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Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

admin | December 7, 2019

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.

Common Furnace Problems in Winter

admin | November 23, 2019

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!

How Should I Maintain My Heater This Fall?

admin | November 6, 2019

Basic furnace maintenance has a variety of benefits, including reducing your heating costs and preventing breakdowns. While you should leave some stuff to HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO, there are a few things that every homeowner can do to maintain their heating system. Continue reading to learn a few of the most important maintenance items:

Change the filter: The easiest part of furnace maintenance is also one of the most important! It’s crucial that you change or clean your furnace filter every month. Your filter blocks contaminants from entering the unit and prevents allergens and other junk from circulating in the air. Neglecting to swap out your filter makes your unit work harder to heat your home, thus raising your monthly energy bills. Take a few seconds to change your filter and save yourself big bucks throughout the winter.
Clean the unit: A clean and tidy furnace will run efficiently and is less likely to break down in the middle of the cold season. Though you should call a professional to do a deep clean, you can dust off the sides of the unit and clean the fan with a wet cloth. You’ll also want to make sure the area around your furnace is nice and tidy! Giving your furnace plenty of room to breathe drastically reduces the chance of a fire.
Check the pilot light: If you have a gas furnace, take a quick look at the pilot light. The flame should burn a steady blue color with a yellow tip. If the flame is yellow or orange, or if it’s flickering, call a professional right away. HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO can come out and check your pilot light to see what’s the matter.
Check for rust: As your furnace ages, its sides or top may start to rust. This isn’t good! Any rust or corrosion may be a sign of a carbon monoxide leak, and this issue needs to be addressed immediately. A professional might be able to repair a leaky unit, but it may need to be replaced with a newer model. Only an HVAC technician will know for sure.
Install carbon monoxide monitors: This one doesn’t pertain to your furnace, per se, but putting carbon monoxide detectors in your home is still a crucial part of winter preparedness. As mentioned above, malfunctioning gas furnaces may emit carbon monoxide. Since its a colorless and odorless gas—and a deadly one—the only way to detect carbon monoxide is by placing monitors throughout your home.
Call for a tune-up: All of the steps above will undoubtedly benefit your furnace, but to ensure your furnace works to the best of its ability for years to come, call a professional to inspect it and give it a tune-up. A routine maintenance call may take less than an hour to complete, but keeping up with them over time can add years to your unit’s lifespan.

Don’t choose just anyone to tune up your furnace this fall. Be sure to hire our team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to tackle the job. We’re available around the clock and offer some of the most competitive rates in the area, which is what makes us one of the top HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO. Contact us today to learn more about any of our services.

Six Reasons Why Fall Is the Best Time to Schedule Furnace Maintenance

admin | October 23, 2019

The outdoor temperatures are dropping, which means you’ll want to crank up the heat in your home to stay nice and toasty throughout the winter. Before you touch that dial, though, be sure you’ve called for HVAC service in St. Louis, MO! This post will cover a few of the top reasons why it’s so important to schedule furnace maintenance each fall:

Safety: From carbon monoxide leaks to starting a fire, heaters can be dangerous units. You can ensure your furnace is as safe as possible by having it inspected by a professional. An HVAC technician will pore over every detail of your heater to ensure there are no cracked components that could create a carbon monoxide leak or any blocked vents that could lead to a fire.
Lower bills: The dirtier your unit is, the harder it has to work to put out heat for your home. And the harder your furnace has to work, the more energy it uses up, leading to higher bills each month. Though you can clean some components of your unit by yourself, you should hire a professional for a full cleaning and unit tune-up each fall. This service isn’t free, but it’ll save you a boatload of money throughout the winter.
Maintain energy efficiency: A clean and well-maintained unit uses 25 percent less electricity than one that isn’t. Not only is this saving you money, but it’s also helping out the environment.
Avoid breakdowns: Nothing’s worse than waking up and finding that your furnace stopped working in the middle of the night. Not only will you be without heat until a technician comes out, but you’ll also have to pay an arm and a leg to have your unit fixed. The best way to prevent this scenario is to call for HVAC service in St. Louis, MO today. One of our HVAC pros will tune up your unit to ensure it doesn’t kick the bucket in the dead of winter.
Prolong unit lifespan: You want your furnace to last for as long as possible, so be sure to call for routine maintenance each fall. Professional maintenance has proven to increase the average lifespan of heaters by 30 to 50 percent. A well-maintained furnace lasts for up to 20 years, while one that’s left untouched may only last for about 10.
Retain warranty: Each furnace comes with a warranty, but be sure to read the fine print! Many manufacturers put language in there stipulating that the unit must be professionally maintained—otherwise, the warranty is voided. Though it might not sound fair, it does make sense. Furnace manufacturers know the value of an annual maintenance check, and they don’t want to pay to replace a unit that was neglected by its owner.

Don’t wait one more day to call for HVAC service in St. Louis, MO! Reach out to Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today to schedule furnace maintenance or have a new furnace installed. We provide a whole host of heating services to meet all of your needs this winter.

Why Is Early Fall a Good Time for an HVAC Inspection?

admin | October 8, 2019

To keep your home nice and comfortable this fall and winter as temperatures begin to dip, it’s important to ensure that your HVAC system is working as effectively as possible. The most important thing for you to do to maintain the performance of your system is to invest in HVAC inspections and necessary HVAC service in St. Louis, MO. Read on to find out more about HVAC service and why fall is a great time for system inspections and maintenance.

Here are several reasons why fall is a good time to have your HVAC system inspected and serviced:

Get system ready for heating: After months without being used, it’s a good idea to have your heating system inspected and maintained to ensure that it’s performing optimally. During an inspection, your HVAC technician can identify any issues that require repair or maintenance before you can start using your heating system again.
Audit your summer energy use: In the fall, you have the opportunity to audit your energy use during the summer so that you can address any issues that might be contributing to energy waste. This information can help you make adjustments to your system settings so that you can operate your cooling system more efficiently next summer.
Clean and repair ductwork: The more you use your system, the more likely it is that your ductwork will accumulate some debris. In the fall, you can clear away all of the dust and debris that has built up in your ductwork in order to maintain proper airflow for effective heating. During a service appointment, your technician can also replace your filters to promote better airflow and boost system efficiency.
AC winterization: If you have an outdoor AC unit, you will need to take some winterizing steps to protect your system from the elements during the fall and winter. Your HVAC technician can provide this service during an inspection and maintenance appointment during the fall. By combining these services into a single appointment, you can save a lot of time and hassle.

Getting an inspection

If you’re ready to schedule a fall HVAC inspection and maintenance appointment, you should find a local HVAC contractor who you can rely on to provide you with the best service possible. Look for a service provider with a positive reputation in the community and with plenty of experience providing the kinds of services that you need for your home.

Reliable HVAC service in St. Louis, MO

For professional help with HVAC inspections and HVAC service in St. Louis, MO, reach out to Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. For the past two decades, we have been proud to provide comprehensive HVAC services to our customers throughout the area. Whether you need a basic inspection and a system tune-up or you want to have a new system installed in your home, our experienced team is here to help you. Give us a call today to find out more about the services we offer and to schedule a maintenance appointment.

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