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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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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Fixing Common HVAC Problems – St. Louis HVAC

November 27, 2015

A broken HVAC system can be a major source of frustration for a homeowner. Whether your air conditioner suddenly stops working in the middle of summer or your heating pump fails to perform as expected on the coldest day of winter, you need to fix the problem as soon as possible. Air Leaking If you are using an older HVAC system, chances are that a large percentage of the hot or cold air being produced inside the system is leaking through the cracks and crevices in the ducts. As a result, you may need to set the temperature much higher or lower to get the same heating or cooling effects. Replace the old, deteriorating ducts with new ducts made of sturdier materials. Some amount of wear and tear is usual with any duct system, but ducts made of highly durable materials help prevent air leaking problems for years. Air Dumping This is a common problem with HVAC systems installed in rooms with more space both in horizontal and vertical directions. Maybe your heating and cooling system is dumping the hot or cold air in a particular space rather than spreading the air uniformly throughout the room. As a result, you may notice a significant...

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Fiberglass Insulation – St. Louis Heating and Cooling

November 25, 2015

Insulation can save you hundreds of dollars on heating and cooling costs throughout the year. Proper insulation can make your home more comfortable and save you money. Insulation is available in a wide variety of forms. One of the best products for home insulation is fiberglass. Here are some important things to know about this type of insulation. (Click here to learn how insulating your home can lower your energy costs). R-Value of Insulation R-value is the unit of thermal resistance. The R-value of a product shows you how well the product is resistant to heat transfer. Materials with higher R-value are more thermal resistant. If you insulate your home with a material that has a high R-value, you are likely to experience better results. Installing Insulation Which part of the home you want to insulate is another important thing to consider. St. Louis HVAC experts explain that not all parts of your home require the same level of insulation. For example, use denser insulation materials for the attic, while interior walls do not need to be insulated with materials having a higher R-value. Fiberglass insulation is ideal for walls. The cost of insulation depends on the amount, the R-value of the insulation material, and...

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Breathe Easy in St. Louis and Prevent Allergies This Fall

November 17, 2015

Spring is not the only season that triggers allergies; fall can be equally bad. As the weather turns cooler, it brings a new set of allergens in the air causing symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and running nose. The American Lung Association has stated that the St. Louis area is among the top 20 most polluted areas in the United States. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an average home’s indoor air quality is two times more polluted compared to the outside air. This, coupled with seasonal allergies, can make it difficult for people to breathe easy, so here are some tips to help you have a sneeze-free fall. In this post, we will discuss some tips to maintain your indoor air quality and prevent allergies. What Causes Seasonal Allergies Allergies are the body’s first reaction to a foreign substance. People who are allergic may experience a severe reaction to allergens such as pollen and dust. Other people might not react at all to these allergens, but some may start experiencing symptoms as soon as they come in contact. Fall allergies, such as ragweed or ambrosia, is one of the top pollen-producing allergy triggers. As soon as the body detects allergens, the...

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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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Choosing a Humidifier for Your St. Louis Home This Winter

October 28, 2015

Reduce energy and save money by installing a humidifier in your home.   Humidity levels drop during the winter months because cold air holds less moisture than warm air. As a result of dry air, you may experience a number of problems in the winter months, including: dry skin and/or an itchy throat nasal congestion resulting in cold or flu static electricity wallpaper peeling at the edges hardwood floors separating out at the seams difficulty in growing houseplants Indoor air should have a humidity level of 30-35 percent, but during winter months, the humidity level in the air drops to 13 percent or lower. One way to resolve this problem is by using a humidifier to add moisture to the indoor air. Type of Humidifiers You’ll find humidifiers in a wide variety of shapes and designs, including furnace/heat pump mounted units, floor models, and table models. Furnace/heat pump mounted units work as by-pass, steam, wick, mist, and powered. You can mount some of these models to the duct or attach some of them to the furnace or heat pump. You can easily install a humidifier while replacing your furnace. It is also possible to have one installed to your existing heating system. It is important...

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How to Maintain Mini Split Air Conditioners

October 28, 2015

Ductless mini-split air conditioning systems are popular for their portable design, high efficiency, and cooling capacity. If you are planning to install a ductless mini-split air conditioner in your home or office, it would be a good idea to learn some maintenance tips. Mini-split systems are efficient and effective in cooling rooms of almost every size. Let’s take a look at some common problems with ductless mini-split air conditioners and how to prevent these problems. Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner There are three components in a ductless mini-split air conditioner – the compressor, the air handler, and a remote. The compressor unit is located outdoors, while the air handler is located inside a room. It is easy to install this type of air conditioner, as in most cases installation can be done without rebuilding or remodeling your existing building. The indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit through pipes and wires passing through a hole in the wall or ceiling. Another benefit of using a ductless mini-split air conditioner is that you can install them almost anywhere in your home. Common Installation Problems Many ductless mini-split air conditioners come with an installation kit. Before you decide to self-install, check whether there is any...

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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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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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