Did Your Boiler Just Die a Cold Death? – St. Louis HVAC

February 12, 2016

Do not face discomfort due to issues with your boiler system during the winter months, when you most need heat and hot water. Your family relys on your home’s boiler system to provide heat and hot water, especially during these chilly days. However, many issues with boilers are caused by negligence. Homeowners tend to overlook their boiler systems – until the boiler stops functioning. There are signs to look for that may suggest there is something wrong with your home’s boiler. In order to prevent a breakdown, here is what to look for. Common Boiler Issues The hot water supply in your house is notably lesser than before or is diminishing slowly. You can hear a gurgling, whistling, or banging noise from the boiler system. There are water leakages in the boiler. The pilot light of the boiler has gone out. The boiling system shuts off on its own periodically. There is a loss of pressure in the boiling system. There are problems in the thermostat or the radiator is not generating enough heat. What Causes Boiler Issues? There can be a number of reasons that can cause the aforementioned boiler issues. There is a loss in electrical supply to the boiler. The gas supply reaching the boiler is...

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Was Your Home’s HVAC System Affected by the Floods that Swept Through St. Louis?

January 29, 2016

If your home was affected by the record-breaking floods that recently swept through St. Louis, it is important to have your home’s heating and cooling systems checked. It was difficult to watch the St. Louis area recently experience such incredible record-setting floods. For many of us, we were reminded of the Flood of 1993 and recalled the devastating effects that had on our communities. The floodwaters wreaked havoc on areas such as Valley Park, Fenton, High Ridge, Union, St. Charles, and many others, including parts of Illinois. People lost their belongings, homes, and vehicles. Many businesses were seriously damaged as well. Here at Scott-Lee Heating, our own facility was greatly affected. St. Louis Flooding and Your Home’s HVAC System If your home or basement was exposed to standing water due to the recent flooding, or for any other reason, there may be damage to your water heater, boiler, heater, air-conditioner, ventilation or heat-pump system. This can put you and your family at great risk. Depending on the amount of damage, your heating and cooling systems may need to be replaced and not just repaired. It is important that your systems be inspected, and then replaced or repaired, by qualified heating and...

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Energy Saving Tips for a St. Louis Winter – St. Louis HVAC

January 26, 2016

With winter upon us, keep your home heating system in optimal working condition. Enjoy the remainder of the St. Louis winter season from the comfort of your home. There are a number of simple and cost-effective ways to keep your heating bills under control. Draft-Proof Your Home Do not allow the cold air to leak in and the warm air to leak out of your home. Inspect your house for unwanted gaps and vents and seal those gaps. Look for hidden cracks and crevices in the walls, floors, utility pipes, and ceiling. Air leakage makes your indoor atmosphere not only uncomfortable but also unhealthy. Long-term exposure to chilly outside air may cause mold growth inside your house, making the indoor atmosphere unhygienic. Windows can account for 25 percent of heat loss in most houses. Check your doors and windows for any unnecessary gaps and seal them. Replace conventional doors and windows with new, energy-efficient ones. In addition, have your home insulated by professionals. Improve the insulation capability of your existing doors and windows. Storm windows come with a layer of thin metal and help keep the heat inside your home.  A cost-effective way to insulate your windows and doors is by hanging heavy curtains to restrict the entry of cold...

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5 Reasons to Consider Geothermal Heating – St. Louis HVAC Solutions

January 15, 2016

Talk with a St. Louis HVAC expert about geothermal solutions for your home. Maybe the higher cost of installation or the thought of having to dig up that flower bed you had painstakingly planted made you pass on upgrading to a geothermal system. However important your reasons for not considering a geothermal heat pump for your home, there are five compelling ones that will make you reconsider. Geothermal Heat Pumps Are More Efficient The most efficient gas furnaces on the market are able to provide an efficiency rating between 90 and 94 percent. With a geothermal heat pump, you see an efficiency rating of at least 400%. In other terms, for every one unit of electrical energy used, you get four units of energy. Geothermal Heat Pumps Operate Silently Geothermal heat pumps are much quieter than your central air conditioning unit or current heat pump. There is no outdoor unit humming over your summer barbecues and no banging as they start up on a winter night. Geothermal heat pumps operate at the same sound level as your kitchen refrigerator, making it one of the most quiet components in your house. Geothermal Heat Pumps Are Environmentally Friendly Both the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency recognize...

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5 Central Air Conditioning Myths Busted

October 15, 2015

Many homeowners use central air systems, but many of them fail to use these systems efficiently and correctly. There are some common myths associated with central air conditioners, and in this post, we will bust these myths and help you understand the systems better. This will help you get the best performance from your central air conditioning system. Myth 1: Energy-efficient central air conditioners automatically bring down energy bills While it is true that energy-efficient units consume less energy, this is only when they are sized and installed properly and correctly for the home. The system will not automatically reduce the energy bill unless you have the correct unit and ductwork is designed and installed properly. Myth 2: Turning the thermostat farther down or up will heat or cool the home faster When the central air conditioner is on, it will simply remain on until the temperature that is set on the thermostat has been reached. Turning the thermostat much lower or higher will not make it work faster. Myth 3: Fuel based central heating systems are less efficient compared to electric ones It requires a lot of energy in the form of natural gas or coal to make electricity,...

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5 Tips to Choosing the Right Furnace

January 22, 2015

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Furnace Is it time to replace the furnace? Make the right decision and invest wisely. Call Scott-Lee Heating to discuss all your heating and cooling needs! Your furnace has a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. When your furnace approaches the end of its life, it can become inefficient and costly to run. A furnace is a significant investment, but it is often a better choice in the long run. Before replacing your current system, consider the following tips to find a furnace suitable for your home. 1. Choosing the Type of System Forced-air furnaces are the most recognizable type of heating system in American households. A packaged HVAC system will often include a gas furnace. The outdoor unit houses the evaporator, condenser, and blower in one enclosure. In packaged systems, a series of tubes called “air ducts” distribute warm air into different rooms in the house. Even though most components are in the outdoor housing, it is controlled mainly from the indoor unit. Packages systems are suitable for homes without the necessary indoor space for a large cabinet. The other type is a split system, which has an indoor and an...

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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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Save Money with Our HVAC System Tips

January 8, 2015

The HVAC system in your house is a critical system for maintaining your family’s comfort. A reliable HVAC system will keep the temperature and humidity inside your house at an optimum level. A fully operational system also means lower energy bills, helping you save money. Importance of Regular HVAC Maintenance When the winter season starts, it is essential that you have the entire HVAC system checked for any defects and damages. It is advisable to call a St. Louis HVAC company to inspect the system so that the performance of the equipment can be checked. This scheduled maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system does not break down for want of repairs during sweltering heat or freezing cold. Replacing the Air Filters The performance and efficiency of the HVAC system reduce with time as dust and dirt accumulate over moving parts and filters. It is, therefore, essential that the air filters are checked and replaced each month that the HVAC system is in use. To save on the costs of filters, some homeowners try to clean and reuse them; however, they are not as effective as new filters and may hinder airflow. Dirty filters increase power consumption as the system has...

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How to Handle the Energy Vampires in Your House

January 2, 2015

Are energy vampires stealing all your hard-earned money? An energy vampire is a device that continues to gobble electricity when not in use, on standby mode, or completely switched off, while being plugged in. This continuous consumption of energy causes wastage and increases your energy bills. Energy conservation is an important thing today as it directly impacts the environment. A recent report has indicated that 32 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States in 2012 were caused by electricity generation. Dependency on Electricity Grows When we compare our household electrical appliances today with those of 50 years ago, we observe that we are much more dependent on them. There is equipment like computers, computer-controlled washing machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and smart-phones, which have made life easier but have certainly contributed to an increase in energy consumption. All these devices continue to use energy even when on standby mode and thus inflate our electricity bills. To get a perspective about energy vampires, an air conditioner in standby mode consumes about 1 watt, whereas a TV consumes a whooping 43 watts when switched off. All this adds up to a large amount of energy wasted by each household. How to Reduce Energy Waste The...

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Say Goodbye to Drafts in Your Home

December 23, 2014

Your HVAC system might not be enough to keep you warm during harsh winters. You need to support the HVAC system in a way that it works effectively without gulping down too much energy. One way that you might be making your heating system’s job tough is by not checking and sealing any drafts that may be present in your home. Identifying Drafts in Your Home If you feel a steady breeze or just notice that the drapes keep swinging even when all the windows are closed, it is a sign that there are drafts in your home that need to be sealed. Unless you plug the drafts, you will have to brave the chill under layers of blankets and with chattering teeth. If you feel you there is a draft problem in your home, identify the culprits first. Most likely the problem is originating around doors and windows, which tend to contract and expand when humidity and temperature levels change. With time, the problem can develop into permanent warping, which creates openings from where the outside air can pass. Worn siding and roofing can also cause drafts to develop, so it makes sense to have the roof inspected and consider adding attic insulation. Your...

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