Heating and Cooling Your Home Using the Earth’s Largest Resource

April 24, 2015

Heating And Cooling With Geothermal Heating Your home is sitting right on top of a huge, relatively untapped source of heat. Just a few feet past the foundation is a renewable energy resource in the form of heat that is naturally abundant under the ground. This heat generated from the earth, or geothermal, can be harnessed and used as a natural way to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. What Is Geothermal Heating? Deep inside the earth, temperatures soar to over 9,000 degrees. This heat rises to the surface and is stored in between pockets of rock below the surface of the ground. Water is a great conductor of this heat as can be seen with naturally occurring hot springs and geysers and can also be used to help bring that heat up and straight into your living room. Since the heat is always being generated, this is a naturally renewable form of heat that can be harnessed and used as a home heating source. To accomplish this, an experienced HVAC company would install a geothermal heat pump for your home. Using long pipes that are buried below the frost line, a mixture of water and...

View Article

Read More

Revolutionizing Energy Efficiency: The Role of HVAC Systems in Commercial Buildings

April 22, 2015

The overall energy use has come down thanks to the use of more energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. In the last 25 years, the energy intensity of buildings has decreased by over 40 percent. During the five year period from 2007 to 2012, the energy demand in commercial buildings has come down by about 6.4 percent, according to a study published in Bloomberg New Energy Finance. According to HVAC experts, the decrease in energy consumption in commercial buildings can largely be attributed to the new, more energy-efficient construction, and use of new technology in old buildings including up gradation of HVAC systems. A surprising fact about today’s energy consumption scenario in commercial establishments is that even though the number of electronic devices being employed has gone up substantially, the overall energy use has come down thanks to the use of more energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. However, this does not mean that there is no scope of any further improvement. Building owners and facility managers can still take some measures to improve energy efficiency, and further, bring down utility bills. According to Energy Star, the largest operating expense in any commercial establishment is that of energy use. Apart from the economic impact of energy use, the environmental impact is also huge. Commercial...

View Article

Read More

What Can Cause an Air Conditioner to Blow Warm Air?

April 9, 2015

Is your air conditioner heating up your home instead of cooling it? There are numerous instances when homeowners find that their air conditioning unit is heating the house up instead of cooling it. Although this is an issue that needs urgent attention, it does not automatically indicate a major problem in the air conditioning unit. Check the Thermostat Settings Hot air blown by an air conditioning unit can be linked to problems with the thermostat. In some cases, the problem can be quite complicated such as the failure of communication between the air conditioner and thermostat, and it can be resolved only by an HVAC technician. However, if the thermostat is not set properly, it too can cause the air conditioner to blow warm air. It is necessary that the thermostat is on COOL mode and not on HEAT mode. The fan setting should also be in AUTO mode instead of ON. Although a homeowner may recall setting the thermostat properly, it is possible that another occupant of the house would have changed the setting. It is also possible that the settings would have reset to its default factory setting after power is cut off during a storm. The Outdoor Unit Should Be Connected Properly A disconnect switch is sometimes found...

View Article

Read More

Maintaining Clean Air Ducts

April 2, 2015

Pollutants can accumulate inside your home’s air ducts, reducing the indoor air quality of your home. Most residential and commercial structures are built with integrated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC ducts. Fresh and stale air does not normally circulate together through these ducts. This will result in the accumulation of pollutants inside the air ducts and will lower the indoor air quality of the building. Those who suffer from respiratory ailments may experience aggravated symptoms from the pollutants. Maintaining Healthy Indoor Air Pollutants in the air ducts can be minimized or eliminated if the HVAC ducts are cleaned, resulting in a healthy environment inside the house. However, it is also possible that the air ducts will be damaged if they are cleaned too often. A regular cleaning schedule should be established. Although numerous recommendations are available for cleaning the ductwork, it is important to hire a St. Louis HVAC company to clean them properly. Aside from an improvement in air quality when the duct is clean, rodents will be also kept away. How to Clean Air Ducts A number of modifications have made in industry standards as well as duct cleaning methods over a number of years. The cleaning quality has improved with the developments...

View Article

Read More

How to Fix a Noisy Air Conditioner

March 30, 2015

An air conditioner makes your living space comfortable; however, if your air conditioner makes too much noise, it becomes a source of irritation. Has your air conditioner always been this loud or has it recently started making a lot of noise? If the noise has started recently, then the problem may be mechanical and you should get the unit inspected to locate the defect or the source of the noise. Using a Soundproofing Blanket Central air conditioners have an outdoor compressor and condenser unit which has moving parts that may become noisy with time. The most effective way to reduce noise for an outdoor unit is to install a soundproofing blanket on the compressor. Compressors generally have an internal cooling system and hence the problem of overheating due to soundproofing may not arise. However, first, check with the unit’s manufacturer regarding any warranty violations due to the use of a soundproofing blanket. Anti-Vibration Pads The noise of an outdoor unit can also be because of excessive vibrations. This can be resolved using anti-vibration pads. These are inexpensive rubber pads that can be installed under the feet of the compressor – they dampen the vibrations and decrease the noise levels. Another option is to install a ‘soft start’ controller...

View Article

Read More

How an Air Conditioning System Improves Indoor Air Quality

March 26, 2015

The role of an air conditioning system is not limited to circulating cool air inside a house. The latest air conditioning systems, particularly high-efficiency systems, also help control the indoor air quality in a house. Indoor air quality combines clean air with temperature, odor, and humidity control. Indoor air quality is significant to the well-being, health, and finances of a homeowner. The following suggestions will help you to maintain fresh, clean, and healthy indoor air inside your home. Replace Air Filters Every Three Months Filters prevent pollen, dust, spores, and other pollutants from entering the house. Replacing the filter is necessary since dirty filters reduce airflow, which affects the efficiency of the system and increases the operating expenses of the system. Dirty filters may also result in overheating of the system along with other issues that can permanently damage the system. Verify the recommendation of the original equipment manufacturer for proper scheduling. Install a System with a High SEER Rating To ensure good air quality inside the house, a longer air circulation period is required to allow air to continuously flow through the filter. High efficiency systems use low power at extended periods of time. They also ensure continuous air flow inside the house while enhancing both...

View Article

Read More

Hot and Cold Spots Inside the Home – Diagnose & Repair

March 14, 2015

A very simple fix to your temperature problem. Every home has that room that can never quite reach the same temperature as the rest of the house. Usually it is a bedroom, one of the most important rooms in the house. Either too chilly in the winter or too hot in the summer and the reason why is perplexing to the homeowner. Avoid putting up with it and ask your local St. Louis HVAC company for help. As part of the installation process of your home’s heating and cooling system, an HVAC technician performed what is known as a heating load calculation. Room size and layout is measured to determine how strong of a furnace and A/C system is needed along with the duct size, fan capacity, and register placements. This is supposed to ensure that all of the rooms in the home are being heated and cooled evenly. Inspecting the Home The first thing your HVAC technician will check is the register in the room for airflow. With a flow hood (air volume reader), they can compare the amount of air that is coming out of the register to those in the rest of the house. If found to...

View Article

Read More

Understanding “Green” Home Heating and Cooling

March 6, 2015

Approximately 50 percent of total energy consumption can be attributed to heating and cooling. Using an HVAC system to regulate household temperature can cost you a lot both in terms of energy bills and the carbon footprint. There are some green techniques that can help reduce your power consumption by about 20 percent. We will provide a glossary of heating and cooling terms that will help you better understand ways to go eco-friendly. Air sealing: Treating a house to prevent leakage of internal and external air. Ceiling fan: It can replace or supplement air conditioning and can help circulate heated air in the winter. Energy audit: Inspection by a professional HVAC company to measure the energy efficiency of the house and suggested improvements. Energy efficient appliances: Using appliances such as air conditioners and furnaces that have relatively low energy consumption. Energy star: A certification issued by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency that indicates the energy efficiency. Evaporative cooler: It uses the process of evaporation to cool air inside a house. It is suitable for dry climates and may work better than air conditioners in such areas. Geothermal: Thermal energy generated and stored in the earth that can be tapped to...

View Article

Read More

Selecting a New Furnace for Your Home

February 19, 2015

Purchasing a new furnace should be based on energy efficiency and price. The energy efficiency of new furnaces available in the market is forty percent better compared to that of old furnaces. Energy efficient furnaces can cover their own expenses within a few years and helps homeowners save money. Understanding Energy Efficiency The fuel utilization efficiency rating is the first thing to check as it shows the percentage of fuel converted into heat. Ratings of modern furnaces are between 78 percent and 96 percent. The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and the Energy Star label should also be checked. These require an efficiency of at least 90 percent. It allows homeowners to become eligible for a tax credit of at least $1,500 up to around 30 percent of the price and installation cost of the furnace. Additional rebates may also be available for CEE-approved models. Increasing Efficiency of Furnaces Furnaces with an efficiency rating of over 90 percent are capable of condensing and reusing water vapor, allowing them to save fuel. Energy can also be saved by using variable speed fan motors. These upgrades can make a furnace quite expensive, so they are practical only when the furnace is used in exceptionally cold...

View Article

Read More

Importance of Keeping Your Home Properly Heated

February 17, 2015

A cold temperature inside the house can be detrimental to your health. Having to deal with harsh winters here in St. Louis can be unpleasant at times and one should be able to come home to an inviting, warm, cozy atmosphere after a long day’s work. A chilly, under-heated house is quite unwelcoming and can be easily avoided if correct measures are taken. Keeping your temperatures set at the right range of desired comfort all year round can go a long way while inefficient heating systems and inadequate insulation can leave the home under-heated. According to the World Health Organization, the ideal indoor temperature during winters should be set no lower than 64 degrees Fahrenheit and topped out around 70 degrees for homes with young and elderly ones. Here we’ll explain the importance of keeping your home properly heated from a health standpoint. Health & Safety Any moisture inside the house condenses in the winter due to low temperatures which leads to further dampness and mold formation. Mold causes complications and further aggravates individuals suffering from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Installation of extractor fans in the kitchen and bathrooms to vent the stale and humid air outside of the...

View Article

Read More