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.
In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s very easy to let certain chores slide by the wayside as you prep for (and revel in) the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, overlooking even routine maintenance of your furnace or heating system could have disastrous consequences for the people closest to you.
If you’ve skipped on heating repair in St. Louis, MO, the only time it’s too late to call for some professional help is after your HVAC system breaks down. Before that moment, there’s really no wrong time to schedule some routine maintenance. If you haven’t had your furnace or HVAC attended to by a technician, here are some significant reasons to make it happen as soon as possible.
Don’t get left in the cold
Easily the foremost nightmare scenario for a furnace is a complete breakdown at the moment when the weather is supposed to be at its chilliest. If your furnace or heating system is still in good working order, then it’s not too late to get a professional to put your HVAC system through its paces. Just a quick check of your system can identify weak spots and flaws and eliminate your risk of a sudden breakdown.
Keep your family (and yourself) safe
One of the most compelling reasons to enlist professional heating repair in St. Louis, MO is the potential for harm that can befall your loved ones. As with every machine, eventually, your heating and cooling system wears down. Parts get loose. Leaks pop up. When this routine wear and tear occurs, your family is at heightened risk of everything from fire to carbon monoxide poisoning. The eye of a skilled technician can prevent these issues from cropping up and causing damage.
Invest now, collect later
The sooner you have your HVAC system looked at, the less you’ll have to pay in the long run, because you’ll be avoiding long-term issues with early remedies. The benefits of professional attention to detail can extend the life of your furnace or HVAC system by several years. That means you can forestall the installation of a new system even as your family enjoys first-rate comfort for as long as two decades.
Trust the team that knows
There’s no better team to call for heating repair in St. Louis, MO than Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. For 20 years and counting, our courteous, professional team has strived to provide the region’s best heating and cooling repair. Whether your issues are residential or commercial, one of our talented team members will race to your rescue.
We’re ready to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you need repair, we’re standing by the phone. Don’t put the safety and comfort of your friends and family in the hands of a less qualified HVAC repair team. Call on Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling and be confident you’re getting the region’s premier HVAC service. Visit us online or give us a call today. We look forward to checking out your system soon!
During the summer, your HVAC system can seem like a luxury—it’s something to help stave off those dog days of June and July. They may be blistering hot, but if you stay inside, stay hydrated and stay near a fan, you’ll get by. During the winter, however, your HVAC system could very well save your life. When the temperatures dip below freezing, you’ll be grateful to have a high-functioning heating system.
If you’d like to avoid expensive heating repair in St. Louis, MO, the smartest thing to do is make sure to schedule routine maintenance of your heating system as far in advance as possible. Here’s why.
Save yourself some money
Take the sting out of buying gifts during the holiday season by scheduling maintenance early. For a minimal fee, a talented technician can keep your system running smoothly. That translates to less stress on your HVAC system and lower utility bills at a point when your pocketbook could likely use the help.
Stay close to your heater
As mechanically talented as you may be, the only person who can lend insight into the condition of your HVAC system is a certified professional. A little attention from the right person can extend the life of your heating system and help you prepare for the transition from your old system to a new one when the time comes.
Maximize your comfort
It’s probably not a surprise to find out that your family will spend most of its time inside your home during the darkest, coldest months of the year. Routine maintenance will improve the flow of air through your ventilation system, ensuring that warm air is spread evenly throughout the house.
Do your lungs a favor
Something as simple as routine heating repair in St. Louis, MO can have a dramatic impact on the air quality in your home. A little professional attention and a new filter, for example, can do wonders right before you and your family cuddle up for a long winter indoors.
Improve the safety of your home
As vital as your HVAC system is, wear and tear are inevitable. When that occurs, certain aspects of your heating system become a threat to your wellbeing and that of your family. Should an issue crop up during the dead of winter, you may have trouble getting a technician out to your home.
Eliminate emergencies
Perhaps most importantly, a dose of heating repair in St. Louis, MO can diminish the odds of something catastrophic happening when you need your heat to work the most.
Throughout the St. Louis and Jefferson County areas, there is no more trusted name in HVAC maintenance and repair than Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. For two decades, we’ve established a reputation for unparalleled customer service and top-notch work. Whether you need residential or commercial service, our talented technicians have the HVAC solution you need from world-class brands you trust, like Amana, Goodman and more.
When you want the best, there’s only one name to call: Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We can’t wait to hear from you.
For countless families across the United States, the furnace is the only thing keeping them from facing the harsh reality of a bone-chilling winter. You depend on your furnace to warm your entire house when the days turn short and the winds turn crisp. There’s nothing worse than reaching for your thermostat and switching it on only to find that your furnace is blowing cold air throughout the house.
If you find yourself with a furnace blowing cold air through your home, it could be something small, or you could require significant heating repair in St. Louis, MO. Here are some tips and pointers to help determine what may be wrong with your heater.
Check the fan setting
Before you jump to dire conclusions about the state of your furnace, check the basics. Every furnace has a fan that blows air through your home’s vents, and most heaters have a manual fan setting—you can find its location in your manual. If the fan setting is turned on, that means air is circulating through your home 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the furnace is currently operating or not.
The result is a steady current of air—sometimes cold, sometimes not—blowing through your home. To fix it, turn the fan setting to OFF or AUTO.
The pilot light is out
If you have an older model furnace, it’s possible that, over time, the pilot light has gone out. Start by turning your furnace off, then find your furnace’s pilot light assembly and reset it.
The assembly itself isn’t complicated. It’s a knob with three settings. The first thing to do is turn the knob to OFF. Then, wait at least three minutes. Next, turn the knob to PILOT and press down. Simultaneously hold a match or lighter up to the pilot opening. The pilot light should ignite once more in a bluish flame. Finally, turn the knob to ON.
If the pilot light continues to go out even after you’ve reignited it, you may need heating repair in St. Louis, MO.
Clogged filters
As your furnace circulates air through your home, it keeps that airflow clean by pushing the air through a filter. When that filter has been in use for too long, debris can accumulate, blocking the flow of warm air through your vents.
Turn your furnace off at the thermostat, then check the integrity of your unit’s air filter. It could be as simple as running to a hardware store and popping in a new screen.
St. Louis’s most trusted HVAC specialists
If you can’t determine the cause of your issues, you may need heating repair in St. Louis, MO. No matter what’s wrong with your furnace, you can count on Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to provide a solution that works for you.
We have two decades’ worth of satisfied customers who will confirm our dedication to customer satisfaction. The entire highly-trained team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is committed to providing the extended St. Louis area with unmatched service. Call us today and let us make you a believer.
As the temperature plunges into the single digits and another winter swoops through the American Midwest, it’s time for our furnaces to earn their keep. After sitting dormant for months on end, however, your furnace may not be in the best condition. If your furnace is acting up on you, here are some common problems to look for. Some are minor, though some require heating repair in St. Louis, MO.
Clogged filters
As your furnace circulates air through your home, it also kicks up dust and microscopic particles. Fortunately, most furnaces push air through a filter or series of filters. When these filters become clogged, it can cause numerous problems. For example, your heater may only blow cold air. You may also experience increased wear and tear on your furnace as it works overtime to push warm air through your clogged filters.
A high-pitched squeal
If you turn on the furnace and notice a high-pitched whine or an unsettling squealing noise, you could have an issue with your blower belt. Sometimes, excessive use can cause the belt to slip off its mechanism, creating an unpleasant sound.
The wrong furnace
No homeowner wants to hear that they’ve had the wrong furnace installed in their home, but if you’re experiencing uneven airflow—i.e., one room is warm and toasty while another is frigid—you might have the wrong furnace in your home.
Scraping noise
One of the most commonly overlooked parts of a furnace is the ball bearings. These critically essential components wear down over time, gain texture and can brush against your heater, causing a scraping noise.
Carbon monoxide leaks
On a long enough timeline, furnaces—especially older models—can develop tiny cracks in their structure. These small fissures allow dangerous carbon monoxide to leak into your home. Make sure your home has a functioning carbon monoxide detector at all times, and if you notice a leak, make sure to get immediate heating repair in St. Louis, MO.
Excessive cycling
Are you noticing that your furnace is turning on and off more than it should? This issue, known as excessive cycling, is caused when there is a leak in your home or when something is blocking the flow of air through your vents.
Your go-to furnace pros
Stumped by what could be troubling your furnace? Don’t let the problem fester—call the highly-trained staff at one of the St. Louis community’s most acclaimed HVAC companies. As we celebrate 20 years of serving the extended area, Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is doubling down on our commitment to excellence. When you need cooling and heating repair in St. Louis, MO, there’s no more reliable team to trust than the veterans at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling.
In addition to helping you maintain your furnace, our courteous squad can ensure that all your HVAC needs are met. From installation to maintenance to repair, we do it all. No job is too big, and no brand is off limits. Give us a call today!
