With the temperatures dropping lower and lower, and the official first day of winter not too far off, making sure that their heating system is ready for another cold season is on the top of most homeowners’ lists. With very little time left to waste, now is the time to seek out routine HVAC service in St. Louis, MO for your heating system. Here are just a few of the many benefits that routine maintenance can provide for your HVAC:
Improved safety: While the average heating system is very safe when running normally, there are still many things that could go wrong and put your family in danger. One of the most common hazards that your heating system presents is the release of carbon monoxide gas when the system is not being vented properly. Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because the gas is odorless, and in many cases homeowners don’t even know that they are breathing it into their system. With routine tune-ups, you can make sure that your heating system has the ventilation it needs to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in your home.
Fewer repairs: Making sure that your heating system is maintained regularly each year could potentially reduce the need for repairs by up to 85 percent during your system’s lifespan. When you add up all of the money you can save, the price of routine maintenance quickly becomes well worth it.
Retain energy efficiency: While upgrading to a newer heating system with improved energy efficiency is great, it is not something that many homeowners can afford to do on a whim. Until you can update your heating system, routine maintenance can help play a large role in helping your existing system retain efficiency. Without regular maintenance, your system could be using up to 25 percent more energy than normal. On the other hand, making sure to have maintenance done on an annual basis can help your system retain peak energy efficiency for the majority of its service life.
Extended lifespan: A well-tuned heating system is one that can benefit from an extended lifespan. Something as simple as making sure that all of the mechanical parts of your heating system are properly lubricated before the winter can help prevent premature wear of your motor or blower shafts, which can help you get the most out of your system. Routine maintenance will give homeowners peace of mind that their heater will not only make it through this season, but for many winters to come.
If you want to schedule annual HVAC service in St. Louis, MO in time for winter, give us a call at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today. Since 1999 we have been the leading heating repair company in the area, doing whatever it takes to make sure that all of our customers are ready when the weather gets rough outside. If you don’t want to be left out in the cold, make sure you contact us and schedule your appointment right away.
There are many misconceptions about residential heating systems and the level of energy efficiency they can provide within your home. That is why your local provider of heating repair in St. Louis, MO is here to dispel four of the most common myths about your heating system:
Cranking your thermostat will heat your home quicker: It seems logical that turning your thermostat up to the highest temperature would heat your home faster. In actuality, though, doing this doesn’t cause your home to get warmer quicker—it simply keeps your house warmer for longer stretches. While you can enjoy more sustained periods of heating by cranking your thermostat, if your goal is to warm up sooner, you will be disappointed.
Ceiling fans should only be run in the summer: While ceiling fans provide nice breezy relief in the summertime, running them from time to time can actually be beneficial in the winter as well. By turning your fan on counterclockwise, you can push all of the warm heated air that has risen towards the ceiling back down into the house, which can make your house feel warmer without requiring that you turn up the temperature.
It is cheaper to use space heaters than a gas heating system: In an effort to save a few dollars on their energy bills, some homeowners will periodically turn off the gas heat in their home and use space heaters in the rooms that they spend the most time in. In theory, this does seem like a reasonable way to cut back on your heating system’s energy usage and save some money in the process. In reality, though, utilizing this method could potentially end up costing you between three to five times as much as a conventional heating system, because the cost of electricity is just as expensive if not more expensive than using a gas furnace.
Air filters only need to be changed once a year: How often the air filter in your home’s HVAC system needs to be changed will depend on a lot of factors that are specific to your home. As a general rule, though, in order to aid in the energy efficiency of your entire heating system, check on your air filter once every month or so to make sure it is clean and free of dirt and debris. This will help keep the air in your home clean, and will help prevent a decline in the efficiency of your furnace.
If you are looking for heating repair in St. Louis, MO that can help you make sure that your system is running as efficiently as possible this winter, give us a call at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We have been handling heating system repairs and new installations in the area for nearly 20 years and have the knowledge and expertise necessary to make sure you and your family stay warm all winter. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment—we look forward to serving you!
Since it’s almost winter, thinking about buying and installing a new air conditioner may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, now may actually be the time to go out and buy a new unit! Since people are more focused on heating right now, many air conditioners are on sale. Once you purchase your new unit, you’ll have to figure out how to install it. After all, there’s no point in having a new AC if it’s not hooked up. But unless you’re an HVAC pro, installing a new AC can be a bit tricky. Inspect the following components if something seems to be wrong with your new air conditioner:
Ensure you bought the right unit: The first step in proper AC installation in St. Louis, MO is making sure that you buy the right-sized unit for your home. It might sound like a good idea to buy the largest unit on the market, but a big unit is just going to waste money if your house is too small. Speak to a professional before buying an air conditioner. An HVAC pro will recommend a unit based on the square footage the unit has to cool.
Check the ductwork: The ducts leading from your outdoor unit to your home need to be secure and intact. If not, that cool, refreshing air won’t get inside! Check the ducts for any holes or loose connections. If something’s amiss, call an HVAC repairman to fix the problem right away.
Check your filters: Your AC’s air filters have to be free and clear of any debris if your unit is going to function as it should. If your unit isn’t functioning the way it’s supposed to, double check to make sure the filters are intact and clean!
Check your cooling bills: Finally, one way to tell if your air conditioner has been installed correctly is to monitor your monthly electric bill. If your cooling costs are higher with your new unit than with your old, it may be installed incorrectly. Air conditioners that are improperly installed may be less energy efficient, which will raise your bill without cooling your home as well as they ought to.
The only way to truly ensure your air conditioner has been installed correctly is to hire the professionals at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to do the job. We have years of experience with AC installation in St. Louis, MO, so you can trust that we’ll install your unit correctly on the first attempt. From making sure you buy the right unit to hooking everything up properly, you can count on us to cool your home!
If you’ve made the mistake of installing an air conditioner by yourself and now have an issue with the unit, don’t worry! One of our HVAC technicians can come out to your home to properly install your unit quickly and easily. What’s even better is that we offer some of the lowest rates for installation in town. Get in touch today to schedule an appointment!
Keeping your home nice and toasty throughout the winter is crucial if you want to be comfortable and enjoy spending time inside your house. For some, that means keeping their thermostat set at 75 degrees or higher as soon as the temperature outside starts to drop. While that’s not necessarily good for your furnace (or your wallet), constantly changing the temperature isn’t good, either! Both scenarios can lead to the need for heating repair in St. Louis, MO. Keep reading to learn more about the effects of frequently adjusting your thermostat, and the best ways to go about managing the temperature in your home:
Adjusting the thermostat leads to breakdowns: Just like using the brakes too much while driving wears down your brake pads, constantly messing with the thermostat leads to unnecessary wear and tear on your furnace. Various components of your unit will break down faster than they should, which will lead to expensive repairs or even replacement! Instead of turning the temperature up and down every time you get a little hot or cold, find a temperature you’re comfortable with and leave it at that while you’re home.
Adjusting the thermostat wastes money: When you adjust your thermostat, your furnace has to suddenly work harder, sucking up more electricity. You’ll notice that it takes a lot more power to suddenly turn your unit on than it does to keep it at the same temperature for an extended period of time. Take a look at your next heating bill—you’ll be amazed at how much money you’ll save by not adjusting your thermostat every few hours!
Set the temperature when you’re away: Don’t get us wrong—you shouldn’t always have your thermostat at the same temperature. What’s the point in having the heat or air conditioning on when you’re not going to be home? That’s a huge waste of electricity! When you’re going to be away for eight hours or more, it’s good practice to set your thermostat five to eight degrees higher in the summer and 10 to 15 degrees lower in the winter. The U.S. Department of Energy says doing this can save you 5 to 15 percent on your monthly heating and cooling bills!
Buy a programmable thermostat: Buying a programmable thermostat can help you save money without the hassle of adjusting the temperature each morning and evening. You can program your thermostat to turn the heat or air conditioning down in the mornings when you leave for work, and back up when you get home. It saves you time and tons of money.
The last thing we want is for you to be uncomfortable in your home, but that doesn’t mean you need to adjust the thermostat every time it gets a bit too hot or too cold inside. Regardless of how often you change the temperature, your furnace may malfunction. If that’s the case, give Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling a call for heating repair in St. Louis, MO. We have years of experience with fixing all sorts of furnaces and can get your unit back up and running in no time if you’re experiencing trouble.
If you aren’t a trained HVAC technician, there are a multitude of things about your system that you might not understand. Even though some of the aspects of your system’s functioning can be confusing, at the very least you should be able to expect that hot air will come out of your furnace—or at least that’s what you would think.
Unfortunately, you can’t always count on this fact, and there are certain factors that may cause your furnace to begin blowing cold air instead of warm air. This certainly won’t help you stay comfortable during the winter months, so it’s important to identify the issue and get HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO when necessary in order to solve the problem. When cold air is coming out of your furnace, here are some of the things that might be going on:
Your pilot light is out: Your pilot light should be on all the time in order to ignite your fuel and begin the heating process for your furnace. If the light is out, your furnace will not be able to burn gas, so your air won’t be heated as it normally would be. There are a number of reasons why your pilot light might be out, and the solution might be as simple as reigniting the light. If this doesn’t work, try checking to make sure that gas is flowing. If your light won’t stay lit no matter what, there’s an issue with your system that will likely require professional HVAC repair in St Louis, MO.
The settings on your thermostat are off: The first thing you should do when your furnace is blowing cold air is to check the thermostat settings. If your fan is set to “on,” it will be blowing regardless of whether your air is being heated or not. Setting your fan to “auto” will ensure that it only blows air when the furnace is turned on and heating your air.
Your furnace is overworked: The filters in your system are responsible for catching debris and contaminants so that they aren’t circulated through your home. If you don’t care for or change out these filters regularly, they can accumulate an excessive amount of debris and restrict airflow in your system. When airflow is restricted, your furnace has to work much harder and it can become overworked and overheated. An overheated furnace will often turn off automatically as a safety precaution. If this is the issue, you should try to clean your filters, or simply replace them.
Whether your furnace is blowing cold air or you’re due for a seasonal system service check, you can get help from the professionals here at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We have been offering residential and commercial HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO to our customers since 1999. Our years of experience have given us the ability to provide exceptional installation, repair and maintenance services that fit our customers’ exact needs and circumstances. We understand that your HVAC system can pose some unique problems, which is why our team takes the worry off of your shoulders to help you ensure that your system is running effectively and efficiently. Give us a call today for more information!
