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Enjoy Lower Heating Bills This Winter with These Helpful Tips

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Winter is right around the corner, and while most of us look forward to winter holidays and ice skating, just about everyone dreads increased utility bills. Keeping your home at a consistent and comfortable temperature throughout the winter is likely to eat into your wallet—but it doesn’t have to. In fact, there are numerous ways you can cut down on your energy consumption this winter, saving you money in the process. Read ahead to learn how you can enjoy lower heating bills this winter.

Buy a programmable thermostat

New thermostats are inexpensive and are an easy way to save money. Most come with preprogramed settings that enable you to control your energy consumption even when you are sleeping or not at home. The best approach is to let the indoor temperature decrease when you know you are at work. You might also try this for a few hours when you are sleeping. When taken together, this can mean upwards of 10 hours per day of lower utility usage.

Invest in inspection and maintenance

Maintain your HVAC system and address problems before it’s too late by getting heating repair in St. Louis, MO. It is important to do yearly maintenance checkups of both your heating and cooling systems. Contractors tend to be busiest in the summer and winter, so have your cooling system checked in the spring and your heating system checked in the fall.

During a maintenance checkup, a contractor will tighten electrical connections, check thermostat settings, lubricate moving parts, check system controls and much more. By calling ahead for maintenance and inspection, you can ensure your heating unit is running as efficiently as possible and will not break during winter.

Replace air filters

A dirty air filter increases energy costs by slowing down airflow and making your HVAC system work harder. Over time, a dirty air filter can also cause dust and dirt to build up in the system, leading to early system failure and the need for expensive repairs. Inspect your HVAC system’s air filters once a month, or at least once every three months, and replace them if necessary. Any contractor who offers heating repair in St. Louis, MO will tell you that one of the main reasons for high energy costs is dirty filters.

Prioritize energy efficiency

Is your HVAC system performing efficiently? If it is wasting energy or no longer keeping your home comfortable, consider replacing it with the latest energy efficient equipment. By replacing your old HVAC system with new energy efficient equipment, you can significantly reduce your monthly heating and cooling bills. This is a particularly good option if your current equipment is old and beginning to show signs of needing replacement anyway.

Make sure you have adequate insulation

Proper heating equipment can only go so far. It is important as well to keep the warm air in, and the cold air out. Windows and insulation are the only way to address this problem. Check before winter to ensure that everything is well insulated, and consider making repairs if there are areas that allow air to escape.

Contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling for all of your HVAC needs. Whether you need heating maintenance or heating repair in St. Louis, MO, now is the time to act. Call us today to prepare for the winter season!

Heating Repair in St. Louis, MO Can Keep Your Home Warm All Autumn Long

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As the days are growing shorter and the nights are growing colder, now is the time for heating repair in St. Louis, MO. A changing season results in changes in what’s needed to keep your home feeling comfortable. Investing in any necessary heating repair in St. Louis, MO is crucial in order to transition smoothly into the upcoming season.

Many parts of Missouri are actually expected to experience a colder than average fall season, so not making repairs to your heater now could leave you feeling the cold in the middle of October. Spending time now to make sure your home is prepared for the upcoming fall can save you from expensive repairs and frustration at a later date. Here are the best ways to keep your home warm this autumn:

While you should be savoring every minute of the fleeting summer season, now is the time to make sure that your home is completely prepared for the rapidly approaching change in temperature. By taking care of simple preventative maintenance and arranging for any necessary heating repair in St. Louis, MO ahead of time, you can save both time and money now in addition to ensuring you will stay warm this season. Contact a heating repair specialist at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today to learn more.

Deciding Whether to Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioner

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When faced with the need for potential air conditioning repair in St. Louis, MO, many homeowners wind up having to decide whether to repair or replace the unit. Oftentimes, when the bill seems too high, many homeowners may think it would be better or less expensive to simply buy a whole new air conditioning unit.

While there are many benefits to replacing an old unit, such as improved indoor air quality, a new warranty and little need for repairs, it can still be difficult to determine whether it is worth the investment. Here are a few ways to determine whether or not it is time to invest in a new air conditioning unit or to keep repairing the current one:

How old is your unit?

If your air conditioning unit is more than 10 years old, you should definitely consider investing in a new one in order to save some money on your monthly bills. While age is not a definitive guide in deciding whether to replace it, many older units are not nearly as energy efficient as the current models on the market. Only so much air conditioning repair in St. Louis, MO can make up for an inefficient unit. While it may seem cheaper to stick with an older unit, you are ultimately paying for it through your monthly energy bills.

Total repair cost

High repair costs are often a deciding factor when determining if it is time to upgrade to a new unit. Typically, a new unit is recommended if the cost of air conditioning repair in St. Louis, MO is more than $800 or so. But there are other factors to consider, such as age. If the repairs are going to cost $800, but your unit is less than six years old, it might be worth the investment in order to utilize it for just a bit longer. You should also consider the total amount spent on repairs. For example, if you need to spend $800 now, but you just spent $500 on repairs last year, it is probably time to purchase a new air conditioner.

The best way to determine whether air conditioning repair in St. Louis, MO is worth the price is to use the 50 percent rule. When the cost of the repair is 50 percent or more of the unit’s total value, it is generally time to replace the system. This can be difficult though as there is no clear way to determine the value of an air conditioner without a professional’s input.

Making a final decision

Ultimately, a trained air conditioning repair specialist can give you the best answer on whether it is better to repair or to purchase a new air conditioner. Every system is different, and a decision can only be made following a thorough inspection by a qualified service technician. Don’t worry about determining if the investment is worth it—let one of our experts help you make the call! Call Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today and let us help you decide on a next step.

An Energy Efficient Air Conditioner Installation in St. Louis, MO is Absolutely Worth it

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No homeowner likes the prospect of having to replace, update or repair an expensive facet of their home like their air conditioner installation in St. Louis, MO, but it’s a prospect that will roll around at some point in time or another. The best thing you can do as a responsible homeowner when it does is to make the best decision you can about how to invest your money and lead yourself and your home down the path of sustainability.

If the time has come for your AC unit to be assessed and, ultimately, replaced, it’s a good idea to consider energy efficient units as a progressive next step in your strive for a better quality of life in your home. Why? Take a look at some of the tremendous benefits that an energy efficient air conditioner installation in St. Louis, MO can have:

Now, the above benefits are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enhancing your home and your quality of life with an efficient air conditioner installation in St. Louis, MO! Another huge factor to consider is the monetary savings you’ll reap from tax and energy rebates!

Federal tax credits exist—like the credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency—to reward citizens who make the transition towards a more environmentally friendly, energy efficient cooling system. These rebates exist at both state and federal levels, meaning you’ll be able to save on both state and federal taxes each year if you’re someone who has made the investment in a high-efficiency AC system!

Now, perhaps the best benefit and biggest reason to invest in an energy efficient air conditioner installation in St. Louis, MO is the immediate impact it’s going to have on your quality of life. Cleaner forced air, better temperature control and responsive controls make it easy to enjoy every moment in your home while the AC unit hums along softly to provide you with optimal forced air. Not having to worry about strange smells, fluctuating temperatures and odd noises is a luxury you won’t come to appreciate until you experience it!

If you’re interested in seeing how far your money can go with an investment in a new AC unit, consult with the professionals at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today about energy efficient AC installations.

Avoid AC Repair in St. Louis, MO This Summer By Keeping Your Unit in Top Shape

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When the temperatures climb into the triple digits and the humidity sets in, it’s all anyone can do to run for shelter in their homes, with the AC pumping full blast to combat the heat. And while it’s easy to sit in an air conditioned house and look outside as the sun bakes everything it touches, if your home’s AC unit isn’t in proper functioning condition you might find yourself with more headaches than comfort!

Take a look at how you can avoid untimely and costly AC repair in St. Louis, MO by keeping your unit in peak functional condition, even on the hottest of days: