can cause condensation, and the moisture that accumulates can cause mold and water damage over time. When it gets even colder, you could have water freeze in your pipes, which may cause them to burst. Some businesses also need to protect delicate tools or temperature-sensitive materials from cold weather to keep them from damage. Those factors mean that you need to invest in a furnace to protect your property and keep your business operating normally when it gets cold. You also need to make sure the new furnace is the right size for your property. A furnace that is too small will not be able to keep your business warm, but one that is too big will be inefficient. There are five big factors that you should keep in mind when deciding which size you need. 1. Start With Basic Rules of Thumb The size of your property will provide a good starting point for estimating...

View Article

Read More

Why You Should Upgrade Your AC Before Summer

March 2, 2024

The Benefits of Upgrading Your AC Before Summertime When the time comes to replace your AC, the experts recommend a proactive approach. While you can certainly install an AC in summer, it usually isn’t the best time. Installing it in spring or even fall will save you money and inconvenience. With that in mind, let’s explore the many reasons HVAC experts advise not waiting until the warmer months. Peace of Mind Having your new HVAC system in place before summer arrives gives you peace of mind. You can now invite family and friends over and know they’ll be comfortable. You won’t have to worry about something going wrong while they’re here. You’ll also have a new warranty to protect you. A new warranty ensures your AC is free of defects for many years to come. More Time to Research Time to make a decision is an oft-overlooked advantage of a proactive approach. Many homeowners who replace their ACs in summer experience a time crunch. Either you need to replace a failed AC now or your scheduling options are pressuring you. This means that you have to decide on a big investment in a very short period. When you decide in...

View Article

Read More

Why Is My Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air?

February 15, 2024

Why Is My Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air? With the cooler temperatures experienced during the winter, your heat pump should be able to provide reliable warmth all through the season. However, circumstances may lead to your heating pump blowing cold air while it’s in heat mode. This can be unpleasant and make your home uncomfortable during the winter. There are various factors why your heat pump isn’t working; the problems can need simple or complex fixes that require a professional to handle. Below are some various reasons why your heat pump is blowing cold air. Your Heat Pump Is in Defrost Mode A heat pump can generate warm and cold air during different stages of compression and condensation. During the winter, a drop in the outside temperature could lead to freezing of your pump’s outdoor unit. The defrost mode enables the system to thaw the ice from the outdoor unit. This mechanism allows the system to direct the hot air toward the outdoor unit to melt any accumulated ice that would damage the system if manually removed. Since the defrost mode works like the cooling mode, the system will likely blow cold air inside your home. Once all the ice...

View Article

Read More

6 Most Common Commercial HVAC Repairs

February 12, 2024

6 Most Common Commercial HVAC Repairs Running a commercial property or business is a lot of work, so the last problem you want to deal with is your heating and cooling system. When it’s operating well, the HVAC system is an excellent feat of engineering. But when an HVAC system is inoperable, it can be a source of frustration for you and the occupants. Workers cannot operate optimally when subjected to too cold or hot weather conditions. No one plans for HVAC breakdowns, but when the system fails, is ready to repair with dependable, speedy service. Our courteous and trained electricians can troubleshoot the problems and restore comfort in your commercial property. Let’s dive and explore common commercial HVAC repairs. 1. Malfunctioning Thermostat Repair A thermostat is like the engine oil of the HVAC system. It communicates about your commercial heating and cooling needs, with its components telling HVAC what to do. Several factors, such as faulty furnace switch, wrong programming, or installation, can cause thermostat malfunction. A wrongly installed thermostat can sense the inaccuracy of the commercial setup needs. For example, a thermostat placed directly below or above a register will shut prematurely as it will sense the room...

View Article

Read More

6 Reasons To Schedule a Home Performance Audit

February 6, 2024

6 Reasons Why You Should Schedule a Home Performance Audit A home performance audit, commonly known as an energy audit, is a professional and comprehensive assessment of your home’s energy efficiency. The energy auditor will use advanced tools and technology to perform a series of tests and evaluate how well your home performs according to current energy efficiency standards. The audit will reveal inefficiencies and problem areas, including poor ventilation, damaged HVAC ductwork, and ineffective insulation. Our certified energy efficiency specialists at will work with you to create an action plan addressing these issues. The many benefits of accurately identifying problems and implementing effective corrective measures are more than enough reasons to schedule a home performance audit. 1. Lower Your Utility Bills The cost-saving potential is the leading reason most homeowners schedule home performance audits. The energy auditor looks at all the possible ways your household is wasting energy and, in the process, losing money because you have to pay higher utility bills. Implementing the recommended strategies for minimizing and even eliminating energy waste in your home will slash your electricity expenditure. Depending on the number and extent of the energy inefficiencies identified and addressed, you can significantly reduce your...

View Article

Read More

Year-Round Benefits of an Energy Recovery Ventilation System

January 25, 2024

Year-Round Benefits of an Energy Recovery Ventilation System With allergens and breathing issues on the rise, indoor air quality is more important than ever. Instead of constantly battling the heat or cold, your home can maintain the proper humidity levels with the installation of one product known as an energy recovery ventilation system. Often referred to as an ERV system by professionals, these impressive machines work all year round to improve the air quality and moisture in your home. Before hiring a company to install the system, learn how these systems actually work for your home and the benefits they can provide through every season. Dry Weather Winter Benefits in St. Louis, MO A long winter can bring a lot of dry weather outdoors, and that dry air can easily transition into your home. An ERV system will typically get installed in an attic crawl space. If your home does not have an attic space, then an area like a deep closet or basement will provide an ideal installation spot for the ERV system. While the system works two ways, in the winter, the main goal is to deliver a little moisture into the house and eliminate the need for...

View Article

Read More

How to Choose Between Central AC and Mini-Split AC

January 18, 2024

How to Choose Between Central AC and Mini-Split AC Systems If you’re considering installing an air conditioning system in your St. Louis, MO, home, your choice will likely come down to one of two types of systems. One is a central air conditioning system, and the other is a mini-split AC system. Each comes with specific advantages as well as specific drawbacks. That often makes choosing between them quite difficult. To help, here is everything you need to know about central AC and mini-split AC systems and how to choose the right option for your home. The Advantages of Central AC Here in St. Louis, just like in the rest of the US, central AC systems are the most common type of air conditioning equipment in homes. At last count, approximately two-thirds of American homes had a central AC or central heat pump installed. That isn’t an accident. It began in the post-World War II period, as builders began preinstalling ductwork in new homes to support central HVAC equipment. Central AC’s popularity in the US happened because it offered an efficient way to cool an entire home that was compatible with a central heating system like a gas-fired furnace. In...

View Article

Read More

Is It an Emergency? Understanding HVAC Urgency

January 1, 2024

Is It an Emergency? Understanding HVAC Urgency Having problems with your HVAC system is a major cause of stress for most people. Adding to that stress is trying to determine whether the issue you’re having constitutes an emergency or not. After all, no one wants to pay the after-hours or priority pricing for emergency calls. In the world of HVAC, certain situations will always constitute an emergency because of the safety risks the issues pose. However, there are other situations that may pose an emergency for some households but not for others. Use this guide to unravel the complexity of HVAC emergencies and when it’s worth paying for emergency service. Specific Smells When your HVAC system is running well, it shouldn’t produce an odor or smell. There are three types of smells that indicate specific problems and should cause immediate concern and a call for repairs. These include odors like rotten eggs, strong chemicals, and burning. Here’s why each is concerning. Rotten Eggs Most people recognize the notorious rotten eggs smell that’s added to natural gas to alert people to a leak. Anyone with gas running to their house should pay particular attention if they encounter this smell. Do not...

View Article

Read More