We have all experienced it at one point or another: you are sweating through what feels one of the hottest days of the year, when all of a sudden your air conditioning unit gives out. This causes many people to ask themselves, “Should I wait a few days for a service appointment, or should I request emergency AC repair?”
The answer is different for everyone, and often depends on budget and priorities. However, there are a few instances when calling for emergency repair is not an option—it is a necessity. With that in mind, here are three different situations when calling for emergency AC repair in St. Louis, MO is imperative.
Hosting guests
Whether you are throwing a big Fourth of July barbecue or having family stay over for the weekend, hosting guests comes with extra responsibilities for the homeowner. One of these involves ensuring that your guests are all comfortable and safe.
When the AC gives out during a hot day, you might be fine just carrying around a personal fan and accepting the situation. But your guests might have serious heat sensitivity, and could also be too shy to bring it up to you. With that in mind, remember to always get emergency AC repair when hosting guests at your home.
Major heat wave
When it gets to above 95 degrees or so, the risks that come with not having air conditioning far outweigh the cost of emergency AC repair in St. Louis, MO. During times of extreme heat, people can easily become dehydrated or suffer from heatstroke, which can cause serious illness or even death. Infants and pets are even more susceptible to these risks, but everyone has them.
Here at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, we know that, for some, emergency AC repair is a huge, unexpected cost. That is why we strive to offer convenient and flexible payment options. Give us a call for more information.
Ill or elderly
Anyone with a compromised immune system can be particularly at risk during a heat wave. If you or someone in your home is elderly, an infant or has an immune compromising illness like cancer, HIV, diabetes or Crohn’s Disease, then it is crucial that you get your AC fixed as soon as possible after it breaks down. If you are not able to fix the problem right away, at least relocate the at-risk person in your home to a cooler, more comfortable setting, or invest in some strong room fans.
Trust the best
When the need for emergency AC repair in St. Louis, MO arises, the team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is here to help. With reasonable prices, flexible payment options, friendly service, quick work and lasting results, we are proud to be the most respected local HVAC service in the greater St. Louis area.
Whether you need emergency AC repair, HVAC maintenance, heater replacement or any other helpful HVAC service, we are the ones for the job. Give us a call today for more information.
When the time comes to hire an HVAC contractor for new AC installation in St. Louis, MO, there are a lot of different factors to consider. Beyond just looking at the price tag and following the salesperson’s recommendation, you should have some idea of the size, efficiency, placement and other features you are looking for.
While your HVAC contractor will be on hand to help guide you through it all, it does not hurt to have a basic understanding of these factors yourself. Here is a look at the four most important factors to consider when preparing for AC installation in St. Louis, MO:
- Size: There are two major elements to consider when determining the size of your new AC: how much space you have to house it, and how much space it will need to cool. The biggest factor in figuring out what size you need is the overall square footage of your house, which your AC technician can help to determine if you do not know the number offhand.
- Efficiency: The size of your new air conditioner is important, but its level of efficiency is even more crucial. It can get pretty hot in the summer here in St. Louis, meaning that it is easy to overwork your AC. To that end, look for a high efficient model by using the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. SEER is a completely unbiased measure of an AC’s efficiency, and buying a unit with a high SEER rating can significantly reduce your monthly utility bills.
- Placement: When installing a new air conditioner in your home, you want to make sure that it is placed in a spot that is as conducive to its effectiveness as possible. Placing an AC unit near bright lights or strong sunlight will compromise its ability to cool your house, as will placing items around it that restrict air flow. Rather than just putting your new AC in the same spot once occupied by your old one, ask your HVAC professional where they think it should go.
- Floor: The type of flooring you have can also have a big impact on how effective your new air conditioner will be. For example, hardwood floors are among the worst floor materials for ACs. If you have several different flooring materials in your home, ask your technician for tips on choosing an AC that will be most compatible. If your new unit will go in a small laundry or utility room, it just might be worth it to change out the flooring.
No matter which make or model you choose for your new air conditioner, Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling has the experience, knowledge and resources necessary to help you recognize and understand each factor related to your new AC installation in St. Louis, MO. If you have any questions or concerns, we invite you to get in touch with us anytime. Our team looks forward to hearing from you, and to installing your brand new air conditioner.
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.
