St. Louis Heating: Do Tankless Water Heaters Really Save Money?

February 28, 2018

Since a tankless water heater instantly heats the water, you don’t have to pay when it isn’t being used. The standard way to heat water in your home was to have a water heating tank. It was designed to hold a reserve of heated water, so that the water was ready when you needed it. The tank varied in size to accommodate the size of your home and the people in it, but the idea was that it would hold water in a reservoir until someone used it. A water tank is perpetually heating, even when not in use. So, the water in the tank is constantly being heated – kind of like it’s “waiting in the wings.” All the while, the water tank cost money to heat water that was just waiting to be used at some point. The tank was a great idea – after all, everyone likes hot water. But to keep it stored in a tank that’s continually being heated sounds like a whole lot of wasted energy – and with reason, because it is. Like leaving lights or heat on waiting for someone to come home, traditional hot water heaters work when they really don’t...

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The Best Temperature for Your Home – What Does a Few Degrees Really Mean?

February 22, 2018

Keeping a constant and comfortable temperature in your home can make a significant difference to your monthly energy bill. When it comes to heating and cooling, you might think that a couple of degrees on your thermostat can’t possibly make a significant dent in your monthly budget, but it really does. From keeping things warm in the winter to cooling it down when the weather starts heating up, varying your home temperature is a good idea. Keeping a constant and comfortable temperature in your home can make a significant difference to your monthly energy bill. The Key to Setting the Thermostat The key to setting your thermostat isn’t about keeping it at the lowest or highest degree possible, but more about trying to keep in tune with what conditions are outside to even things out. Much like the stock market, it isn’t about being on the right side of the highs and lows. Rather, it is about knowing where the highs and lows are and anticipating them so that you aren’t trying to either catch up or lower things too much. A happy medium is reached when you can keep a consistent and steady temperature that won’t make your units...

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Should You Hire an HVAC Technician for Maintenance or Do it Yourself?

February 19, 2018

Sometimes when you try to save money, you end up spending a whole lot more. There are some things that you can do around your home yourself – but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. If you are wondering whether you should have a professional HVAC technician perform maintenance or work on it your self, in most instances the answer is “hire a professional.” The longevity of your HVAC appliances is directly related to how well you protect them and notice any early signs of trouble before they can become more serious. So, although it is possible for you to do a quick check of your furnace and air conditioner, it is well worth the maintenance cost to have someone else monitor them. Why is Regular Maintenance a Good Idea? There is nothing more frustrating than a late-night or emergency repair call for your HVAC system. The best way to make sure that everything is running in tip-top shape is to have a professional inspect and maintain it to ensure that it is working as it should. Just because you might know the general maintenance routine, that does not mean that you know how to spot if something is...

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Remote Thermostats – More than Just the “Coolness” Factor

February 15, 2018

“Smart home” apps allow you to change your thermostat when you aren’t home and turn it back up before you return. One of the newest crazes in the technology industry are remote apps that can alter the temperature of your home. “Smart home” apps allow you to change your thermostat when you aren’t home and turn it back up when you know that you are about to return. That means that it is a bit more convenient than a manual programming system, because it allows you to move the temperature up and down without ever having to touch the thermostat. “Smart” Thermostats Varying the temperature so that you aren’t heating and cooling a home that no one is occupying is a really smart idea – both for your monthly energy bill and to reduce wear and tear on your appliances. It’s not just about showing off your cool technology, remote thermostats are an excellent way to save on energy costs and to control your temperature when you aren’t home. Smart thermostats are ideal for someone who either isn’t around all day or who travels for work. If you get a full-home monitoring system, then you can not only control the...

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Tired of Winter Heating Costs? There’s Still Time To Catch Up

February 11, 2018

Try these tips to prevent damage, to lower your energy bills, and to improve the air quality of your home. Even though winter is nearly over, there is still time to save a significant amount on energy costs by winterizing your home. As the cold weather continues, it is important for you to keep your heat pump or furnace in peak condition. Since you are putting your furnace under some wear and tear, maintaining it appropriately is essential to extending its life and to help keep costs low. If you left your air conditioner naked, make sure to cover it up to protect it from ice and snow. An inexpensive air conditioner cover is all you need to keep it running tip-top for the first hot spring day. Doors and Windows One of the biggest places that you are losing heat is probably in the leaks and cracks around your doors and windows. A great do-it-yourself fix can cut your energy costs significantly. Using weather stripping or caulk are both great ways to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Whether you use silicone or latex caulk, you can make sure to stop cold drafts and put...

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Pros and Cons of Portable Air-Conditioning Units

February 5, 2018

If you are considering using a portable air-conditioning unit, there are both pros and cons. Summer might seem like a long way away, but it will be here before you know it. If your air conditioner was on its way out last year, don’t wait for the first hot spring day to run out and make a hasty decision about what to put in your home. If you are considering using a portable air-conditioning unit, there are both pros and cons. Whether it is right for you depends on if you find more “pros” than “cons” in the comparison. What are Your Options? There are times when central air simply is out of the question and you need to find an alternative. There are various versions of portable air conditioners, or mini split air conditioners, to use, and they can be an excellent option for places like condos or other dwellings that prohibit the use of window units. Portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room and are typically much smaller. A great choice to cool small spaces, you can choose from either the refrigerative type or the evaporative type, depending on the conditions of your home. Refrigerative...

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Should You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned Now or Wait Until Spring?

January 30, 2018

It will not only help to decrease your monthly heating costs, but it will also increase your indoor air quality. As the cold weather persists, doors and windows in your home are continually closed up. That means that you have the same dirt and dust repeatedly circulating and trapping in all the viruses, allergens, and toxins in your home. If you haven’t had your ducts professionally cleaned, you might not want to wait until springtime to air things out. Duct cleaning is not only important for your family’s health, it can also save on your heating and cooling costs and put less wear and tear on your HVAC system. When you have dust and debris building up in your ductwork, it makes your furnace work harder to push and pull air through the system. That can make your system work overtime and cost you more in energy costs monthly. When your ducts are caked with debris, it takes more energy to move air, which makes you lose all the way around. Having your ductwork cleaned now is an excellent idea to increase the energy efficiency of your home and to not tax your furnace more than is needed through the...

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What Might Be Lurking in Your HVAC System?

January 26, 2018

If you have allergies, bacteria and allergens that are trapped in your system could be one of the causes. When people think of pollution, they typically think about the air quality outside. However, the air quality inside your home typically contains far more toxins than you come into contact with outside. If you haven’t had the air quality of your home checked recently, you might be doing your family a disservice. Often, toxins get trapped into your HVAC system and can wreak havoc on your health – and if you have allergies, it can be causing you a whole lot of unnecessary discomfort. The best way to rid your home of toxins is by having a professional St. Louis HVAC company clean your ductwork and your furnace to make sure that you aren’t unknowingly recirculating toxic air around your home. There are all sorts of viruses, bacteria, and toxins that can get trapped in your system. The most common ones to look for, however, are the ones that can hurt your health the most. Everyday Products The things that you use in your home may contain toxins that you don’t even know about. Everyday cleaners, air fresheners, and detergents can...

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Facts about Fiberglass Insulation that Affect Your Home’s Efficiency

January 22, 2018

Insulation is a cost effective and practical way to make your home energy efficient. When considering the heating and cooling of your home, insulation is often thought of as a way of keeping the hot air in when the temperature dips, but it is also critical to trapping the cool air in when it heats up outside. If you are wondering if fiberglass – the old standby – is the way to go? It may or may not be. When it comes to insulation, fiberglass is usually the best option to keep your energy costs low and your HVAC system working efficiently. Advantages of Fiberglass There are many advantages to fiberglass, beyond the fact that it is both easy to install and relatively inexpensive when compared to the impact it can have on your monthly heating and cooling costs. The best part about fiberglass installation is that you can hire a professional to put in the installation. The other advantages of fiberglass insulation are numerous. It Has a Decent R-Value An R-Value is a measure of how well a material can insulate your home. It measures an insulation product’s ability to stand up to heat flow; the higher the value,...

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What Are the Recommended Thermostat Settings During the Winter Months?

January 19, 2018

As cold weather continues to make its way across the St. Louis area, many people are looking for ways to get a break on their energy bill. As the cold weather lingers, many are wondering whether turning the heat down just a few degrees when you are sleeping or when you leave the house is a good way to keep your energy costs low. As frigid winter weather continues to make its way across the St. Louis area, many homeowners are looking for a way to get a break on their energy bill. But does varying your thermostat really help your budget, or does it do nothing but make you a little colder at night? The truth is that there are both advantages and disadvantages of varying your thermostat temperature. Depending on what your goals are, consider the benefits and drawbacks and make the smartest energy choice for your home. Recommended Thermostat Settings The reason most people leave their thermostat at a constant temperature is because it is easier and it keeps things more comfortable. What most people don’t understand is that keeping a room at a steady temperature isn’t always chosen just to keep things easy. The only time...

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