4 Ways to Enhance Your Air Conditioner’s Ability to Cool Things Down

September 21, 2017

Having regular maintenance on your AC is essential for keeping costs low as well as extending the life of your HVAC system. Summertime can be extremely taxing on your air conditioner and your wallet. The best way to make sure that you are minimizing the damage to both is to make sure that you are doing everything possible to make your air conditioning run as efficiently and as smoothly as possible. There are things that you can do to enhance the way that your air conditioner runs that cost very little, but can have a profitable return. Replace Your Thermostat If you have a traditional thermostat, then you aren’t using your HVAC system as efficiently as you should. New smart thermostats are the best way to manage the temperature and conditions inside your home. They have better sensors than traditional thermostats to communicate with your units; they even consult local weather forecasts. It is estimated that upgrading to a smart thermostat can save you as much as ten percent off of your overall energy bill a year. Make Sure Your filters are Clean When your HVAC filters get dirty or clogged, they decrease the flow of air and increase the...

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5 Warning Signs Your HVAC is Working Overtime and How to Fix Them

September 8, 2017

Your HVAC system can’t talk to you and tell you when it needs your help, but it just might be showing you signs. There is nothing more frustrating than wasting money. If your home’s HVAC system isn’t working efficiently, then that might be exactly what you are doing. The key to keeping costs low is spotting signs that are meant to warn you that your HVAC system is working overtime and burning money. While not always apparent, it is the minor things that can add up to a need for major repairs. If you can spot the signs, however, then you will not only cut back on your monthly costs but can extend the life of your HVAC system. Temperatures from One Room to the Next Vary Greatly If you walk from room to room and the temperature varies greatly, then you either have ductwork that is too long or dirty. The easiest way to solve the problem is to have your ductwork cleaned and change the air filter. If that doesn’t work, then you might have to consider reworking the ducts to shorten their supply chain. Your House is Still Humid Even with the AC On If you are...

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How to Prevent Air Conditioner Failure?

August 3, 2017

The last thing you want is for your air conditioner to fail on a hot summer day in St. Louis. The last thing any homeowner would want on a hot summer day in St. Louis is an air conditioner that does not work. It is important that all HVAC owners understand the reasons for air conditioning unit failure and know the measures that can help prevent it altogether. While a number of issues can crop up and lead to HVAC unit failures, they are all preventable and very easy to put into practice. The most common reasons are irregular or lack of service and maintenance of the HVAC unit, incorrect installation, and improper care of the AC unit and its components. To ensure that such issues do not lead to an HVAC unit failure, HVAC owners should put the following into regular practice. Ensure Proper Installation Poor installation of an HVAC unit can cause it to overwork and this leads to failure. Poor installation could include poorly planned installations, for example, placement of HVAC unit, vents, and ducts in a way where optimized cooling does not take place and renders the ability of the HVAC to condition the air, ineffective....

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What to do About Spores and Mildew in Your HVAC System

July 22, 2017

Our technicians can improve the indoor air quality in your home, so your family can breathe easily. Unfortunately, mildew and spores is a common problem with HVAC systems. It’s a potential health problem and it can also cause issues with your system. It’s very important to deal with the problem as soon as you discover it. At Scott-Lee Heating Company, our experienced technicians can help improve the indoor air quality in your home. HVAC Systems – The Perfect Breeding Ground The problem is, that HVAC systems are the perfect breeding ground for mildew and spores. They are hard to spot, and so it is likely the first thing you’ll notice is that you or someone in your household becomes ill. It can be pretty dangerous if anyone suffers from allergies or asthma. A cold you can’t get rid of, or symptoms that appear like asthma are signs to watch out for. For anyone particularly vulnerable, such as babies, the elderly, or anyone suffering from respiratory problems, spores in the air can sometimes be life-threatening. Another Early Warning Sign Another sign to look out for is a musty smell. A clear system will never have this smell. If you notice it,...

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Is Your HVAC System Ready for Summer? – St. Louis Air Conditioning

May 18, 2017

Is your air conditioner is ready for the hot summer months ahead? The summer heat has already begun and most St. Louis homeowners are thankful their air conditioning system is helping them beat the heat! That is until something goes wrong and they are left sweating in the sweltering summers. If this happens to you, getting your system repaired is the obvious answer. However, many homeowners fail to consider that a repair call can be easily be avoided with regular maintenance checks. In fact, spring is the ideal time for scheduled maintenance for your air conditioning system. Here is a quick run-down on a few things HVAC technicians do when they perform maintenance: Conduct a test run – It is important to conduct a test run to check if your air conditioner is in working condition, or if it needs repairs. Your system will be checked for effective and uniform cooling. A test will help in checking for pain points and often saving one from the trouble of spending too much time without a cooling system. Check the filters – If the test run shows the need for a maintenance check, the first point of troubleshooting is often the filters....

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Vent Covers – Why the Right Ones Are Important

April 12, 2017

Vent covers are an integral part of the HVAC system, though they might not seem as vital. Most homeowners do not put much thought into a vent cover. While there are some who place importance on how the vent covers look with respect to the decor of their home, there is much more in terms of functionality that homeowners should pay attention to. Here are a few reasons why it is important to pay attention to the vent covers in your house. What are Vent Covers? Vent covers cover the vent openings of the HVAC system that circulate the air in the room that comes through the ducts. They are an integral part of the HVAC system, though they might not seem as vital. There are two types of vents that an HVAC system comprises of: Supply Vents – Supply vents or supply register vents allow the desired hot or cold air to enter the rooms in the house from the HVAC. They are often found on the outer walls, on the floor or under windows and are ideally spaced separately from return vents, to prevent re-circulation of the conditioned air coming in from the HVAC. Return Vents – These...

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Air Conditioning Repair St. Louis – Why is My AC Leaking?

March 31, 2017

The hot St. Louis summers put a lot of wear and tear on a home’s air conditioning unit. During the summer months in St. Louis, the use of the air conditioner increases. Most AC owners start using their systems overtime, which results in more wear and tear of the AC. Without proper maintenance and regular checks, the air conditioner loses its efficiency and tends to develop more faults. It is important to always contact a trained and qualified St. Louis HVAC technician for maintenance, however, there are some important things that all AC owners must also be aware of. A leaking AC is a frequent and common complaint that many homeowners have. However, not all AC leaks indicate a problem. It is therefore essential to understand how an air conditioner functions, what are the indicators of an AC problem, and what is considered normal and what is not. Why is the AC Leaking? It is important to understand that even when the system is working fine, you may see some water drainage from the tubes and pipes connected to the system. To understand how the AC may leak, you should understand the basic functioning of the AC. Apart from cooling...

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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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Does Your St. Louis HVAC System Need to be Repaired or Replaced?

October 24, 2016

At Scott-Lee Heating, we will help you determine if your HVAC system needs repairs or just needs to be replaced. Inefficient HVAC systems can cost your home or business a lot of money, and lead to health and comfort issues. So, it’s important to understand whether your system needs repairs or if it needs to be replaced. At Scott-Lee Heating, we come across some homeowners and business owners who put off HVAC repairs or replacement to save on costs for as long as they can, but by doing so they end up doing more harm than good. By keeping a track of the maintenance needs of an HVAC system, it can reduce the monthly energy costs, keep repair costs low, and improve the home or work environment. Here are 9 steps that can help you determine whether your HVAC system needs repair or replacement. When deciding on whether your HVAC system needs repair or replacement, you should seek help from a competent St. Louis HVAC expert. Find out the essential information about the current system including age and repair history. This will help the HVAC contractor make a better decision about repairs. If the system is older, replacement would be...

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Basic Rules of Air Conditioner Maintenance – St. Louis HVAC

June 13, 2016

Keep your air conditioner working to keep you cool through another hot and humid St. Louis summer. A home’s air conditioner works hard through the summer months of St. Louis. Your air conditioner plays a key part in keeping your home comfortable by regulating the temperature and humidity. Regular HVAC maintenance will keep your air conditioner working properly. If you fail to keep up with regular maintenance, the result will be decreased performance and increased costs. Summer HVAC Maintenance Now is the time to call for your regular HVAC summer maintenance. Most air conditioner problems can be addressed during a maintenance check. You may make any mechanical issues worse by trying to fix it yourself. Replace the Air Filters Regularly clean or replace the air filters. Normal airflow is blocked by dirty, dusty filters and the accumulated dust will affect the evaporator coils, causing serious issues. By replacing the air filters every two months, your HVAC system’s performance will improve. Dirty air filters can increase energy consumption by as much as 15 percent. Inspect the Evaporator Coils Coils fins are made out of aluminum and become bent over time. Bent coils will block the airflow and decrease the system’s efficiency. Fix or replace them...

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