As you make your final preparations for the approaching winter, making sure that your HVAC system is ready for the season is undoubtedly one of your top priorities. If not, you could find yourself without heat at a time when you will need it most. To avoid this fate and prevent the need for emergency HVAC service in St. Louis, MO, here is a to-do list to follow for your system this winter:
- Check for proper ventilation: Double check that all of the vents and registers of your system are open. Although this might seem like a small step to take, the inefficiency and potential damage that can be caused to the heat pump, furnace and HVAC system overall when the vents are closed and the system is running can take its toll. You should also dust the vents to make sure that debris doesn’t fall into the registers and affect the flow and quality of the treated air.
- Change air filters: Making sure to change your filters regularly will also help to maintain the airflow in your home, in addition to ensuring that the quality of the air is suitable for your family. Dirty air filters will force your HVAC system to work harder than it normally does, which can eventually lead to premature wear in some of the system’s key components. It is recommended that the filter is changed at the beginning of every season at the very least, with pet owners encouraged to make the change monthly.
- Carbon monoxide detector: As an added measure of precaution, all homes should have carbon monoxide detectors, as this dangerous gas is both colorless and odorless. Because carbon monoxide is so difficult to detect, homeowners could be ingesting fumes unknowingly. This makes it all the more important to either purchase a detector right away or change the batteries in the one that you have to make sure it is in working condition.
- Furniture arrangement: Make sure that the furniture in your home is placed so that you aren’t sitting in drafty areas, or obstructing vents. If your furniture is blocking your vents and restricting the amount of air that enters a room, you will likely be tempted to turn up the temperature without giving it much thought. Simply rearranging the furniture can help you keep the room temperate at all times, and will help you save money on your energy bills in the process.
The most important part of caring for your furnace is scheduling regular checkups with an HVAC professional, and that is where our team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling can step in. For nearly 20 years we have helped homeowners in the area get ready for the winter with superior HVAC service in St. Louis, MO, and our trusted technicians are ready to help you with the routine maintenance and repairs your system needs to make it through another season. Don’t get caught in the cold this winter—give us a call to schedule your appointment today!
The fall chill is in the air, Halloween is just around the corner and the countdown to the holiday break is just starting to begin. Winter will be here before we know it—is your home ready?
If you use a ground-source heat pump in your home, then you have a few simple steps you will need to follow to make sure your home is ready for the long, cold winter. We know these steps can be a pain, but they are certainly better than having a failed heat source in the dead of winter!
From a longtime provider of HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO, here is an overview for preparing your ground-source heat pump for winter.
Open your vents
You might have closed your air vents over summer, so that your house would not become drafty with the AC running. That is fine, but now that winter is coming, it is time to open those vents up again!
If you fail to open your vents before running your ground-source heat pump, you could experience uneven heating. This means your heat source will need to work twice as hard to keep your house comfortable, and could easily become overworked.
Fortunately, this is a very easy fix: simply remember to open your vents at the end of each summer. Keep it on an annual checklist to keep yourself from forgetting this easy but important task.
Check filters and breakers
Over the summer, your heat pump has been taking in warm air, and filtering it through the heat system so that it is free of allergens, dust and dirt. That means the air filter is going to be pretty dirty by the time fall starts—and you certainly do not want all that gunk getting into your winter air supply.
A clogged filter can also cause serious problems for your heat source. Fortunately, checking a filter is quick and easy.
You will also want to check your circuit breakers before you run your ground-source heat pump for the first time of the season. Make sure they are turned on. If you try to run the heat source and the circuits trip, you probably will want to call one of the most reliable HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO for service.
Schedule maintenance
If you are not the most handy of people, then the steps outlined above might intimidate you. And even if you are fairly well versed in home maintenance, there simply is no proper substitute for quality HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO taking a look at your whole system and making sure everything is running correctly.
Winter is coming soon, and the last thing you want is to need HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO in the middle of the coldest months. This is one area where you do not want to procrastinate; schedule your HVAC maintenance appointment today!
If you do not already have a go-to HVAC service in the area, we would love to pay you a visit and take a look at your heating system. Call Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today for more information on rates and availability.
Are you considering installing central air in your home or place of business? As an AC service in St. Louis, MO, we know that folks are not usually thinking about air conditioning at this time of year, but it is actually a great time to spring for a new air system, because then you’ll be all set when next summer rolls around!
Before investing in AC installation or AC repair in St. Louis, MO, you will probably want to know how much it is going to cost you. There are actually many different factors that could affect the cost of your AC installation. Here is a rundown of eight of those factors:
- System type: Water-cooled systems, split-duct systems, heat pumps, ductless mini splits—there are a lot of system options when it comes to installing central air! Have a discussion with your HVAC contractor about what would work best for your space and budget.
- Size and capacity: Getting the correct size and capacity system for your home or business is crucial, and will save you money in the long run. A system that is too small will have to overwork constantly, while a too-big unit will keep your home cool, but humid.
- Energy efficiency: If you want a system with a strong efficiency rating, it will cost you a bit more upfront. However, the system will eventually pay for itself in the form of lower energy bills.
- Heating: When installing new central AC, it might be a good idea to also replace your heater, as your AC and heater will need to be compatible to keep your home comfortable. This will, of course, make the entire endeavor more expensive.
- Extras: Humidification systems, air purifiers and other “extras” you add to your new central air system will make your home or business even more comfortable. But they will also add to the overall cost of the replacement.
- New or replacement: Are you investing in an entirely new system for your space? Or are you replacing an existing system that has needed AC repair in St. Louis, MO one too many times? A replacement will be cheaper, because you will already have the basic infrastructure for it.
- Zones: Want to keep your living room cool and your bedrooms warm? If so, you will need multiple zones in your central air system. This will cost more, so talk to your AC service in St. Louis, MO about the best option for you.
- Tax break: Did you know that you could get a tax break for investing in a new central air system for your commercial space? If you install the system before the end of 2018, you will qualify for one heck of a deal—in fact, you might be able to write off the entire cost on your 2018 tax return!
Are you in the market for AC service in St. Louis, MO? If so, please feel free to get in touch with Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling anytime! We pride ourselves on offering reasonable rates and exceptional service.
With the propagation of online review sites came an unfortunate, though likely inevitable, consequence: the introduction of fake reviews. Unsavory businesses across virtually every industry have taken to hiring people to create false online reviews—some businesses even use automated programs to post lots of computer-generated reviews across a wide range of platforms.
If you’re trying to identify the best HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO, these fake reviews could pose a significant problem. It can be challenging to find a trustworthy, reputable repair professional that you feel comfortable trusting. Learning how to sift through online reviews can empower you to make better HVAC maintenance and repair decisions.
When trying to find a company that you can count on to perform your HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO, here are a few tips you can keep in mind to help you determine the veracity of online reviews:
- Stick to reliable sites: One of the most significant things that you can do to avoid being duped by fake reviews is sticking to well-known, reliable review sites, like Yelp and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). These sites depend on their reputation to stay in business, so they’re very proactive about removing fake reviews when identified.
- Look at the review dates: If there are a lot of positive or negative reviews left on a company in short succession, it’s likely an indication that a bot was used to review the HVAC company in question. Lots of reviews left in a short period are indicative of unsavory activity.
- Examine the details: When real people leave reviews, they usually provide lots of details, like the type of service they hired the company for, and the timeframe of installation, maintenance or repair. Fake reviews, on the other hand, tend to be vague, and could apply to virtually any industry or company.
- Never trust reviews that praise competition: If you ever find reviews that slam the company in question while praising local competition, it’s likely an indicator that the reviews are fake. Reviewers seldom feel the need to promote another company in a negative review. If there are multiple reviews praising the same competitor, that’s a red flag.
- Search the review text: If the review looks like it’s a cookie-cutter response, that’s probably because it is! Plugging the review text into your search engine of choice is a great way to determine whether or not a review has been used multiple times. Fake reviews are often recycled across companies and platforms.
Since 1999, Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling has been one of the top HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO. We’re proud to provide each and every one of our clients with high-quality heating and cooling equipment service and maintenance that they can count on. We install, maintain and repair residential heating and cooling systems. To learn more about our extensive range of services and products, including HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO, contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives today.
