The Importance of Commercial HVAC Maintenance

August 25, 2023

The Importance of Commercial HVAC Maintenance To ensure that the air inside your commercial establishment is maintained at a comfortable temperature, and is free from all kinds of pollutants, every business owner should carry out periodic maintenance of their commercial HVAC systems. Periodic HVAC maintenance involves an audit of the environmental and energy systems of the building. HVAC experts identify comfort issues and analyze the equipment and operating procedures to offer cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions. There are several benefits that a business owner can seek from periodic maintenance of their commercial HVAC systems. HVAC Systems Survey and Financial Analysis Commercial HVAC system maintenance involves an audit of mechanical equipment and control systems. By gauging the condition, age, and repair status of the equipment, you can easily identify the problem areas, and plan and prioritize repairs. It also helps in better financial planning by offering a history of expenditures and projecting future outflows. By taking into account these factors, business owners are better able to prepare a budget. Solutions Once the heating and cooling company has identified all problem areas, they will recommend solutions that improve the comfort level and increase the energy efficiency of the HVAC system. The efforts are made...

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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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St. Louis HVAC Reminders to Prepare Your Home for Summer Vacation

June 15, 2016

The following HVAC tips will keep your home safe while you are away on vacation this summer. The bags are packed, the dogs are at the kennel, and your neighbor will come by to water the plants. You are ready to hit your summer destination, but have you prepared your home’s HVAC? In order to ensure that your vacation is not ruined by an unplanned mishap when you get back home, prepare your house in advance for your absence. Turn Off the Main Water Supply You do not want that leaking pipe you have been meaning to fix to finally burst when you are out of town. Water seeping into your carpet and floorboards can cause significant water damage. Connect Your Sump Pump to a Battery If you have a basement that is prone to flooding, then you likely have a sump pump already in place. Having a battery back-up on your sump pump will ensure that it stays working, just like it would if you were home. Do Not Turn Off the Central Air Conditioning System Use a digital programmable thermostat to control the temperature inside of your home as if you were there. Save money on your energy bill by programming it to run at 78 degrees. Cut the Electric...

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Who Controls the Thermostat in Your Home? – St. Louis HVAC

May 13, 2016

It is not unusual for a family to argue over the thermostat settings. Not everyone within a household prefers the same room temperature. Families often have disagreements over the heat settings; one person wants to crank up the heat and others want to bring it down a bit. If you are looking for a solution to this problem, our St. Louis HVAC expert has some simple tips for you and your family. Conflict over temperatures generally occur on gender lines as women tend to have slower metabolic rates compared to men, so they feel the cold more. A recent study has also shown that air-conditioned offices are designed for male employees, while women are left to shiver in the middle of summer. Here are some tips for those who find themselves in the middle of the battle over room temperatures. Space Heaters Modern space heaters are relatively efficient and considered safe as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Space heaters offer an easy solution to allow a family member to increase the temperature of his or her room while others can keep the thermostat at the temperature they desire. Improve Your HVAC System’s Efficiency If your arguments over the furnace revolve around money, consider making some efficiency upgrades to save...

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Your HVAC System Could be a Source of Legionnaire’s Disease

May 6, 2016

A poorly maintained HVAC system may circulate pollutants and microbes into the air, causing severe illness. HVAC systems play a crucial role in keeping your home comfortable. Proper maintenance of an HVAC system is essential to get the best performance and to safeguard the health and well-being of your family. A poorly maintained system may circulate pollutants into the air that can cause allergies and can become a breeding ground for disease-causing microbes. You may be surprised to know that some of these microbes can cause serious illnesses such as Legionnaire’s disease. Legionnaire’s Disease Legionnaire’s disease is a lung disease that is caused by a bacterium known as legionella pneumophila. Legionnaire’s disease has become more common in recent years. The most common symptoms of this lung disease include: muscle pain weakness chills fever mild headaches mental stress A person may also experience some symptoms of pneumonia such as chest pain and shortness of breath. Many of these symptoms mimic other pulmonary illnesses; a doctor is needed to make a correct diagnosis using a urine test. The symptoms may not present themselves immediately. It may take up to two weeks for symptoms to completely develop. Legionnaire’s Disease and HVAC Systems Legionnaire’s disease can be spread by HVAC systems. The bacterium responsible for this illness exists in natural water...

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What Is the Life Expectancy of Your Building’s HVAC?

April 26, 2016

Keep your building’s HVAC system running smoothly with these commercial HVAC tips. As a facility manager, one of your responsibilies is to ensure the HVAC system keeps your facility at an optimum temperature. How can you get the most from your building’s HVAC system and how long can you expect the system to last? Average Life Expectancy of Commercial HVAC System The life of an HVAC system depends on many factors. In general, a commerical HVAC system has an average life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. A central air conditioning unit can last up to 15 years and a heating furnace has a life expectancy of about 20 years, assuming that they have been properly maintained. Several factors that an HVACs functioning depends on include: the model the manufacturer current age maintenance history the size of the facility Regular maintenance is one of the most important factors that can prolong the life of an HVAC system. A system that is regularly serviced will perform better, with fewer breakdowns and repairs. Prolong the HVACs Life 1. Regular maintenance –Lack of maintenance is the number one reason why any HVAC system will die out before its time. Every machine needs regular maintenance. If an HVAC system is not regularly serviced, it must work harder and will be less efficient. 2. Replacement time – Once an HVAC is...

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Learn How Your HVAC System Works From a St. Louis HVAC Professional

April 15, 2016

Learn about basic HVAC equipment to better understand how your HVAC system works. Are you familiar with the different types of HVAC equipment that make air conditioning and heating possible? Here is some information on basic HVAC equipment and their functions to help you better understand how your HVAC system operates. Coils There are two types of coils – evaporator coils and condenser coils. The condenser coil facilitates heat exchange and condenses hot refrigerant gas. It then releases the refrigerant back into the evaporator coil, turning the air into cold air. The cooled air is then blown through the house’s ductwork. Ductwork Ductwork is normally made of aluminum and is placed within the ceiling. Ductwork is responsible for distributing air to different rooms in the house. Furnace The furnace is the HVAC system’s heat supplier and sends heat to all ducts in the home. There are two types of furnaces – single-stage and two-stage furnaces. A single-stage furnace features an on and off function and a two-stage furnace operates through the thermostat. A two-stage furnace is more efficient because it switches itself off when the desired temperature is reached. Thermostat The thermostat controls the furnace by sensing the temperature and alerting the furnace. A thermostat can be either manual or programmable. Programmable thermostats help save energy...

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St. Louis HVAC Specialists Suggest 5 Solutions for Warmer Floors

April 14, 2016

It can sometimes be difficult to keep your hardwood or tile floors warm. Here are some HVAC solutions for keeping your toes warm! When people consider house heating solutions, they generally consider solutions that heat the air around them. The cold, chilly floors are often neglected. Thermal socks, thick carpets and fuzzy slippers offer only temporary solutions for your loved ones. Try as you might you cannot ensure that your young children and toddlers will keep those socks on. Though your home’s HVAC system can take care of air temperature issues, floors often get left out. For houses that have floors made of wood, stone, or ceramic tiling, the heating system makes very little or no difference. How Can you Keep Your Floors Warm? Keeping the floors warm at times requires simple measures. These are easy steps that can be taken to not only keep floors warm but also ensure the whole house temperature is taken care of. Keep the cold air out – Look at areas in the house where cold drafts enter and keep those shutters shut. Any cracks and holes between walls and baseboards that let air in can be filled up with any sealant. Check if...

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Sources of Heat Loss that Waste Energy – St. Louis HVAC Tips

March 15, 2016

Leaving a window open on a cold, winter day can cause heat loss and waste a lot of energy. There are other sources of heat loss in every home that are often overlooked. Fireplaces, clothes dryers, and folding attic stairs are also sources of air leakage and heat loss, causing cold drafts and higher energy bills. Air leaks are the largest source of heating loss in any home. Air leaks can occur through small cracks around windows, doors, and pipes. These leaks can be stopped with weather-stripping or caulking to reduce heat loss. Our St. Louis HVAC experts provide tips on sealing and insulating these holes. Attic Stairs When a folding attic stair is installed, a large hole is created in the ceiling and the insulation is removed. The hole is then covered by a thin and uninsulated sheet of plywood. The attic space is ventilated to the outdoors, and in cold weather, the attic can be very cold. Only a thin plywood sheet separates the unconditioned attic area from your conditioned home. A low-cost solution to this problem is to install an attic stair cover, which provides an air seal and reduces air leads. Add insulation over the attic stair cover to restore the insulation that was removed at the time...

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Keep Your Home Warm Without Spending More Money – St. Louis HVAC

February 22, 2016

Keep your home warm and cozy without increasing your heating costs. Cranking up the furnace is one way to keep your house warm, but it could be costly in terms of energy expenses and environmental impact. We will recommend some simple ways to keep your home warm without increasing your energy bills. Weather Proof the Garage Doors You might be letting in cool air through the garage doors. Weatherstrip and insulate the garage doors and seal all cracks around the windows. Check the Furnace Filter Regularly Change the furnace filter every month during the winter season according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A clean air filter will improve the efficiency of your furnace and keep you warm even during the coldest of winter months. Check the Vents Make sure that your HVAC system’s vents are clean and not clogged with dirt or blocked by furniture. This is important to ensure that warm air circulates freely across the house. Prevent Cold Attic Air From Cooling Your House The attic access cover and staircase may be a source of cold drafts. Weatherstripping is a good way to counter this problem. Ask your St. Louis HVAC contractor for a ready-made insulating attic access cover. Minimize Heat Loss Through Windows Windows are a major source of heat loss. Use weather stripping and caulking to prevent heat...

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