HVAC problems and mechanical complications are always inconvenient and frustrating to deal with, but there are some issues that are more urgent than others. Some HVAC problems can be addressed with a scheduled service appointment for maintenance or repairs a few days or weeks down the road, but other issues should be handled immediately with emergency HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO. If you’re not sure whether you need emergency repairs or not, keep reading for some tips to help you make the right decision based on your needs.
Signs you need emergency service
An HVAC system is designed to deliver consistent, reliable performance for many years, but all systems will eventually develop some performance issues that require maintenance and repairs to address. Some simple services, like filter changes or minor part replacement, can be scheduled in the future, while other services must be handled immediately to ensure the continued safety and performance of an HVAC system. Here are several signs to look for to determine whether you need emergency HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO:
Strange odors: Strange smells can be a good indication that something is wrong with your system. While some odors can be addressed with regular HVAC service appointments, there are some smells that should never be ignored. For example, if you smell gas coming from your furnace, it’s important to get help from a professional right away. Waiting too long to respond to a gas leak can be very dangerous, so make sure to take care of this problem as soon as possible.
Electrical problems: If you’ve noticed electrical problems with your HVAC system, it’s a good idea to call a professional as soon as possible to check things out. Some common electrical problems include frequent circuit breaker trips, buzzing and humming and flickering lights when a system is running. All these problems indicate that there’s something wrong with the system’s power connections that must be fixed to keep it running safely, effectively and efficiently.
No system function: If your system isn’t working at all, you need to contact a technician for emergency repairs. While it might not be a huge concern during the spring or fall, when the weather is relatively mild, this can be a much bigger deal during extremely hot or cold weather. Without heating or cooling functionality, it’s nearly impossible to keep an indoor space comfortable and safe while temperatures are very hot or cold. Contact a professional technician to get to the bottom of a malfunctioning system to minimize the amount of time spent without use of your HVAC.
HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO
Whether you want to schedule a routine maintenance appointment with our team or you need emergency HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO, reach out to Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling for assistance. We’ve been providing comprehensive HVAC maintenance, repair and installation services for home and business owners throughout the area for over 20 years and we continue to develop a reputation for the quality of our services and customer satisfaction. Give us a call to schedule an appointment today and find out more about everything we have to offer.
We rely heavily on our home’s and office’s heating and cooling systems—and if everything is working well, it’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security. Why spend the time and money scheduling an HVAC inspection and maintenance appointment when the unit seems to be working just fine?
The importance of HVAC service in St. Louis, MO is more than just checking boxes—your annual maintenance ensures that you can identify and repair problems before they cause major damage to your unit, among other benefits. Here’s why you need to schedule HVAC service today:
Spot problems before they start: The second you notice something odd happening with your unit, be sure to call the pros. Strange noises, a lack of ability to heat or cool or weird odors can indicate that something is wrong. Broken or damaged parts can cause further damage if they’re left unaddressed.
Lower your energy bills: Who doesn’t want to save money on their energy bills? If your HVAC system has been working overtime to heat and cool your home, your electricity or gas bill will go through the roof. Proper HVAC service in St. Louis, MO guarantees that you won’t dread opening the bill at the end of the month (at least no more so than usual).
Safety matters: From short circuits to carbon monoxide leaks, damaged HVAC units can be deadly to you and your family. Cracks, broken parts and other issues aren’t just inconvenient and expensive—carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards can have fatal results, so it’s important to stay on top of maintenance and catch problems before they get worse.
Keep your unit running longer: You probably know it’s important to take your car in for a tune-up so it’ll keep going for years—the same goes for all machinery, including your HVAC system. Plus, you don’t want to get caught on the hottest or coldest days of the year with no way to regulate your home’s or business’s temperature. Annual maintenance keeps your HVAC system running smoothly for a longer period of time, and cuts down on the chance that you’ll see a system failure later on down the road.
You can do some maintenance tasks, such as pruning shrubbery away from the outside unit and changing your air filter regularly, but there’s no substitute for a professional examination. Your HVAC technician will look for any issues and address them on the spot.
HVAC service in St. Louis, MO
Ready to schedule your annual HVAC maintenance? There’s no better time than now—call Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to schedule an appointment. We are dedicated to ensuring your system is ready to take on the allergens of spring and handle heating or cooling tasks all year long. Whether you need to install or repair your unit or just make sure everything’s good in working condition, we’ll make sure your home stays temperate and free of pollutants. Call us to get started—we look forward to assisting you soon!
You might be under the impression that because you’re indoors, the air quality is better than you would get outdoors. Unfortunately, sometimes the air we breathe in our own homes is even more polluted than a busy city street, because many of us forget the importance of regular HVAC service in St. Louis, MO. Pollen, pet hair and dander, mold, dust and other pollutants can make it difficult to breathe easily. In fact, that’s why your HVAC system has an air filter—but in order for it to be effective, you need to change it regularly.
Air filters not only filter the air you breathe, making it possible to live without congestion, but they also function in blocking particles and pollutants that could damage the inside of your HVAC unit. Changing your air filter is a relatively simple process—it should take less than 10 minutes to complete—and will drastically improve the function of your HVAC system.
Types of air filters
There are a variety of different air filters you can purchase for your unit. Here are some of the most popular options:
Fiberglass: These are the least expensive filters you can purchase. They’re disposable, and often do a decent job of protecting your HVAC, but will stop working effectively as debris builds up. If you’re prone to allergies, try a different type.
Pleated: The more pleats, the better the filtering—these cotton or polyester filters do a nice job of filtering dust and allergens.
Reusable and washable: Washable filters are greener than other options, and save you money in the long run. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s directions for washing the filters and letting them dry completely, or you could find yourself blowing mold throughout the house.
HEPA: HEPA stands for “high efficiency particulate air filters,” and these filters are great for those with seasonal or chronic allergies and respiratory problems. They can filter out 99.97 percent of contaminants, making them the U.S. Department of Energy’s top choice of air filter.
Electrostatic: These come in washable and disposable versions, and use an electrostatic charge to trap dust and other particulate matter.
UV: Finally, these filters use UV light to kill bacteria and viruses that enter your home. They’re not as effective in screening dust and other particulates, but if you’re constantly sick, this could be a good choice for your home.
If you’re not sure which types of air filter might be right for your home and your specific HVAC unit, don’t hesitate to call the experts at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We can help you select and install the perfect type for your needs.
HVAC service in St. Louis, MO
Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is dedicated to making sure the air inside your home is fresh and clean, free of dust, allergens and other pollutants. We provide a full array of HVAC services in St. Louis, MO, from installation to repair and maintenance. We pride ourselves on offering fast, affordable services 24/7. Call us today to schedule your HVAC maintenance and more.
As a homeowner, it’s always a good idea to have a working relationship with an HVAC service provider. First and foremost, this will help you to stay on top of your regular preventative maintenance. You should schedule appointments at least once a year for technicians to come and check out all of your heating and cooling equipment and make sure it’s in good working order. This will allow you to find any potential vulnerabilities or issues early on, before they develop into larger, more expensive problems requiring HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO.
The other reason why it’s a good idea to have a working relationship with your HVAC service provider is so you have someone to call in the event of an emergency. If your HVAC system goes down, you’re going to want it repaired quickly, especially at certain times of year and in certain conditions. There are some circumstances that could quickly turn dangerous if you are left without heating or cooling capability.
At Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, our team is on hand to provide emergency repairs around the clock, seven days a week, whenever you need them, so you can take solace in knowing someone will be available when an emergency arises.
Of course, it’s important to know exactly what is and is not an emergency. Here are some issues to keep in mind that will help you determine whether you’re experiencing an emergency, or if it’s something you can wait until normal business hours to call about:
Weather: If you have mild temperatures in your area and aren’t really relying on your HVAC anyway, then you don’t need to worry as much about getting the system repaired immediately. However, if you’re experiencing extreme temperatures (either heat or cold), or if it’s extremely humid, you may need to make an emergency call. This is especially important in extremely cold seasons—not only is your health and safety in danger, but so is the condition of your home, as pipes can freeze and burst when the interior temperature dips to a certain point. If you’re experiencing extreme weather, do not hesitate to call in to an emergency HVAC service line.
Time: If the breakdown occurs and your HVAC company is just about to open up within the next hour or two, then you should be okay to wait until the business is officially open. If, however, your problem takes place in the early evening or night, or over the weekend, and you’ll need to wait a long time before the business opens up again, then you’re probably going to need to call in for emergency repairs.
Issue: Certain issues are going to be more alarming than others. For example, if you see smoke, then you should call for emergency assistance as soon as possible. If the issue is something like unusual noises, you’ll likely be able to wait until the business’s normal hours.
For more information about emergency HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO, contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today.
When you’re discussing the purchase and installation of a new heating and cooling system with your HVAC service in St. Louis, MO, you will need to take into account some minimum energy efficiency standards, which will limit the types of air conditioners and furnaces you’re allowed to purchase in your area. These energy efficiency standards vary from region to region, and even if a company carries products that have lower energy efficiency ratings, they won’t be able to sell them in your particular region if it doesn’t meet the standards set for your area. For example, people who live in the south will generally be required to use more energy-efficient air conditioners than people in the north, because they’re going to use them much more often.
This isn’t necessarily something that should be considered a negative—if it’s a question of whether or not the higher energy efficiency standards will hamper the operation of the equipment, you don’t need to worry. Energy-efficient HVAC systems are capable of working just as well as standard ones, with less energy. They might not produce the same results quite as quickly, but you will save a significant amount of energy and money on your utility bills to ultimately get at least the same quality of heating and cooling.
The major drawback is that these energy-efficient systems cost much more up front to purchase and install, so you need to be prepared to make an immediate investment into your home’s HVAC system.
New standards
The most recent federal changes to energy efficiency standards were implemented in July 2019, when the U.S. Department of Energy made official some new standards for furnaces. Under the new rules, there is a Fan Energy Rating (FER) that establishes a minimum airflow efficiency for all residential furnace fans. Furnaces are no longer allowed to even be manufactured if they fail to meet those baseline marks.
According to the Department of Energy, this new rule will save approximately 3.99 quads of energy, cut down on the amount of carbon pollution in the country by up to 34 million metric tons (equal to the amount of energy used by about 4.7 million homes) and cut down national home electric bills by about $9 billion through 2030.
This has required a lot of furnace manufacturers to make quite a few upgrades to their equipment and processes to ensure they need these new energy efficiency standards.
What does this mean for the average homeowner? Ultimately it means just about any new furnace you purchase is going to be a significant upgrade in terms of energy efficiency, but there are still tiers of energy efficiency you should consider, and you’ll need to meet any minimum requirements that exist for your area. You should not be scared off by a higher price tag for a more energy-efficient furnace, as it will save you money in the long run (to some extent).
For more information about energy efficiency and HVAC service in St. Louis, MO, reach out to the team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today.
