Air-to-Water Heat Pumps: Efficient Heating and Cooling for Missouri Winters

February 1, 2025

An air-to-water heat pump is an efficient heating and cooling option that is available for homeowners in the St. Louis, MO area. In the winter months, there is the potential to save money on your monthly heating bills while also maintaining optimal indoor comfort and indoor air quality. What Is an Air-to-Water Heat Pump? An air-to-water heat pump is a central heating system that uses heat from the outside to heat the inside of your home. You may be wondering how this is possible since it tends to be cold outside during the Missouri winter. Many heat pumps work efficiently at freezing temperatures. Using heat transfer technology, an air-to-water heat pump transfers heat from the outside air through a series of radiators and ducts. Some homes decide to use multiple methods of distributing heat to achieve consistent indoor comfort. In the summer months, you can use an air-to-water heat pump to cool your home as well. Cooled water moves through the system’s pipes using the process of refrigeration. You may need to make some adjustments to your setup based on your home’s design, such as insulating your pipework or monitoring for excess condensation. In addition, since radiators and radiant flooring...

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Using Smart Air Vents and Registers for Efficiency and Comfort

January 17, 2025

A new technological advancement in the HVAC industry is smart air vents and registers. This equipment allows homeowners to have more control over the efficiency and comfort of their home. Whether you’re using your heating or cooling equipment, these smart air vents and registers use automation, sensors, and a smart thermostat to control the airflow to specific rooms in your St. Louis, MO, home. Let’s take a more in-depth look at smart air vents and registers to understand how they work and how they can benefit your home. How Do Smart Air Vents and Registers Work? Using sensors, smart vents and registers can detect the amount of fresh air in a room and the temperature of the air in the room. They will then open and close based on this information. This helps keep your home at a more consistent temperature, promotes healthy indoor air quality, reduces unnecessary HVAC use, and conserves energy. This is a replacement for the traditional vent covers that you already have in your home. They come in different colors and styles, allowing you to match the overall appearance of your residence. There are motors and louvers in each of these vents and registers. This is...

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VRF vs. Traditional HVAC: Which Is Best for St. Louis Homes

January 10, 2025

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are essential for providing a comfortable living environment in St. Louis homes. However, as with any industry, the competition among manufacturers and the drive to sustainable living, various options and styles are available, each with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. If you are contemplating replacing or upgrading your current system, consider a VRF or a modern traditional HVAC system based on the factors presented below. Understanding Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems Almost all HVAC systems (except gas furnaces) use a chemical compound known as refrigerant. Its job is essentially to transfer heat from one area to another. For instance, when an HVAC system is in cooling mode, the refrigerant will absorb heat from the indoor air as the air passes through the evaporator coils. The refrigerant then releases the air outside via the condenser coils. VRF systems are designed to efficiently regulate refrigerant flow to match the heating and cooling demands of different areas within a home. As a result, it enables household members to manage the temperature of each room independently. How They Work VRF systems have one outdoor unit and several indoor units. The outdoor unit has a unique type of...

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A Homeowner’s Guide to Modern AC Inverter Technology

January 3, 2025

There’s no doubt that the HVAC industry is a constantly evolving one. From enhancing energy efficiency to developing better refrigerants, there are many innovations made each year. One that homeowners should understand is inverter technology with respect to new residential air conditioning systems. The Problem With Traditional AC Units Traditional air conditioning units have two operation levels: full blast and off. Whenever the ambient temperature rises above your thermostat setting, your AC unit will kick on full blast and run until your indoor temperature gets back down to the setting on your thermostat. Running at 100% operating capability can be a bit noisy and also will create more uncomfortable interior temperature fluctuations. For example, you may feel overly hot at one moment and overly cold 10 minutes later. The Solution Is Inverter Technology Inverter technology essentially allows your air conditioning system to operate at varying capacities, depending on your specific needs at the time. Instead of running at full blast, shutting off, and repeating the process all day long, inverter technology works much differently. An air conditioning system that uses inverter technology will run continuously, varying its operating capacity as needed. This will allow it to better maintain your indoor...

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Is Geothermal Heating More Energy Efficient?

December 17, 2024

Geothermal energy has become a very sustainable source of energy for homes across the St. Louis, MO area and beyond. By using the natural heat from the earth, we can efficiently heat and cool your residence. However, before choosing to install such a system, you should know a little more about it. Let’s look at the basics of geothermal energy, including whether it is more energy efficient than other options. What Is Geothermal Heating? A geothermal heating system can utilize heat from the earth to warm your home. It can even be used for electricity generation in different systems. Not only is this an efficient option for heating, but it can also reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment. Heat is extracted from the earth and transferred to your home through a system of underground pipes and a geothermal heat pump. The heat pump functions as the furnace in your home. Some homes also have a backup furnace installed for times of the year when the temperature outside makes it less efficient to use geothermal technology. Considering the Efficiency of Geothermal Heating Most homes will find it more efficient to use geothermal heating. When you run a traditional furnace...

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What Does a Commercial HVAC Air Handler Do?

December 12, 2024

Commercial HVAC air handlers play an essential role in creating comfortable and efficient environments in large buildings. These units are central to the ventilation system, ensuring proper air circulation while contributing to temperature control, humidity regulation, and indoor air quality. Understanding how air handlers operate helps business owners understand their importance within an HVAC system. Whether managing an office, retail space, or industrial facility, air handlers are indispensable for maintaining a healthy and productive environment. How Commercial Air Handlers Operate Commercial air handlers are designed to manage airflow efficiently and ensure consistent indoor conditions. They draw air from the building’s interior or the outdoor environment. Upon entry, the air passes through filters that trap dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants. These filters play a crucial role, especially in commercial settings, where air quality impacts employee health, customer satisfaction, and compliance with indoor air standards. Filters also prevent dirt and debris from harming the HVAC system’s internal components. Once filtered, the air is heated or cooled to meet the building’s needs. In many systems, this process involves passing air over heating or cooling coils, which are connected to the broader HVAC system. However, not all HVAC systems rely on coils for...

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Is Residential HVAC Actually That Different From Commercial?

December 3, 2024

The purpose of residential and commercial HVAC is the same: to keep you comfortable no matter where you are in your home or office, regardless of the season. While the systems share the same primary goal, they differ due to their sizes, parts, engineering, and other factors. It’s essential to understand the differences between the two systems so you are more informed. The Key Differences Between Residential and Commercial HVAC Systems Complexity and Structure Residential and commercial HVAC systems are incredibly different when it comes to complexity and structure. Residential systems are more focused on heating and cooling residential properties of lower square footage than commercial structures. Commercial HVAC units need to provide comfort for much larger spaces. Typical residential systems are single units that provide both heating and cooling. Commercial systems also must be more flexible depending on the establishment, business type, how many customers enter and exit the building, the number of employees, and whether the system is intended to be used consistently. This equipment usually has several sub-systems for zone temperature control in different spaces throughout the commercial structure. As a result, the sheer complexity of commercial systems regarding the number of components and flexibility is greater,...

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Reduce Your Carbon Footprint With Programmable Thermostats

November 19, 2024

Reducing your carbon footprint is vital for environmental preservation and energy savings. In St. Louis, MO, homeowners can make a significant impact by focusing on energy-efficient solutions within their homes. A key area to explore is your heating and cooling system, as it represents a major part of your energy consumption. One of the most effective and accessible upgrades is the installation of a programmable or smart thermostat. Let’s discuss the ways programmable thermostats can reduce your carbon footprint and help you save on energy costs. Adjusting Your Thermostat to Fit Your Schedule Older thermostats often require manual adjustments, which can lead to inefficient energy use when you forget to change the settings. In contrast, smart thermostats allow you to automate these changes based on your schedule. For example, you can set the temperature to rise or fall while you’re at work or asleep, and this will make certain that your HVAC system isn’t running when it’s not needed. By programming the thermostat, you don’t have to sacrifice comfort. You can ensure your home is cool or warm when you need it most, such as during the hours you’re home from work. This automation reduces the need for constant manual...

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Why Is My House So Dry?

November 12, 2024

Dry indoor air can cause all kinds of problems, such as dry skin, headaches, sinus discomfort, and more. It can even lead to breathing difficulties. If you want to make your house a more comfortable place to live, it helps you to know what’s causing the dry air. Many variables affect how dry the air inside your home may be, including changes in the weather and structural problems. Cold Winter Weather Cold winter weather is a major contributor to dry air in houses, especially in areas like St. Louis, MO. The air’s relative humidity drops as temperatures fall. This is because cold air can’t hold as much moisture as warm air. The lower the temperature, the less humidity in the air. A lot of people experience uncomfortable dryness, including skin cracking and nasal dryness, because of the reduced moisture. Central Heating Systems Central heating systems are great for keeping the house warm, but they can also cause the air to become dry. When these systems are operational, they dry out the air by heating it and lowering its relative humidity. Central heating can reduce interior humidity levels by 20%, according to research from the National Center for Biotechnology. One solution...

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What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and What Are Its Signs?

November 5, 2024

Many homeowners rely on a heating system that burns fuel to create heat during winter. Because all these fuel-burning heating systems rely on combustion to produce heat, they all create toxic exhaust fumes. While these fumes are generally vented through a chimney to the outdoors, sometimes a system malfunction can happen that allows them to back up inside your home. Here is what carbon monoxide poisoning is and the signs you inhaled too much of it. What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Carbon monoxide is an odorless and toxic fume that can be created from the combustion process of a household heating system. This flammable and poisonous gas comprises one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. When carbon monoxide is inhaled by the body, it can be poisonous, and in high amounts, it can even be fatal. This is because carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood. This binding prevents the body from carrying oxygen to all your vital organs. Without adequate oxygen to your organs and brain, your body will experience a wide variety of symptoms. What Are Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms? It’s important to note that the symptoms a person experiences will highly...

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