How to Lower Commercial HVAC Costs – St. Louis Commercial Heating

December 21, 2015

Careful planning and regular maintenance can lower your commercial HVAC costs. With the energy market shifting towards dynamic pricing, facility management professionals are concerned about how to lower commercial HVAC costs. It is not easy to control pricing in this market-based environment. But with careful planning, management, and regular maintenance, it is possible to cut down on your HVAC costs significantly. Adjust Temperature Setpoints In general, a building requires maintaining a temperature of 78 degrees during the summer and around 68 degrees during the winter, according to energy conservation construction codes. In reality, most housing structures have daytime temperatures between 72 and 75 degrees throughout the year. More comfort calls for spending more on energy bills. Facility management professionals need to take steps to raise awareness about the importance of setting the daytime temperature to the state’s energy conservation construction code. It is also important to note that some buildings may require maintaining a setback temperature to ensure a low level of heating or cooling during unoccupied periods. Preventive Maintenance Without regular maintenance, mechanical parts and control instruments in the HVAC system may lose efficiency. Regularly monitor the performance of the mechanical system and take timely steps to repair and replace any damaged components. Perform regular preventive...

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HVAC Efficiency: What You Need to Know Before Installing Windows

December 14, 2015

Windows play a major role in keeping our rooms well-ventilated and also allow for the entry of sunlight into our home. However, windows have low insulation values, so they allow more heat or cold air to pass. As a result, the cost of heating or cooling your rooms with many windows is higher than the cost of heating or cooling rooms with more solid walls. Moreover, a window consists of several movable parts, so it is more likely to leak air into your rooms. This is exactly why we need windows with low U-value or high resistance to heat or cold. Understanding U-value and R-Value U factor simply implies the rate of heat loss through a window. The lower the U-value, the better its insulation value and the greater its resistance to heat flow. U-value is inversely proportionate to R-value, meaning that U=1/R. Windows usually have an R-value of two or three. In comparison, walls generally have an R-value of 13, and attics often have an R-value of 38. This simply means that windows are less resistant to heat flow. You’ll find windows with higher R-value, but you need to know certain things about them before making an investment. A...

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St. Louis HVAC – Why is Preventive HVAC Maintenance Important?

November 3, 2015

Without proper maintenance of your HVAC system, your utility bills can increase up to 35 percent. Do you regularly clean and maintain your car? You get your vehicle’s brakes, steering, tires, and other parts checked at regular intervals. You change the oil as recommended. You do not compromise the regular maintenance of your car, because you want to keep it running efficiently for years. This is exactly how you should deal with your gas furnace or heat pump. HVAC Maintenance Saves Money Regular cleaning and maintenance of your HVAC system is equally important. Statistics say that heating and cooling accounts for up to 50 percent of household energy bills. Without proper maintenance of your HVAC system, you will pay more on utility bills. Dirty coils and blowers can increase your energy costs by 35 percent. If you have been adding coolant to your air conditioner more frequently for the past few months, check your air conditioning system for any leakage. Regular cleaning and maintenance helps extend the lifespan of your gas furnace or heat pump. With regular and timely maintenance, around 80 percent of all compressor failures can be avoided. HVAC Maintenance – How Often? Some homeowners avoid preventive maintenance of their HVAC system in an attempt...

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Can You Tell When It’s Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner or Furnace?

October 23, 2015

Proper installation and regular maintenance can help extend the lifespan of your air conditioner or furnace. However, normal wear and tear is unavoidable. In fact, the average lifespan of a furnace, if properly installed and maintained, could be around 20 years. On the other hand, with proper installation and maintenance, a heat pump can last for around 14 years, and an air conditioner for 16 years, according to a recent study conducted by American Home Comfort. It is also important to consider that manufacturing companies nowadays upgrade their HVAC models at frequent intervals. This means that if your HVAC equipment is more than 10-15 years old, it may be using outdated technology. So it would be a good idea to replace your old air conditioner or furnace when it’s nearing the end of its lifespan. Upgrade from an R-22 System to R-410A If you are currently using old R-22 HVAC equipment, consider upgrading to a new R-410A system. The old ozone-depleting refrigerant not only lacks efficiency, but it has lately been identified as harmful for the environment. Manufacturing companies are gradually switching to R-410A from R-22. The price of R-410A models have come down considerably over the past few years,...

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How HVAC System Maintenance and Humidity Affects Indoor Air Quality

August 24, 2015

Poor indoor air quality can have an adverse affect on the health, comfort, and efficiency of the employees in a St. Louis home or place of work. High humidity and poor maintenance of HVAC systems are the biggest culprits when it comes to poor indoor air quality. Due to the various ill effects of humidity and poor indoor air quality, more and more employees, employers and facility owners are becoming concerned. How Humidity Affects Air Quality In humid conditions the viruses and bacteria that causes the respiratory infections can rapidly multiply and spread. High Humid conditions can increase the levels of noxious chemicals in the air; including formaldehyde (emissions from indoor building materials) and ozone (emission from copiers) Molds and other pathogens thrive in high humid conditions. How Humidity Affects the Work Environment Poor air quality can often be attributed to humid conditions and can affect the employees of an organization with a wide range of illnesses and symptoms. Humidity can also have adverse effects on a building and its contents. Cold climate, electrical appliances that generate heat, or poor design, installation and maintenance of air conditioning systems give rise to low humidity conditions. Listed below are a few of...

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How to Deal With High Humidity

May 29, 2015

One of the most common problems facing homeowners during the summer, in addition to the heat, is humidity. During the summer, humidity can become so high that residents may start to feel uncomfortable and even sick. High humidity, in the range of 60 percent and above, can have many ill-effects including: Air that feels stale and heavy. An increase in relative temperature, as humid air feels much hotter than dry air, even if the temperature is kept constant. Skin that feels oily and sticky and hair that will not stay put. Serious Complications of High Humidity There can be more serious complications arising out of high humidity levels, such as the growth of harmful mold. A damp and warm environment can act as a breeding ground for dust mites and mold, which can cause health problems such as allergies, asthma, and irritation of the throat, eyes, and nose. High humidity can cause problems for susceptible groups such as children and the elderly, especially those with pre-existing health conditions. How to Lower the Humidity in Your Home To keep problems such as mold and mildew growth at bay, keep the humidity level within the range of 45 to 55 percent. This can be achieved in several ways. First,...

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Mold Prevention and HVAC Maintenance

May 26, 2015

Mold is often hard to deal with, as it can easily resurface after being dormant for several years. Mold and HVAC Systems Contrary to what some people might think, HVAC systems are not exactly responsible for mold. It is especially hard for this growth to thrive on these systems due to the nature of their surfaces, which are usually metallic. But their use can enhance the growth of mold when these systems are not properly maintained. To avoid issues, it is important for you to ensure your system is properly designed and installed to guard against dampness in your home. It should also use effective filtration techniques for clean air, with maintenance work carried out on it periodically. Prevention of Mold Growth If you are building a new home, it is important to ensure appropriate architectural, design, and building techniques are used for your home to guard against excess moisture. You may be exposed to a mold problem as a result of defective flashing, doors, windows, balconies, and vapor barriers. You should also have the exterior parts of your building inspected at least once annually. Breaches in building envelope, roof flashing and caulking should be repaired. It is important to...

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Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System

May 6, 2015

Preventative maintenance of your HVAC system is necessary to ensure that your air conditioner will serve you well this summer. A preventative maintenance program will reduce the need for unanticipated repairs and minimize expenses. Increase your knowledge about the HVAC system as well as become familiar with how preventative maintenance is performed. This knowledge will allow you to find out which maintenance work you can perform yourself and which maintenance work will require a St. Louis HVAC repair professional. Become Familiar With the System All central air conditioning systems have two main parts, the condenser and evaporator. The air conditioning condenser unit is normally located at the side or rear portion of the home. The evaporator coil is positioned on top of the furnace along the duct junction. A forced-air distribution system is also connected to the air conditioning system. The house is heated using the same motor blower and ductwork used in keeping it cool. Maintain the Air Filters Maintaining the air filters of the air conditioning unit is the easiest preventative maintenance measure. It will extend the life of the HVAC system and allow you to avoid expensive repairs. The fan may become clogged up if the air filters are blocked with...

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Importance of Keeping Your Home Properly Heated

February 17, 2015

A cold temperature inside the house can be detrimental to your health. Having to deal with harsh winters here in St. Louis can be unpleasant at times and one should be able to come home to an inviting, warm, cozy atmosphere after a long day’s work. A chilly, under-heated house is quite unwelcoming and can be easily avoided if correct measures are taken. Keeping your temperatures set at the right range of desired comfort all year round can go a long way while inefficient heating systems and inadequate insulation can leave the home under-heated. According to the World Health Organization, the ideal indoor temperature during winters should be set no lower than 64 degrees Fahrenheit and topped out around 70 degrees for homes with young and elderly ones. Here we’ll explain the importance of keeping your home properly heated from a health standpoint. Health & Safety Any moisture inside the house condenses in the winter due to low temperatures which leads to further dampness and mold formation. Mold causes complications and further aggravates individuals suffering from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Installation of extractor fans in the kitchen and bathrooms to vent the stale and humid air outside of the...

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Eleven Common Issues Affecting HVAC Systems

January 15, 2015

Eleven Common Issues Affecting HVAC Systems An HVAC system may have some problems. A number of these issues can be easily fixed by the homeowner, but for complicated problems, the services of a St. Louis HVAC professional may be required. 1. Busted Fuse Fuses ensure the compressor or motor of the unit does not get overheated. The breaker is the first thing HVAC professionals check when the motor stops functioning. 2. Damaged Contactor Three contractors are present in an HVAC unit, one each for the blower motor, condenser fan motor and compressor. It is important that whenever the system is switched on, an electrical connection is established by engaging and starting the motors and compressor. When pitting and arcing form on the contractor, it may not conduct electricity and will prevent the motor from starting. 3. Capacitors Start capacitors provide a starting torque for the compressor while run capacitors ensure a consistent speed when the unit motors are running. It is necessary to replace the capacitors when one of them becomes damaged to ensure the HVAC unit will function properly. 4. Gas valve The gas valve regulates the flow of gas into the unit through the gas line. Whenever the gas valve is corroded, it is necessary...

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