Winterizing Your Central Air Conditioning Unit

October 16, 2014

Protect your central air conditioning unit by preparing it for winter. Harsh Missouri winter is almost upon us and it is time to start thinking about switching from using your central air conditioner to your home’s heating system. If you want to make sure that your central air conditioning unit is going to be ready in the spring, make sure that you put it to hibernate for the winter the right way. Preparing the Outside Unit During the winter you are going to want to provide protection for the outside portion of your HVAC unit from the cold, snow, and ice. This will prevent rust formation and breakage from the weight of snow and ice. Call your St. Louis HVAC technician in-between seasons to shut down your home’s cooling system and check that the heating system is ready for the cold. The first thing they will do is switch the air conditioning off at its main breaker. This will prevent it from being turned on inadvertently if there is a particularly warm winter day. Covering the Outside Unit Next, they will hose the unit down and remove any leaves or twigs. Once the outside unit is cleaned, it will be left to completely...

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Prepare Your Home For Cold Weather

October 2, 2014

Use this checklist to ready your home for this year’s winter season. Our St. Louis HVAC experts recommend that homeowners schedule maintenance of the HVAC system before the winter season starts. The following checklist can be used in getting the system ready for the upcoming cold winter season. Inspect the Outdoor Unit Remove any debris surrounding the outdoor coil, including grass, leaves, shrub cuttings, garbage cans and lids, recycling containers, lint traps and outdoor dryers. Remove debris from the air vents and prevent snow from covering it. Clean the coil using a garden hose. Check the service valve caps along with the refrigerant line insulation. Set up a covering on the air conditioning system, if necessary. Inspect Indoor Equipment The indoor air filter should be changed at the start of every season. There are some videos online showing a demonstration on how this can be done. If you are not sure, call your local St. Louis HVAC company. If applicable, the indoor humidity filter should also be changed. The thermostat should be set for heating or reprogrammed for the new season. Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to save a good amount of money. Inspect the connections of the indoor coil drain. Inspect and...

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Does Your Home Need a Whole House Dehumidifier?

October 1, 2014

When you have a family member who suffers from asthma or allergies, you may need to consider ways to improve the air quality inside your home. A house that is suffering from an excessive amount of humidity is not a comfortable environment. Excess humidity can also be dangerous to your health as it breeds mold spores and bacteria that may irritate your lungs. A whole house dehumidifier can reduce the humidity in the air, improve the inside air quality, and reduce the risk of health problems such as asthma and allergies. How Do I Know If My Home Has Too Much Humidity? Many St. Louis residents are living in homes with high humidity and do not even realize it. If you see condensation on the pipes in your kitchen or bathroom, or if you find spots of mold growing, then these may be an indication there is too much moisture in the air in your home. Chances are the mold you do see is just a small portion of what is possibly growing in areas that are hidden from view. Your windows are also another place to check if you are not sure if your home is excessively humid. If you notice condensation on a regular basis...

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Does Your House Need a New HVAC System?

September 18, 2014

Stay warm this winter and save money on energy costs by upgrading your home’s HVAC system. Winters in Missouri can be cold, icy, and frigid. The HVAC system in your home is responsible for keeping your home cozy and warm, however, the HVAC system may be needlessly raising your home’s energy bill by approximately 30% according to energy.gov. If you are in need of a new HVAC system, make sure you install the correct-sized system with the most energy efficiency. You will save money on energy costs as well as ensuring your family is warm through the winter. The Right Sized HVAC System For Your House Talk to a St. Louis HVAC company about choosing the right HVAC system for your home. They will inspect the size of your house to make sure that the one you choose is not too big or too small. An HVAC system that is too large will use excessive energy, causing you to have high utility bills. The HVAC technician will help you find the perfect-sized system that is the most energy-efficient. You will then see savings in your utility bills that may offset the cost of the HVAC system. When to Install a New HVAC System You are also going to want to...

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How to Protect Your Air Conditioner’s Performance

September 11, 2014

Keep your air conditioner performing for another summer season with the following tips. Your air conditioning system keeps you cool in hot weather conditions. It is hard to imagine how one can survive even for a few hours without an air conditioner in hot and humid weather. Air conditioners are designed to keep your home cool even on the hottest of summer days. However, there is a limit on the amount of load the air conditioner can handle. The task of an air conditioner becomes extremely difficult when there is an increase in heat gain. What Is Heat Gain? Heat gain refers to the increase in temperature of an area. There are various factors in the environment and inside homes that can cause heat gain. Sun, heat-producing appliances, poor insulation in a home’s floors, ceilings, attic, and walls can cause heat gain. Heat gain causes the air conditioner to work harder to achieve the thermostat settings, and in turn, results in an increase in utility bills. Worse still, it may affect the performance of the air conditioner, resulting in breakdowns and the need for air conditioner repairs. St. Louis HVAC experts share some ways in which you can reduce the heat gain in your home and lower the strain on your air...

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Three Key Things to Consider When Replacing Your HVAC System

September 2, 2014

Before you replace your HVAC system, consider these three key factors to help you choose the best system for your home. Your HVAC system is one of the biggest investments you will make for your home. It is most likely the most costly and sophisticated system in your home. However, HVAC systems also have a limited lifespan after which you may have to consider replacing them. Whether the system should be repaired or replaced is a big decision to make. If you decide to replace your HVAC system, consider several things, including when to replace, what to replace, and the right size and efficiency of the system. When to Replace Your HVAC System It is important to know when it is the right time to replace the HVAC system. Look for signs that tell you that replacement is now the best option. If the HVAC system is consuming too much energy, suffering frequent breakdowns, and has served you for 10-15 years, you may need to replace it. Depending on the condition of your system, you may need to replace some components or the entire system. At Scott-Lee Heating Company we find that many of our clients only need certain components of their system replaced. For...

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Busting Geothermal HVAC Myths

August 22, 2014

Ten myths about geothermal heating are eliminated. You may be interested in how installing a geothermal HVAC system would benefit your home. Learn more about geothermal heating and get the facts. Myth #1 Geothermal systems are not renewable technology since they consume electricity. Fact: Geothermal HVAC units require only one electricity unit to produce five units of hot or cold air in a building. Myth #2 Wind power and photovoltaic are better renewable technologies than geothermal systems. Fact: The amount of kilowatt-hour consumption removed by geothermal HVAC systems from electric grids for every dollar used is four times bigger than the amount provided by wind power and photovoltaic systems. Although these technologies have a significant role, geothermal HVAC systems provide a cost-effective method of reducing environmental impact while enhancing comfort inside buildings. Myth #3 Geothermal systems require a huge space for polyethylene piping earth loops. Fact: The earth loop may be positioned vertically under the ground depending on the land features. This reduces the space required above the ground. The use of an aquifer reduces the space further. Water used on the heat exchanger is returned back to its source, which reduces the impact on the environment. Myth #4 Geothermal systems...

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How to Manage Humidity Inside Your Home

August 15, 2014

Keep your family comfortable by avoiding extreme humidity levels inside your home. Humidity is a double-edged sword that can cause issues when it is too high or too low. It is essential for your home to have an ideal humidity range to ensure comfort for you and your family. People, books, and electronic devices have an ideal humidity range, which overlaps with each other. The Effects of Excessive Humidity Inside Your Home Excessive humidity will cause you to feel uncomfortable, making your skin feel damp and sticky. High humidity levels promote the development of mildew, molds, and dust mites. Molds, which develop in humid environments, can cause a number of illnesses, such as severe allergies and asthma. Humid environments normally have a relative humidity of over 60 percent. Safe humidity levels for people with asthma and other respiratory diseases should be limited to 50 percent. High indoor humidity may ruin furniture, books, clothes, and leather items. Since books are made of wood, they can degrade over a period of time. High humidity levels can damage books due to mildew and pests. Professionals recommend a relative humidity range of 30 to 50 percent and a temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Electronic devices are...

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Troubleshooting Checklist for Geothermal Systems

August 6, 2014

Geothermal System Troubleshooting Even though geothermal heating and cooling systems have a longer lifetime compared to a conventional central air conditioning and heating system, they can still experience problems and breakdown. Regular and scheduled preventive maintenance by an HVAC technician can avert potential issues in the system. The U.S. Department of Energy has revealed that inadequately maintained systems consume an additional 25 percent of energy compared to well-maintained systems. Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems Checklist Geothermal systems need regular maintenance to prevent breakdowns. Please feel free to use this checklist guide you in troubleshooting your problems before you call a HVAC technician. Whenever geothermal heat pumps break down or do not provide adequately cool or heated air, it may be necessary to seek the assistance of a St. Louis HVAC company, who specializes in geothermal systems. However, homeowners can check on the system prior to getting assistance from an HVAC technician. This geothermal troubleshooting checklist can pinpoint typical issues affecting the system. Season setting: Many homeowners request for technical assistance for something as simple as a wrong thermostat setting. The thermostat setting should be checked to ensure that the proper setting is selected for the particular season. Temperature setting: The heat pump will...

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Benefits of Regular HVAC Maintenance

August 4, 2014

Make sure you and your family stay comfortable by scheduling regular maintenance of your HVAC system. You may feel that your HVAC system is in proper working condition and that it does not need any maintenance, however, HVAC maintenance is not only advisable, but crucial to prepare the system for the next season. There are various benefits that regular HVAC maintenance offers. Financial Benefits of HVAC Maintenance HVAC maintenance can offer numerous financial benefits to homeowners. HVAC maintenance usually involves adjusting loose parts, cleaning dirty areas and components, and lubricating moving parts. This ensures that the system works at its peak efficiency without costing you too much in energy bills. HVAC maintenance also helps early detection of defects, giving you an opportunity to make sure preventive repairs are completed in a timely manner. Dirty coils can increase your cooling costs by over 30 percent. Proper cleaning ensures that the air can travel efficiently, and that desired temperatures can be achieved without putting extra burden on the compressor. Leaky ducts can also increase your cooling costs by over 20 percent. Sealing all leakages can prevent energy loss and make your system more efficient. Low refrigerant levels can add another 20 percent to your cooling costs. Refilling...

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