As a homeowner, one of the best things you can do is familiarize yourself with the equipment that powers your home. In this instance, we are talking about your HVAC system. While it may not power the home itself, it does keep you comfortable throughout the year. Taking the time to get to know your HVAC system (as well as other systems in the home) will allow you to better understand potential issues and take care of them.
#1: Clean Your Filters to Maintain Efficiency
Many homeowners fail to properly clean or replace their HVAC system air filters. These filters will not work efficiently once they become dirty. A dirty air filter will cause the system to work overtime to maintain the level of comfort you desire. It can also make your utility bills climb steadily. Clean your air filters at least once every three months to maintain system efficiency.
#2: Keep Your Air Vents Open To Reduce System Stress
A common question homeowners have regarding their HVAC system is “Does closing air vents redirect airflow?” It is often assumed that you can redirect the airflow of your HVAC system by closing off any air vents you don’t need currently. However, this will actually not redirect cool or warm air to other vents in the home. Instead, it adds stress to the system, which increases the overall risk of problems and the need for maintenance and repair.
#3: Maintain the Ducts
The ducting is an important part of the HVAC system that many homeowners tend to overlook. When ducts are not properly maintained, they may start leaking, resulting in 20 to 40% of energy waste. Sealing the ductwork can prevent leakage while reducing the overall stress on the HVAC system.
#4: Add Filters to Return Vents
As a general rule, the HVAC equipment itself is the only part of the system that includes an air filter. However, it is actually recommended that your return vents have an appropriately sized air filter. This is especially true for ceiling vents, but what do filters do in the ceiling? These filters will work alongside the main air filter to improve indoor air quality and protect the system from hair, dust, pet dander, pollen, and other contaminants.
#5: Schedule Routine Maintenance With a Licensed HVAC Technician
Routine maintenance of your HVAC system is a necessity for its longevity and efficiency. However, it is important to only work with a licensed and skilled HVAC technician with the knowledge, experience, and certifications to perform heating and cooling work.
Trust Our Saint Louis HVAC Professionals
If you need an HVAC system check-up, maintenance, or repair, contact the professional and licensed team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling in Saint Louis, MO.
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Are you looking for other ways to heat your home rather than a furnace? Maybe your furnace is out temporarily, and you are looking for cheaper alternatives. Continue reading to find out how you can keep your house warm until you repair your furnace.
Alternative Ways To Heat Your Home
There are many alternative heating devices that you can use to keep your home warm.
Use a Wood Stove
Wood stoves are a great way to heat your home. They are affordable and great when trying to reduce energy costs. Wood stoves require chimney piping and a firebox if you don’t already have them. But they are still worth investing in because you can still reduce your energy bills during the winter. Make sure you have enough space to accommodate a wood stove before buying one.
Portable Heater
Portable heaters are another good option to use temporarily until you get your furnace repaired. Portable heaters can be moved with you from one room to another. Some of them are also available with wheels. Warm air can easily circulate through your home with the assistance of a portable heater.
Space Heater
If your furnace breaks down, look no further than a space heater. They will provide just the right amount of heat to keep you and your family warm. There are various types of space heaters on the market today. You can purchase a fan-forced, electric radiant, infrared quartz tube, or even one with a built-in humidifier. It is totally your choice. When using a space heater, you must always make sure that you keep it within a three-foot distance between any other furniture or combustible items to reduce your risk of a fire. Furthermore, you will need to use an outlet within three feet of your space heater.
Fireplace
Everyone doesn’t have a fireplace, but if you do, they are perfect for keeping you warm if your furnace breaks down. If you already have firewood stacked away, make use of it. Avoid using wood treated with insecticides or chemicals since it can be toxic when inhaled. Also, be sure you know how to properly operate your fireplace to prevent damage.
Temporary Heating Device
If you need heat immediately and cannot wait until your furnace is fixed, the best option is to purchase a temporary heating device. They are widely available and can be used to keep your house warm. However, the only downside is that they are not as affordable as many other options listed above. Either way, people still find them worth investing in since they can supply you with immediate heat.
Whether you’re trying to help the environment or save some money on your heating bills, an energy efficient furnace can be an investment that pays off environmentally and financially. There are many misconceptions about what energy-efficient heating sources mean and what different percentages in this industry mean. In this article, we’ll discuss the meaning of energy efficiency and how that relates to heating furnaces.
What does energy efficient mean?
Energy efficiency essentially means that a furnace or other appliance uses resources as efficiently as possible. For refrigerators, this might mean that the appliance uses electricity as efficiently as possible. For air conditioners, it might mean that they use coolant and electricity as efficiently as possible. When it comes to furnaces, energy efficiency refers to having a high degree of AFUE compared to other furnaces.
Energy efficiency essentially means that a furnace produces a higher percentage of annual fuel utilization efficiency (also known as AFUE) than a standard furnace. This leads to using a lower amount of fuel than a furnace that is less efficient in energy. Furnaces that use more fuel cost more money to run all winter long. Additionally, they have a larger impact on the environment since they use up limited resources at a faster and greater rate than energy-efficient furnaces.
A regular furnace typically produces about 80% AFUE. A furnace with higher energy efficiency would provide roughly 90%-95% of AFUE comparatively. While it might seem at face value that a furnace with 80% AFUE is automatically less efficient than one with 90% AFUE, there are other factors to consider beyond AFUE when determining energy efficiency.
The processes that different furnaces use range from vacuuming in air from the area around the furnace called open combustion to sealed combustion. Sealed combustion entails obtaining air from outside through a specific PVC pipe.
What should homeowners consider when upgrading to an energy-efficient furnace?
For many homeowners, cost is the largest determining factor in choosing a new appliance. While we all want to help the environment, some of us have less wiggle room in our budgets to do so. When one is replacing a furnace that has 80% AFUE in an area that is vented or small, it can be financially burdensome. After all, you are converting to an appliance that not only needs to be installed on its own but also needs pipes installed to allow for air to come into the unit. This increases the overall cost.
Another major factor that homeowners should consider when upgrading their furnaces for energy efficiency is potential safety risks. Open combustion can create problems related to safety in sealed spaces without proper ventilation. Between the expense of converting to a 95% furnace in a small space and the hazard to your well-being that an 80% furnace poses in the same kind of environment, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. It’s a call only you can make.
Believe it or not, there’s more in your house ductwork than cold and hot air. There’s also debris like pollen, dander, and dust, all of which stem from daily chores like cleaning and cooking. Dirty air ducts can pose health risks to the occupants of your property. From acute illnesses like asthma and allergies to chronic diseases like lung cancer, dirty ducts have many potentially harmful effects. So, do air ducts need to be cleaned? Here are nine reasons why you should clean your air ducts.
1. Proper Oxygenation
An efficient HVAC system filters out harmful particulates in your home or building. Fresh air canimprove your body’s oxygenation leading to optimal functioning of your major organs and preventing respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies.
2. Minimized Sinus, Skin, or Eye Irritants
Spores, dust, fungus, and pollens that might irritate can accumulate in your HVAC system over time. If you suffer from constant inflammation, you might have to contact a qualified HVAC technician to inspect your air ducts.
3. Maintains a Cleaner Environment
Dust particles accumulate in the ductwork, especially when you turn off your HVAC system. Once you turn on the system, the particles recirculate in the house and settle on your floor furniture, bedding, etc. You’ll need to dust the surfaces to keep your home hygienic and clean. Check the ducts if you suspect your house is becoming unusually dusty. Cleaning the ductwork will help prevent pollutants from entering your house and keep your home clean and hygienic.
4. Odor Reduction
Dirty air ducts can collect odorous molecules causing smelly air to circulate throughout your house or building. Cleaning the ducts can help clear away any odorous molecules resulting in a fresh-smelling interior space.
5. Fewer HVAC Repairs
Routine cleanups and inspections can help you identify any developing or potential issues that might worsen. This allows you to fix the problem promptly, ensuring it doesn’t deteriorate. Therefore, it’s doubtful that you might experience major HVAC-related repairs if you regularly clean your air ducts.
6. Energy Savings
Cleaned air ducts help reduce blockages in the ducts. This leads to less obstructed airflow, which means that your HVAC unit won’t have to put extra effort into heating or cooling your home, as it would’ve been the case with dirty air ducts. Therefore, your unit will consume less power when functioning on clean ducts. Lower power consumption results to lower electricity bills.
7. Thermoregulation
Poor air control can cause illnesses like hyperthermia and hypothermia. All these conditions can trigger your equilibrium and even shut down your vital body organs. Clean your air ducts to ensure that your HVAC unit functions properly for optimal air control.
8. Mildew and Mold Prevention
Moisture from your HVAC unit can collect inside the air ducts and create an ideal condition for fostering harmful microorganisms like mold and mildew. If left unsolved, these fungi might make a home inside your ducts and even spread into other parts of your house through the circulating air. A professional duct cleanup will ensure that your ducts don’t become a breeding ground for mildew and mold.
9. Fight Infestation
The warm vents of your house might seem like a cozy, comfy gateway for pests looking for a warm, quiet, and dark place to settle down. Rodents and insects are unsanitary fit for you and your family. They might spread diseases, and their droppings can cause allergies or respiratory problems. Keeping your ductwork clean will discourage pests from residing in your house and even eliminate pests that have already made themselves comfortable.
So, how often should I have my air ducts cleaned? We recommend cleaning your ducts every 3 to 5 years. However, the frequency can change based on factors like mold and a noticeable amount of dust in your ducts.
Don’t DIY; Seek Professional Air Duct Cleaning Services
Air ducts are an integral part of any HVAC unit. Therefore, you must ensure that they’re cleaned and maintained regularly. Trust Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to provide the finest air duct cleaning services. Our experts have years of experience serving this industry, so we are the best choice for air duct cleaning. Get in touch with us today to help restore your air quality!
