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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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How Clean Is the Air Inside Your Home?

February 6, 2015

With so much focus on energy efficiency, indoor air quality is at times overlooked. Poor indoor air quality can lead to different types of illness and painful side effects. So how do you find that happy medium where your HVAC system and home are energy efficient, but the air quality is clean? How to Recognize Poor Air Quality in Your Home You can not see the micro-organisms floating around in the air that you breathe, but there are other signs that let you know when they are there: Condensation build-up on the inside of your windows, in the walls, and on appliances and fixtures. Mold growth under sinks or in the bathroom. Heating and cooling equipment that has become overridden with scaling. A sense of stuffiness when you enter your home. Physical Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality All of these signs are pointing to a house that has become rampant with dust and mold spores that are continuously being recycled into your breathing air. Before long, you and your family may begin to feel physical symptoms including: persistent and unexplained headaches frequent sinus infections frequent lung infections like bronchitis or even pneumonia unexplained coughing or difficulty in breathing If it seems as if someone in your home is...

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7 Warning Signs Your Furnace is on the Fritz

January 28, 2015

7 Warning Signs Your Furnace is on the Fritz Check out the following 7 signs that should alert you to the need for a service call before the whole HVAC system breaks down on you. Age of the Furnace The average life expectancy of a furnace is 16 to 20 years. If yours is around that age, consider having a new one installed. Shopping for a new furnace in an emergency situation in the middle of winter may lead you to making a poor decision. Call your local HVAC company to help you decide the right size for your home, and pick one that is going to provide the most comfort efficiently. Utility Bills Are Increasing If your utility bills seem to keep rising without explanation, the furnace may need a tune-up. A poor running furnace is going to suck up resources and cause your bills to skyrocket. If your heater is running longer to provide heat to your home, it is time for an HVAC technician to provide HVAC maintenance. Replacing Parts Have you had to have parts replaced recently in the last couple of years? The last years of a heater’s life can be costly and you will find your HVAC...

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5 Tips to Choosing the Right Furnace

January 22, 2015

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Furnace Is it time to replace the furnace? Make the right decision and invest wisely. Call Scott-Lee Heating to discuss all your heating and cooling needs! Your furnace has a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. When your furnace approaches the end of its life, it can become inefficient and costly to run. A furnace is a significant investment, but it is often a better choice in the long run. Before replacing your current system, consider the following tips to find a furnace suitable for your home. 1. Choosing the Type of System Forced-air furnaces are the most recognizable type of heating system in American households. A packaged HVAC system will often include a gas furnace. The outdoor unit houses the evaporator, condenser, and blower in one enclosure. In packaged systems, a series of tubes called “air ducts” distribute warm air into different rooms in the house. Even though most components are in the outdoor housing, it is controlled mainly from the indoor unit. Packages systems are suitable for homes without the necessary indoor space for a large cabinet. The other type is a split system, which has an indoor and an...

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Eleven Common Issues Affecting HVAC Systems

January 15, 2015

Eleven Common Issues Affecting HVAC Systems An HVAC system may have some problems. A number of these issues can be easily fixed by the homeowner, but for complicated problems, the services of a St. Louis HVAC professional may be required. 1. Busted Fuse Fuses ensure the compressor or motor of the unit does not get overheated. The breaker is the first thing HVAC professionals check when the motor stops functioning. 2. Damaged Contactor Three contractors are present in an HVAC unit, one each for the blower motor, condenser fan motor and compressor. It is important that whenever the system is switched on, an electrical connection is established by engaging and starting the motors and compressor. When pitting and arcing form on the contractor, it may not conduct electricity and will prevent the motor from starting. 3. Capacitors Start capacitors provide a starting torque for the compressor while run capacitors ensure a consistent speed when the unit motors are running. It is necessary to replace the capacitors when one of them becomes damaged to ensure the HVAC unit will function properly. 4. Gas valve The gas valve regulates the flow of gas into the unit through the gas line. Whenever the gas valve is corroded, it is necessary...

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Save Money with Our HVAC System Tips

January 8, 2015

The HVAC system in your house is a critical system for maintaining your family’s comfort. A reliable HVAC system will keep the temperature and humidity inside your house at an optimum level. A fully operational system also means lower energy bills, helping you save money. Importance of Regular HVAC Maintenance When the winter season starts, it is essential that you have the entire HVAC system checked for any defects and damages. It is advisable to call a St. Louis HVAC company to inspect the system so that the performance of the equipment can be checked. This scheduled maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system does not break down for want of repairs during sweltering heat or freezing cold. Replacing the Air Filters The performance and efficiency of the HVAC system reduce with time as dust and dirt accumulate over moving parts and filters. It is, therefore, essential that the air filters are checked and replaced each month that the HVAC system is in use. To save on the costs of filters, some homeowners try to clean and reuse them; however, they are not as effective as new filters and may hinder airflow. Dirty filters increase power consumption as the system has...

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How to Handle the Energy Vampires in Your House

January 2, 2015

Are energy vampires stealing all your hard-earned money? An energy vampire is a device that continues to gobble electricity when not in use, on standby mode, or completely switched off, while being plugged in. This continuous consumption of energy causes wastage and increases your energy bills. Energy conservation is an important thing today as it directly impacts the environment. A recent report has indicated that 32 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States in 2012 were caused by electricity generation. Dependency on Electricity Grows When we compare our household electrical appliances today with those of 50 years ago, we observe that we are much more dependent on them. There is equipment like computers, computer-controlled washing machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and smart-phones, which have made life easier but have certainly contributed to an increase in energy consumption. All these devices continue to use energy even when on standby mode and thus inflate our electricity bills. To get a perspective about energy vampires, an air conditioner in standby mode consumes about 1 watt, whereas a TV consumes a whooping 43 watts when switched off. All this adds up to a large amount of energy wasted by each household. How to Reduce Energy Waste The...

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