How to Reduce St. Louis Commercial HVAC Costs and Wasted Energy

February 26, 2017

According to the US Department of Energy, more than 30 percent of the energy and cost used in powering Commercial HVAC systems gets wasted. Sustainability, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness are some of the features that commercial consumers look for while purchasing heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. However, many are unaware that HVAC systems are in fact one of the most energy-intensive systems used in commercial setups. St. Louis HVAC experts believe that reducing this huge energy waste is imperative for higher sustainability, better energy efficiency, and cost reduction. There are 6 simple, yet effective, ways commercial business owners can achieve these. 1. Regular HVAC filter replacement Dirty filters block airflow in the system. This can lead to an overworked HVAC system and poor air quality inside the building. Dirty filters also lead to a number of maintenance issues and increase operating costs. Ideally, air filters in a commercial should be checked or replaced every 1 to 3 months. These regular maintenance checks can reduce energy waste by 5 to 10 percent. 2. Using programmable thermostats St. Louis HVAC experts have found that in commercial HVAC setups, the temperature setting remains constant for long periods of time. Often, the...

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Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Trying to Achieve Energy Efficiency

January 31, 2017

Avoid These Common Pitfalls To Achieve Optimal HVAC Energy-Efficiency Energy efficiency is a topic that has assumed great importance over the past couple of decades. Homeowners are also trying their best to make all sorts of adjustments to make their homes more energy-efficient. However, it often happens that many of their well-meaning efforts at achieving energy efficiency have the opposite effect. Our St. Louis HVAC experts advise homeowners to be wary of these pitfalls, so they can be successful at making their home greener. Here are a few common pitfalls to avoid. Improperly sized HVAC systems Investing in a modern, energy-efficient HVAC system is probably the best way to reduce utility bills and make your home greener. However, this can be achieved only if your HVAC system is of a suitable size. If the system is too large for your home, it will cool and heat the home too quickly and will need to cycle on and off frequently. This will put additional strain on the system and your wallet. If the system is too small, it will run continuously in a struggle to cool or heat the house. So, it is important to consult a St. Louis HVAC technician...

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DIY Furnace Repair Guide – Do THIS Before Calling a Furnace Repair Technician!

January 10, 2017

HVAC owners are almost always encouraged to call on a trained and experienced HVAC technician for fixing any issues with the furnace. But we believe that a little knowledge never hurts anyone, and it’s important to know what you can do yourself and when you need to call a repair technician. This guide is aimed at getting HVAC owners equipped with enough knowledge that they can perform some basic troubleshooting before calling their St. Louis HVAC technician. Simple DIY Furnace Repair Guide: Thermostat – Start troubleshooting at the thermostat. The thermostat setting should be on heat and the temperature should be above room temperature. It is also advised to troubleshoot with the temperature set at the highest. Turn the thermostat off and back on again. Check that the furnace fan is running. Power – If the fan of the furnace does not run, check the breaker, the fuse, and make sure the furnace switch is in the on position. If the breaker has tripped, you should check for a loose wiring connection. You should also look for any burn spots on the control board. The control board can be replaced if there are burn spots and the breaker can be...

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St. Louis HVAC – Is Your HVAC System Winter Ready?

January 4, 2017

Getting Your HVAC System Winter Ready The onset of winter indicates that homeowners will put their HVAC systems to maximum use this year to make sure their homes are warm and comfy. However, many do not prepare their HVAC for the extra pressure during the winter season. The extra running time, cold winter temperatures,  as well as regular wear and tear, can cause a perfectly well-running HVAC system to simply stop functioning correctly. In the cold winter months, the last thing you need is to spend an uncomfortable cold night, or nights, waiting for a St. Louis HVAC technician to come and fix the problem. Thankfully, the solution to avoid such a problem is simple. Regular maintenance and added winter maintenance is the answer that will keep an HVAC system working well when needed the most. What does HVAC winter maintenance include? Winter maintenance essentially involves conducting a thorough check of the entire HVAC system to ensure smooth functioning all through the winter months. With the demands on the HVAC increasing in winter any small repair can turn into a bigger, more expensive repair if left unchecked. A maintenance check conducted by an experienced, qualified and trained St. Louis HVAC...

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St. Louis Maintenance for your Furnace: Are Your Filters Dirty?

December 19, 2016

Scott-Lee Heating Company offers Precision Maintenance Agreements for customers who want to keep their systems running at peak performance. Winter is at its peak now, and most of us are paying more attention to our heating systems than we have done in many months. With the weather continuing to grow colder, the last thing we want is a heating system that does not work as efficiently as it should. Among the many things that you should be monitoring closely is your furnace filter. Have you checked to see how is it doing? If you haven’t, you may want to check it now. Our St. Louis HVAC technicians come across too many dirty furnace filters, and the homeowners are always left wondering what has caused their filters to become so dirty. There are various reasons why this could happen: Furnace Fan is Set to “On” If your furnace filter is dirty, take a look at your thermostat and check the fan setting. It should be set to “auto”, however, if it is set to “on” the furnace fan should will run constantly, and expose the filter to contaminants throughout the day. This means, the furnace filter will get much dirtier than...

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Tips to Improve Winter Indoor Air Quality – St. Louis Heating

December 17, 2016

Help your family breathe easier this winter season by improving the indoor air quality in your St. Louis home. Modern homes are sealed tighter than ever and are designed to minimize heat loss and be energy efficient. However, this also traps pollutants within the home and may create a stuffy and dry environment. In this post, our St. Louis HVAC technicians will discuss ways to improve indoor air quality in winter and help you and your family breathe easier. Tips to improve winter indoor air quality Change your filter regularly: During summer, the indoor air is likely to be cleaner, because the indoor air gets exchanged with fresh outdoor air through open doors and windows. However, in the winter, the indoor air is constantly recycled through the heating system and ductwork. This can cause some pollutants to remain inside the home. One of the simplest ways to traps these pollutants and allergens is through the HVAC filter. This makes it very important to have the filter changed every four to six weeks during the heating season. Control humidity: High humidity levels can cause conditions that promote mold growth. If the humidity levels are too low, it can make you and...

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Choosing a Humidifier – Tips From St. Louis HVAC Expert

December 12, 2016

Do you find your house too damp in the summer and too dry in the winter? Your home should have a relative humidity level of 30-60 percent, depending on what time of the year it is. In winter, the use of heating systems can reduce the humidity by over 30-40 percent. On the other hand, in summer the humidity may be as high as 60 percent. If the relative humidity is below 30, you may want to invest in a humidifier to keep your family comfortable; however, if it touches 60 or more, you need a dehumidifier. You may need both a humidifier and a dehumidifier and use them according to the seasons. How Humidity Affects Your Health Extremes of relative humidity in the atmosphere can affect your health adversely. If the air inside your home is dry, you may experience dry skin and other types of dermatitis such as peeling, itchy skin, or chapped lips. These may be the first signs that you need to invest in a humidifier. Other health problems caused by dry air include dry sinuses, congestion, nosebleeds, a persistent cough, and sore throat. If the air is too moist, it can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. Your air conditioning system...

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St. Louis HVAC – New Solutions for High Humidity

December 5, 2016

Before summertime and humidity makes it way back around, talk with your HVAC company about installing an energy recovery ventilator. When temperatures rise in St. Louis, so does the humidity, even inside of your home.  As our homes become more energy-efficient, new problems start to arise. Indoor air quality is compromised as stale air is recycled through the house and humidity levels increase. You have basically created an airtight environment with humidity levels that fluctuate drastically and far from the 40% ideal range. Energy Recovery Ventilator Adding an energy recovery ventilator system to your HVAC system can take care of both of these issues. The ERV system can exchange the stale air with fresh air, conditioning it first to match the indoor temperature of the house. In the summer the system is pre-cooling and dehumidifying outside air as it is brought into your home. The opposite happens in the colder months when the system warms the air and humidifies it. This leaves you with a comfortable indoor environment that is infused with fresh air. Reducing Energy Costs ERV systems have proven to be an effective way of reducing energy costs by reducing heating and cooling loads. It does this by using air that has already been conditioned...

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Does Your St. Louis Furnace Need Attention?

November 29, 2016

With the winter season just around the corner, it is essential to check if your furnace is in proper working condition to brace the long, cold months. While your home’s furnace may seem to be in top working condition, it is good idea to have regular maintenance performed to prevent sudden problems from arising. It is also important to remember that all maintenance checks should be conducted by an experienced and trained St. Louis HVAC technician. It is beneficial to understand what signs indicate that your furnace needs attention. Here are some of the signs to look out for: No Heat The first and most obvious sign that the furnace needs repair is lack of or no heat emanating from the vents. Moreover, if the furnace has been running for some time and the vents are giving out cold or room temperature air, or if the house feels cold despite a running furnace, it is time for furnace maintenance. Increasing Bills It is important that HVAC owners keep a tab on their utility bills. Increasing bills or abnormally spiked utility bills also indicate a problematic furnace. Another way to check the efficiency of the furnace is by keeping a tab...

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Top 5 Reasons You Have Poor Airflow – St. Louis Heating and Cooling

November 15, 2016

St. Louis homeowners sometimes complain of low airflow in their rooms. This could be the result of a number of issues. A trained HVAC professional can be called upon to determine the reason for poor airflow. Nevertheless, it is essential that St. Louis homeowners also have the proper knowledge about what causes poor airflow in their home. Consider the following reasons. Dirty or excessively high efficiency furnace filters Any dirt accumulating on the furnace filter over a period of time increases the thickness of the filter. Apart from causing a host of other issues, a dirty filter also restricts airflow causing inadequate or uneven distribution of air. Another cause could be installing a filter with a high MERV rating. While filters with high MERV ratings are meant to purify air better, they can at times create resistance in airflow in an attempt to block small airborne particles. This resistance can pressurize the fan of the AC or the furnace and cause damage leading to poor airflow. Therefore, homeowners should check if their HVAC system is compatible with the high-efficiency MERV filters. Improper duct work It is essential to design and install ductwork properly, after careful consideration by a trained and...

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