Save Money on Air Conditioning Costs this Summer

June 29, 2015

Is your energy bill increasing this summer because of your air conditioner? If you are not careful, cooling your home this summer may cost you close to half of your household budget. However, there are ways to keep money in your wallet without having to break a big sweat. Shade Your Home with Plants Direct sunlight shining in through your windows is a large contributor to the heat inside of your home. You can cut down on this by planting shrubbery, trees, and plants around your home. This will help in blocking the sunlight from entering your house as well as improve the exterior look of your property. Resist the Urge to Open Your Windows The idea of opening the house to fresh air may seem like a good idea; however, it will increase your cooling costs. The cool air inside will be lost to the outside while the hot outside air will be sucked in. If you must have bursts of fresh air, wait for the evening when it starts to cool off outside and consider turning off the air conditioner while the windows are open. Cook Less Often A lot of heat is generated in your home every time you turn...

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The Best Ways to Optimize the Efficiency of a Commercial HVAC System

June 25, 2015

Would it surprise you know that an average of 30-40% of your electricity bill is being used up by your buildings heating, ventilating and cooling system? That could be startling to a business owner struggling to stay out of the red. Many business owners are wondering how they can reduce that cost without sacrificing a comfortable environment inside of their building. The good news is there are ways, and not only will they save you money, the performance of your HVAC system will be greatly improved! Investments that Result in Savings One of the biggest steps you can take towards cutting your costs will require some investment. Load reduction is when you tighten up a structure to allow the least amount of outside air in, and none of your conditioned or heated air out. Adding insulation is one example of load reduction. For buildings with large, unused space between the top floor and ceiling, it is often a good idea to load as much insulation there as possible. Heat rises, so during the winter, all your comfortable hot air will just make its way out of the roof, taking your profits with it. A major investment, but one that will...

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Scott-Lee Recognized by Enertech for Outstanding Performance in 2014

June 10, 2015

Enertech Recognition For Outstanding Performance in 2014 (GREENVILLE, ILL. – MAY 26, 2015) – Homeowners looking to “go green” and save money on energy costs won’t have to look very far to find one of the nation’s top geothermal installers. Locally-owned Scott-Lee Heating Company has established itself as a leader in the geothermal industry, having earned the Gold Club Award during the 19th Annual Enertech Global Dealer Meeting. The meeting took place on April 9 in Greenville, Ill. Enertech President and CEO Steve Smith presented the St. Louis, Mo., dealer with the prestigious award for demonstrating excellence in sales, installation, and customer service. “We have some of the best dealers in the industry,” said Smith. “They’re committed to providing the ultimate comfort experience for the homeowner, and hold themselves to a higher standard than most. You won’t find anyone better equipped to provide a quality geothermal system, period.” Geothermal taps into Earth’s heat to provide clean and sustainable energy for heating and cooling. Many property owners are turning to geothermal to reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying substantial savings in their heating and cooling costs. Scott-Lee Heating Company offers the complete line of GeoComfort geothermal equipment for residential and commercial...

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Choosing the Right Air Conditioning System for Your Home or Business

May 27, 2015

A number of factors will determine the type of air conditioning system that will be recommended for your home or business. These factors include the size and overall temperature of the area requiring air conditioning. All correlated criteria are taken into account before recommending the most appropriate system that can be used inside a particular area or space. Window Air Conditioning Units The most common type of air conditioning unit for single rooms is the window-type air conditioner in which a box contains all the parts of this air conditioning unit (the condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, cooling coil, and compressor). This type of air conditioning unit is installed through an opening on the wall or on the window sill of a room. Split-Type Air Conditioning Unit The split-type air conditioning unit is made up of two components, the indoor component and the outdoor component. The indoor component is made up of the cooling fan and coil or evaporator. The outdoor unit is positioned outside the room and is made up of the condenser, expansion valve, and compressor. It is not necessary to provide an opening on the wall for these types of air conditioning units. Modern split units are creatively-designed...

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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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Investing in the Future: Geothermal Heating for Your Home

May 15, 2015

After wind and solar energy, geothermal energy is gaining the attention of homeowners interested in green energy. The most common application for geothermal energy is in heating residential homes and commercial establishments. Listed below are five key points about geothermal heating that everyone should be aware of: 1. Geothermal Heating Is Gaining Recognition Geothermal heating technology is not just more available, but it is being used widely across the nation. A popular online resource that connects contractors and homeowners published a report stating that the requests for geothermal systems have increased by over two times in the past year. According to estimates provided by the United States Government’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Consumer Guides, there are almost 50,000 geothermal systems installed in the U.S. every year. 2. Geothermal Heating Saves Money While the upfront cost of installing a geothermal system might appear steep, it’s a smart long-term investment due to significantly reduced operational expenses. According to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy consumer guide, homeowners typically recoup the initial investment within a relatively short period, usually around 5 to 10 years, through substantial energy savings. As societal consciousness about environmental impact grows, the allure of eco-friendly HVAC systems becomes more pronounced. Homes equipped with...

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Heating and Cooling Your Home Using the Earth’s Largest Resource

April 24, 2015

Heating And Cooling With Geothermal Heating Your home is sitting right on top of a huge, relatively untapped source of heat. Just a few feet past the foundation is a renewable energy resource in the form of heat that is naturally abundant under the ground. This heat generated from the earth, or geothermal, can be harnessed and used as a natural way to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. What Is Geothermal Heating? Deep inside the earth, temperatures soar to over 9,000 degrees. This heat rises to the surface and is stored in between pockets of rock below the surface of the ground. Water is a great conductor of this heat as can be seen with naturally occurring hot springs and geysers and can also be used to help bring that heat up and straight into your living room. Since the heat is always being generated, this is a naturally renewable form of heat that can be harnessed and used as a home heating source. To accomplish this, an experienced HVAC company would install a geothermal heat pump for your home. Using long pipes that are buried below the frost line, a mixture of water and...

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Revolutionizing Energy Efficiency: The Role of HVAC Systems in Commercial Buildings

April 22, 2015

The overall energy use has come down thanks to the use of more energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. In the last 25 years, the energy intensity of buildings has decreased by over 40 percent. During the five year period from 2007 to 2012, the energy demand in commercial buildings has come down by about 6.4 percent, according to a study published in Bloomberg New Energy Finance. According to HVAC experts, the decrease in energy consumption in commercial buildings can largely be attributed to the new, more energy-efficient construction, and use of new technology in old buildings including up gradation of HVAC systems. A surprising fact about today’s energy consumption scenario in commercial establishments is that even though the number of electronic devices being employed has gone up substantially, the overall energy use has come down thanks to the use of more energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. However, this does not mean that there is no scope of any further improvement. Building owners and facility managers can still take some measures to improve energy efficiency, and further, bring down utility bills. According to Energy Star, the largest operating expense in any commercial establishment is that of energy use. Apart from the economic impact of energy use, the environmental impact is also huge. Commercial...

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Maintaining Clean Air Ducts

April 2, 2015

Pollutants can accumulate inside your home’s air ducts, reducing the indoor air quality of your home. Most residential and commercial structures are built with integrated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC ducts. Fresh and stale air does not normally circulate together through these ducts. This will result in the accumulation of pollutants inside the air ducts and will lower the indoor air quality of the building. Those who suffer from respiratory ailments may experience aggravated symptoms from the pollutants. Maintaining Healthy Indoor Air Pollutants in the air ducts can be minimized or eliminated if the HVAC ducts are cleaned, resulting in a healthy environment inside the house. However, it is also possible that the air ducts will be damaged if they are cleaned too often. A regular cleaning schedule should be established. Although numerous recommendations are available for cleaning the ductwork, it is important to hire a St. Louis HVAC company to clean them properly. Aside from an improvement in air quality when the duct is clean, rodents will be also kept away. How to Clean Air Ducts A number of modifications have made in industry standards as well as duct cleaning methods over a number of years. The cleaning quality has improved with the developments...

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How to Fix a Noisy Air Conditioner

March 30, 2015

An air conditioner makes your living space comfortable; however, if your air conditioner makes too much noise, it becomes a source of irritation. Has your air conditioner always been this loud or has it recently started making a lot of noise? If the noise has started recently, then the problem may be mechanical and you should get the unit inspected to locate the defect or the source of the noise. Using a Soundproofing Blanket Central air conditioners have an outdoor compressor and condenser unit which has moving parts that may become noisy with time. The most effective way to reduce noise for an outdoor unit is to install a soundproofing blanket on the compressor. Compressors generally have an internal cooling system and hence the problem of overheating due to soundproofing may not arise. However, first, check with the unit’s manufacturer regarding any warranty violations due to the use of a soundproofing blanket. Anti-Vibration Pads The noise of an outdoor unit can also be because of excessive vibrations. This can be resolved using anti-vibration pads. These are inexpensive rubber pads that can be installed under the feet of the compressor – they dampen the vibrations and decrease the noise levels. Another option is to install a ‘soft start’ controller...

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