What Thermostat Temperature is Best for the Winter?

December 5, 2019

The Right Temperature For Your Thermostat During The Winter Finding the right home temperature in the winter season can be a real challenge. You want to find a thermostat setting that keeps your family comfortable without costing a fortune in heating bills. In the greater St. Louis area, works with countless commercial and residential heating systems. With all that experience, we think we have some insight into the best home temperature for the winter. The Recommended Setting According to the Department of Energy, most homeowners should keep their thermostats at 68 degrees during the winter months. At this temperature, the majority of people are comfortable, or they can get comfortable by putting on a sweater. It is also a temperature that will not overtax your heating system, avoiding extra heating costs and unexpected repairs. Exceptions to the Rule As a cost-saving measure, it is important to recognize that your house does not need to be 68 degrees when no one is home. If the house is empty during the day, you can let the temperature drift down as much as 10 degrees. Modern, efficient heating systems will use less fuel returning the house to a comfortable temperature than maintaining that...

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The Pros and Cons of Space Heaters

November 7, 2019

Pros And Cons Of Space Heaters Indoor space heaters can be a polarizing topic. Some swear by them while others contend that the risk outweighs any benefits. At in St. Louis, we maintain that space heaters can play an effective role in heating your home if you are aware of the pros and cons. Pro: Potential Cost-Savings Space heaters are inexpensive relative to other heating equipment. These heaters also cost less to operate than running a central heating system at the same temperature. You can save by keeping the main thermostat 10 degrees or even more below what you would normally need, and you can stay warm by using the space heater in the room you are actually occupying, such as a family room. Con: Fire and Burn Risk The National Fire Protection Association warns that space heaters account for more than 40% of all home heating-related fires. Space heaters are also responsible for most fire-related deaths during winter, and they account for thousands of burn-related injuries each year. Pro: Easy to Use Modern space heaters are often elegant, user-friendly, and very easy to use. If you are in an emergency situation where you need to heat your living space,...

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How to Choose the Right HVAC Contractor

February 8, 2019

Choosing The Right HVAC Contractor When you need to install a new heating and air unit in your home, choosing the services of the right HVAC contractor is important. If you were to conduct a search of contractors in your area, you’d get a very high number, but not all of them will come with the qualifications you’re looking for. You’ll need to do thorough research if you want to find a professional who can meet your needs. So, how do you choose the right HVAC contractor? We have compiled a list of things to look out for when hiring. Understand Your HVAC Before you embark on a search for the right HVAC contractor in St. Louis, first learn about your HVAC system. You need to be aware of its current status, maintenance history, cost and any modifications it might have gone through in the past. You also need to familiarize yourself with some of the models and terms related to HVAC systems. With the right background information, you will understand the technical terms used by contractors. You should also be aware of licensing requirements. A licensed contractor is likely to possess the right expertise. Recommendations It is highly possible...

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The Evolution of Air Furnaces

January 28, 2019

Evolution of Air Furnaces Keeping the interior of a structure warm in cold weather is as important today as it’s ever been, and in St. Louis, because of fluctuations in temperature, indoor air quality can be an issue as well. Almost all furnaces installed today are air furnaces, meaning that they take heat from one side of a heat exchanger, warm it, and then put it into the structure’s circulating air system. The air furnace of today has evolved from the simple stove of the past to the sophisticated forced-air models of today. A Brief History The first type of air furnace was a simple stove where the air was heated by a fire in a small compartment with coal or wood as the fuel source. While a stove was able to provide enough radiant heat to cook with and warm a room, it was an inefficient device because so much heat escaped out the exhaust flue. The single-register or pipeless, air furnace came next, and these furnaces sent heated air up through openings in the floor. The problem with single-register furnaces is that the cool air returned through the same openings and did not circulate efficiently throughout the structure....

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What Does it Mean to be EPA Certified?

October 10, 2018

EPA Certification The environmental protection agency, also known as the EPA, is the most influential government agency overseeing energy services. When it comes to the HVAC industry, the EPA is a very important entity. In certain states around the United States, the licensing board for HVAC technicians to be EPA certified. In states that do not actually require official certification, it is still seen as a definite advantage to have EPA certification. 4 Types of EPA Certifications There are four different types of EPA certifications, all focused on different aspects of heating and air conditioning hardware. Depending on the type of work that a technician wants to do, he will have to apply for a different type of certification. Type 1 EPA certification is created for technicians who want to deal with smaller, residential appliances. These appliances may include but are not limited to, refrigerators and kitchens, vending machines and window AC units. Type 2 EPA certification is meant for professionals who are looking to service the equipment in refrigerators. This refrigerant equipment includes process refrigerators, heat pumps, supermarket refrigerators or residential air-conditioning units. Type 3 EPA certification is meant to certified technicians who are trying to handle low-pressure refrigerant...

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How “Stack Effect” Could Be Reducing Your Home’s Heating Efficiency

March 16, 2017

This effect occurs when the outdoor temperature is significantly lower than the indoor temperature. Your furnace fills your home with warm air, however, more needs to be done to ensure that this warm air stays inside the home. This can generally be achieved by ensuring that the home is well-insulated. However, when it comes to multi-story homes, there are other challenges to be met, and an important among them is stack effect. In this post, our St. Louis HVAC experts will discuss this phenomenon in detail. What is Stack Effect? Stack effect is a major challenge faced by skyscrapers, however, it can also be a factor in houses with two or more floors. It is a condition in which the building acts as a huge chimney and funnels warm air upwards until it eventually escapes the structure completely. This effect occurs when the outdoor temperature is significantly lower than the indoor temperature. Cold air, being denser than warm air, pushes the warm air higher, and creates an airflow that pulls in more cold air. This airflow is stronger in taller structures. This is why revolving doors were designed shortly after the first skyscrapers were developed. The force of suction used...

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

January 10, 2017

DIY Furnace Repair Guide 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...

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Watch out for these Home Heating Fire Hazards! – St. Louis Heating Company

November 18, 2016

Heating your St. Louis area home with malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment can prove quite dangerous Heating equipment is responsible for 16 percent of residential fires and the consequences of these fires are serious. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, heating equipment contributes to about 19 percent of all deadly fires. Each day, there are about seven cases reported, which means, one or two deaths are caused by HVAC systems every day. It is important for homeowners to be aware of some of the common causes of heating equipment failures and fires. In this post, St. Louis HVAC technicians will share some tips to properly use and maintain heating systems for the safest operation possible. Do not leave the space heater unattended Space heaters are a great way to add warmth to a cold room, however, they should be used sparingly. Space heaters are known to the biggest contributor to home fires compared to all other heating equipment. So, before you start using your space heater, you should check your heating unit, insulation, air sealing and ductwork to identify any sources of drafts that may be causing creating chilly or drafty spots in your room.   Ensure that your...

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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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