How Ductless Heat Pumps Work

October 9, 2015

How Ductless Heat Pumps Work? It is estimated that a ductless heat pump can save you up to 40 percent on your energy bills! The use of ductless heat pumps in St. Louis area homes and offices is a relatively new trend. Previously, almost all heating and cooling systems would have some ducts. While ducts help achieve uniform heating and cooling throughout the entire home, they generally consume more energy than the ductless systems consume. In fact, a heating or cooling system may lose around 15 to 20 percent of its efficiency while the hot or cool air flows through the pipes to the ducts. This means that using ductless heat pumps will help you save a lot on your energy bills. A ductless heat pump system comes with an outdoor and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit contains the compressor or condenser, while the indoor unit consists of air handlers that are installed in the areas to be cooled or heated. You will also find portable floor units that do not require installation. The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit with conduits, which contain condensate drains, refrigerant tubing, power cables, and suction tubing. The indoor unit works...

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Key Components of Your HVAC System & What They Do

September 15, 2015

A basic knowledge of how your HVAC system works is important for better operation and maintenance. A good HVAC system ensures the comfort of your family throughout the year. It is important for every home owner to know the components of their HVAC system, and what they do to keep you cool in the summer and warm in winters: Furnace: Your furnace is a key component of your HVAC system and very likely the largest. It occupies a lot of space and is usually placed in the basement, attic, cellar, or in a purpose-built closet. It supplies air that is distributed to different rooms in the home. It can use any of the four heat sources including combustion sources such as propane, natural gas, coal, oil, a heat pump, electric resistance, and solar energy. Thermostat: In simple terms, a thermostat is the user interface that gives homeowners control over the temperature in their home. It is usually placed on the most accessible wall of the house. There are different types of thermostats available in the market including manual, programmed, and WiFi enabled thermostats. When the temperature drops or rises too much the thermostat triggers the evaporator coil and condensing unit...

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How Insulating Your Home Can Save You Money

September 8, 2015

Home insulation helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and make your home energy efficient. Over time, your HVAC system may lose efficiency. One way to maintain your system’s efficiency is by ensuring that your walls, windows, and other parts of your home are properly insulated. Why Insulate Your Home? Just installing an HVAC system may not be enough. The ultimate goal is to have a system that runs efficiently for years, without you having to spend a large sum of money on frequent repairs. A sure way to take the pressure off your HVAC system is by insulating your home. Insulation helps to create a healthier home environment and maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home, by preventing cool air from escaping outside. Simply put, home insulation makes your heating and cooling system’s job easier, resulting in lower energy bills and a system that lasts longer. Where to Insulate The first step towards insulating your home is to decide where to insulate. Ideally, you need to insulate the areas of your home connected to the outside environment. This can be any vents or pathways through the doors, windows, ceilings, walls, roofs, floors, attic, and ducts. Types of Home Insulation Different...

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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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Install the Right Size Commercial HVAC System to Save Energy

August 12, 2015

The major part of the construction or renovation budget of a commercial building usually goes into installation and maintenance of HVAC system. Purchasing and installing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system is no small investment. However, a high performance device of the right-size can trim your energy costs remarkably. Buying and Installing a Correct Size HVAC System There is a common misconception that the bigger the system, the more efficient it is. But most commercial heating and cooling devices run at less than half their capacity. This is because most commercial buildings have oversized systems, which is not needed. So, it is important to get the size system required for your building from your contractor. Ideally, a correct-size would be 10 to 15 % bigger than the actual size. This is recommended as a safety measure. There are many factors that are considered to determine the correct size. This will include building’s age, desired use, required ventilation, heat generated in the office space due to lighting system and machinery, and the number of occupants in the facility. If you have plans of extending your building in the future, you should go for a system that can be modified according to the...

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4 Types of Filtration and Cleaning Systems for Your St. Louis Home

August 7, 2015

Taking the steps to improve on indoor air quality will go a long way towards protecting the health of your family. Indoor air quality is a hot topic in the HVAC industry right now. As homeowners scrambled over the last couple of years to air tighten their homes to save energy, they often created breeding grounds for all types of irritants. Fortunately, the industry has recognized this, and is now constantly working on ways to improve the quality of air in the home. Poor indoor air quality can cause a host of problems, as the same polluted air is continually being circulated throughout your house. Not only can it irritate the lungs, and become dangerous for people with respiratory ailments like asthma, but it can cause mold and fungus growth. There are dozens of particles floating unseen in the air around you, but the most common irritants include: Dust Pollen Pet dander Dust mites Cigarette smoke Mold spores In order to help eliminate these from your St. Louis home’s breathing air, you now have a number of options to choose from. HVAC Filters Any forced air HVAC system relies on filters to remove large particles from the air. This was...

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St. Louis Residential Replacement – Before and After

August 4, 2015

At Scott-Lee Heating Company we have proudly been serving St. Louis residences for over 35 years! Our team takes pride in the work we do throughout the greater St. Louis area. It is our commitment to providing the very best heating and air conditioning services in St. Louis that has made us the go-to, full-service HVAC company for thousands of customers in Missouri. The following are before and after shots of a residential replacement we recently completed. Scott-Lee Heating Company Call us today to see why thousands of St. Louis families trust Scott-Lee Heating for all of their St. Louis heating and cooling needs! Call today!

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Top Factors Influencing a Homeowner’s Decisions Regarding HVAC Equipment

July 27, 2015

Most St. Louis homeowners desire an HVAC system that is reliable, efficient, and saves them money. The top benefits that homeowners expect from their HVAC system includes long-term reliability, low monthly operating costs, competitive purchase price, and of course the ability to heat and cool their home to the desired temperature.  In a survey of homeowners to understand the factors they considered before buying an HVAC system, some interesting facts were revealed. Key Features Consumers Look For in an HVAC System Long-term reliability Low operating costs Ability to provide and maintain the desired temperature inside the home Reasons For Not Wanting to Purchase a New System Even if the HVAC system is old or has problems, some homeowners will have the system repaired instead of purchasing a new one. There could be many reasons behind this including the large cost of replacing an older system. However, long-term repair and replacement costs can quickly spiral out of control. Consider other factors such as: Energy savings Financing options Government rebates Buyer Recommendations for Buying a New HVAC System Research carefully Speak with a local HVAC company Contract a qualified company to install the new system Consider energy efficiency Profile of a Satisfied Consumer Some homeowners prefer purchasing a premium HVAC system because they desire features...

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3 Factors That Affect Your Comfort

July 22, 2015

Your home’s HVAC system plays the crucial role of keeping you comfortable inside your home. If you are looking to invest in a new HVAC system, you should not just consider its ability to cool or heat, but also how it affects your overall comfort. There are three key factors to consider in an HVAC system that will help you stay comfortable. 1. Temperature Regulation You need your HVAC system to keep you cool when it is warm outside and warm when it’s cold outside. However, the important point here is to consider how cool or warm you want to keep it. Often, the first instinct of every homeowner is to purchase a system that is the cheapest, even though it may have the lowest efficiency. Such systems tend to have long swings of colder and hotter temperatures. This occurs when the system has achieved the desired temperature and shuts down. You might not notice it, but even when you set the thermostat at 72 degrees, the temperature can go up or down by even 10 degrees through the operating cycle depending on your HVAC system. Choose a system with a higher SEER rating so that the temperature does not vary...

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4 Signs Your Air Conditioner Is in Need of Repair

July 17, 2015

If you notice one or more of the following, waste no time in contacting your local St. Louis air conditioning experts at Scott-Lee Heating Company! Your Missouri home’s air conditioning system is there to provide your family with cool air during the hot days of summer. However, even with timely and frequent tune-ups, your air conditioner may suddenly develop issues. If you notice any of the following, waste no time in calling us before a small, fixable issue turns into a major repair! A Change in the Quality of the Airflow Your home’s central air conditioning system generates cooled air and that is then passed on to the rest of the house using fans and air ducts. When working properly, you will feel cool air blowing out from the vents when you place your hand in front of one. If the air feels warm or amount of air blowing out of the vent has decreased, you might have a problem with the coolant level or one of the blower fans. Unusual Noises or Smells Any sound that is suddenly heard coming from your air conditioning unit is a sign of concern. This could indicate worn out or broken parts. Burning smells...

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