Winter is here, and so is the potential for heating system failure. But remain vigilant and don’t ignore HVAC issues, and you will get through the colder months in comfort, as well as save money on energy bills and HVAC repairs. Let’s get some advice from a professional HVAC service in St Louis, MO about how to keep your heating bills low this winter.
Get a programmable thermostat
Most older homes that have not been updated are typically fitted with super basic manual thermostats. They are likely digital, but some may still be older dial thermostats. When we say basic, we mean thermostats that might feature up and down buttons, an on/off switch and the option to heat or cool, and that’s it.
Saving money on your heating bills starts when you make a change, and in this case, you should consider buying a programmable thermostat. Instead of it gliding on autopilot all day, you’ll be able to set the temperature to do its thing at scheduled times. This is especially handy for when you and your family are not home and while you sleep.
Seal air leaks
If there are cracks and breaks in weather stripping, then the warm indoor air can escape. Do check the seals around window frames and doors for gaps, but the quickest way to find a seal leak is to perform a smoke test. Light an incense cone and move it around windows, doors and crawlspace openings, and don’t just do this in suspected air leak areas. You might be surprised how often leaks can be found where no one thought to look earlier. Move slowly, as the smoke will appear to waver in the presence of blowing air.
Also, look for signs of busted seals—including materials that are cracked, ripped, torn, punctured, loose in the track or missing entirely. Note problem areas, and then head on down to your local hardware store for replacement weather stripping.
Change the air filters
One of the most common forgotten HVAC maintenance tasks is changing the air filter. How does changing the filter help you save on heating bills? For one, a dirty filter will cause the heating unit to struggle and be overworked every time the system kicks on, because the system airflow has nowhere to go. This is when it might feel as though the inside air is a bit stuffy or humid, which in turn means the indoor air quality will be quite unhealthy. Airflow is trapped on the other side of the dirty filter, hence the air in your living space will either remain stagnant or end up recycling through the system.
Get a professional inspection
While there’s a lot of regular HVAC maintenance you can do as a homeowner, plan on scheduling annual inspections and maintenance with a professional HVAC service in St Louis, MO. During the inspection, the pros can perform a tune-up—including tightening components, lubricating parts, checking wires and connectors and doing a thermostat check—as well as look for any needed repairs.
Contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling for superior HVAC service in St Louis, MO this winter, and all year round!
As a homeowner, it’s sometimes hard to admit there’s a problem with the house. For one thing, you don’t want to spend the next two weekends making repairs, and for another, it’s going to cost money. While ignoring indicators will make matters worse, acting on the early signs of HVAC problems can help you avoid costly heating repair in St Louis, MO. Here are some of those signs to watch for:
- Strange sounds: There’s usually a little noise when the heater comes on. It could be your old furnace rattling for a few seconds, loosened vents whistling or the unit itself might even sound a little unusual. But the strange sounds we’re referring to are loud banging, excessive rattling, popping or screeching noises that are either continuous or frequently occurring. These noises could indicate a problem with some part of the heating system, like a damaged HVAC motor, compressor fan, furnace blower or other components.
- Unpleasant odors: First things first, if your indoor air smells terrible, change the air filter and give it a few more runs. Dirty home air filters are the most common reason for unpleasant odors, yet many homeowners and renters have no idea they need to be replaced every one to three months to maintain healthy indoor air quality. After changing the filter, the odor should dissipate as you run the heater more. If it doesn’t, you could have dirty air ducts or corroding connectors. Contact a professional service for heating repair in St Louis, MO as soon as possible.
- Damage to heater: Regardless of whether you have an indoor furnace or a dual cooling/heating unit, make sure you take the time to inspect it for damage. Damage can range from electrical or gas line breaks to problems with internal components like the motor or coils, or even cracks in the actual unit. Some parts can be repaired, but others may need a full replacement.
- Particles in the air: Once again, not changing the air filter can cause all sorts of issues. It gets dirty and clogged, and since it’s a main channel for airflow, this blockage will hinder proper heater function. Noticeable particles in the air can cause a hazy, dusty screen in front of your eyes, and it can even lead to dry air that’s difficult to breathe. Furthermore, clogs may be a precursor to heater issues, including inefficient heat production and energy waste from the system overworking. Clean those ducts and filters for clearer, fresher indoor air.
- Thermostat issues: Do you feel like you are in a constant battle with your thermostat? You keep turning it up to bring in more hot air, but the indoor temperature is not changing at all. Make sure the thermostat has fresh batteries before panicking. Unfortunately, if it’s not your thermostat, this could be a sign of a big problem with your heater. It might be a leaky duct or a broken down heat pump. Take measures to ensure there is nothing seriously wrong with your heating system—call in the pros.
If your home or business is in need of heating repair in St Louis, MO, look no further than the expert HVAC team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. Give us a call today!
With temperatures dipping down into the low teens, it seems like we may never need to turn on our air conditioners ever again. Fortunately, that’s not true! This spring and summer will be here soon enough, and that means we’ll need to kick on our ACs to keep our homes cool. As vigilant homeowners know, yearly air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO is a must if you want a well-functioning system throughout the sweltering summer months. Here are some benefits of securing this service:
- Prevent repairs: AC unit repairs can be very expensive. New parts can cost a pretty penny, especially if they have to be custom ordered by the shop. On top of that, labor fees can be high if the repair takes a while to complete. The best way to save money on those repairs is to ensure they don’t need to be made in the first place! A yearly checkup from one of our professionals is inexpensive compared to the cost of hiring a repairman.
- Increase lifespan: Did you know that if you properly maintain your AC system, you can expect the unit to last 15 to 20 years? Without proper maintenance, that lifespan can be cut in half. It’s just like a car: the better you take care of it, the better (and longer) it will run. Replacing a new AC unit can be pretty costly, so save yourself the trouble and expense of buying a new unit by maintaining the one you already have.
- Save money on your electric bill: An air conditioning unit that hasn’t been maintained properly will eventually start to lose efficiency. Slowly but surely, your unit will have to work a little bit harder and longer to put out the same amount of cool, refreshing air. The longer your unit is running, the more electricity it’s going to use, steadily increasing your electric bill each month. A technician performing annual air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO will lubricate and clean all of the necessary parts of your unit to ensure it runs as efficiently as possible all summer long!
While you probably aren’t thinking too much about your air conditioner right now, there are actually some good reasons to get your AC checked out well in advance of needing to turn it on again:
- Get speedy service: Since the temperature doesn’t even seem close to feeling like spring or summer, most people haven’t scheduled AC service yet. Because of this, our technicians have more time to fit in an AC service call right now than they will in the spring. As the summer gets closer and closer, we get more and more calls for scheduled maintenance and repairs. We’re able to service air conditioners all year long, so we recommend calling us during the cooler months before our schedule starts to fill up.
- Know who you’re working with: There are plenty of quality AC repairmen, but there are also a handful of less reputable companies out there who are willing to take your money but not properly service your unit. If you schedule yearly air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO, you’ll be working with the same quality company year in and year out.
Don’t get caught in the heat next summer—call Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today to schedule air conditioning service!
Keeping your house clean is an essential part of being a homeowner. The cleaning work never really stops; you dust, sweep, vacuum, clean your bathrooms and tidy up whenever there’s an accident. But did you know that cleaning parts of your house you can’t see is just as important as cleaning your kitchen and bathroom? It’s true! Here are several reasons why experts recommend yearly furnace cleaning in St. Louis, MO:
- Increase efficiency: Even the best furnaces become less efficient over time. Dust and other debris can coat the blower motor, switches, heat exchanger and the ignition system. When that happens, the furnace will slowly lose its ability to properly heat your home. If you call one of our technicians to service your unit, you’ll rest assured that we can clean out all of the debris to ensure maximum efficiency.
- Avoid safety issues: Furnaces can be very dangerous fixtures. A faulty or dirty furnace poses the very real threat of starting a fire or spewing deadly carbon monoxide gas into your home. Old filters and clogged vents can lead to fires. What’s maybe even scarier is that a dirty heat exchanger is in danger of cracking, which can lead to carbon monoxide leaks! Carbon monoxide can lead to serious health issues rather quickly.
- Extend the life of your furnace: A clean furnace is the key to a long-lasting unit. Dirt that gets into your furnace’s switches drastically ages critical components of your unit. Electrical switches and controls, the fan and blower motor and the heat exchanger are all necessary for a fully functioning unit. They also need to be kept clean at all times. Only a professional technician can properly clean all of these vital components.
- Retain your warranty: Most furnaces come with some kind of warranty. However, some warranties become void if the manufacturer finds out you haven’t been taking proper care of your unit by having it serviced regularly. Yearly preventative maintenance that includes furnace cleaning in St. Louis, MO will help keep your warranty intact throughout your furnace’s lifespan.
In addition to hiring one of our professionals to clean your furnace, there are steps you can take to help keep the unit clean:
- Change the filters: You’re responsible for changing your unit’s air filters between annual maintenance and cleaning visits. Furnace filters can be purchased at any home improvement store for a few dollars. Just be sure that you purchase the exact size specified by the manufacturer of your furnace.
- Keep the area around your furnace tidy: Dusting and sweeping around your unit can do wonders to improve the functionality of your furnace. Just think: all of that dust in the unit has to come from somewhere—probably from the floor and ceiling. Make sure you take care of that debris before it has a chance to get inside your unit.
Since this is the time of year when you’ll be using your furnace the most, call Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today to schedule a visit from one of our professionals for furnace cleaning in St. Louis, MO.
