It’s probably been about six months since you’ve thought about your home’s heater, but with autumn setting in, now is the time to make sure your furnace is in proper working order. Checking and maintaining your furnace can ensure that it works well when you need it the most.
Some heater maintenance tricks might seem obvious to you, while others might be things you haven’t considered. This article will cover some fall heater tips that you can use to make your heater run efficiently this fall and winter.
Replace your filters
For your furnace filters to adequately do their job, they must be clean. You should be changing your HVAC filters every one to three months or as directed by the manufacturer. Changing your furnace filter can not only prolong your heater’s lifespan, but it can also ensure that your family is breathing in clean air as well.
Clean your vents
Before the leaves begin to fall, you should go around to your home’s vents and make sure they’re unobstructed. Once you’ve done that, you can remove the grate or register from the vents and use a vacuum on them to remove any dirt, dust or debris. This should not only improve your air quality but make your furnace run more efficiently too.
Test your thermostat
If you have an older thermostat, it might not be as accurate as you’d like it to be. You might have been able to get through the summer with an imprecise thermostat, but the winter could be a whole other story.
Check your thermostat, and test it to see if it’s correctly monitoring and adjusting the temperature in your home. A properly-working thermostat is key to a furnace’s efficiency, and if yours isn’t working anymore, you can invest in a newer, better model.
Install a carbon monoxide detector
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is toxic to human beings. It prevents your blood from carrying oxygen sufficiently and can lead to serious injury and even death.
Several electrical appliances, like stoves, furnaces and generators, can generate carbon monoxide and leak them into your home, but with a carbon monoxide detector, you’re alerted to the gas’s presence and can get out of your living space before it’s too late. Be sure to place your carbon monoxide detector at least 15 feet from any HVAC ducts, as putting it any closer could result in false alarms.
Schedule an inspection
While there are steps you can take yourself to make sure your heater is working before the frost sets in, there’s no substitute for an expert. Getting a tune-up for your furnace is a must for any homeowner, as professionals can catch small problems before they become larger ones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even recommends that you have your furnace inspected every year, and right before winter is an ideal time.
Call for your heater’s tune-up today
Hopefully, these fall heater tips and heater maintenance tricks can prove useful to you in some way, but if you want the expertise of a professional, call us at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We have over 15 years of experience in the HVAC industry, and we’re available 24/7 for HVAC repairs whenever you need assistance.
Staying indoors this winter means you need to make sure your heater is ready to serve you all winter long. The last thing you need during your cozy winter holidays is to find out that your furnace no longer operates properly. The best thing you can do for your winter warmth is to schedule preventative maintenance before the temperatures drop each year. Here are some ways to maintain your heater for winter in St. Louis, MO:
Schedule your preventative maintenance: When it comes to ensuring safe and consistent operation all year long, preventative maintenance is the key. Have your local HVAC contractor come out and work on your heater. Not only will they evaluate all the mechanical components and make sure they’re working properly, but they’ll also look at the electronics and ductwork. This helps ensure that every system is working the way it should, and you aren’t susceptible to problems like outages or carbon monoxide poisoning. It also helps your system work as efficiently as possible, which means you’ll save money on your utility bills all season long. While you can do some of these tasks yourself, there’s no substitute for working with a professional.
Change out your air filter: You change your air filter every month or so, right? If you’ve been slacking, there’s no better time to do it than now. The colder temperatures mean that your heater will have to work overtime to keep your home warm, especially if you haven’t changed your filter in a while. Some people think that gathering dust and debris helps (because they think it “catches” more allergens or pollutants), but the truth is that a dirty filter just drives up your utility bills.
Invest in a smart thermostat: Technology has come a long way in recent years, and one of the best ways you can use it is to invest in a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats allow you to program the heat (and cooling) for specific times of day, so you get the benefits when you need them most. They also allow you to program your heater so it won’t come on during vacation unless you absolutely need it. Not only is this good for the planet, but it’s great for your utility bills. You’ll save a lot of money when you ensure your heater isn’t running when it doesn’t need to be.
Wipe everything down: Finally, after you replace your heater’s filter, make sure you wipe any dust, dirt and debris from the unit. If your heater is in an inaccessible location, your HVAC contractor can help—but make sure no one skips this step, as it can help your heater run more efficiently all season long.
When you need more advice about or help with keeping your heater working during winter in St. Louis, MO, Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling can help. We offer complete air conditioning and furnace repair services in St. Louis, including 24/7 help if your heater gives out unexpectedly. Reach out today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s very easy to let certain chores slide by the wayside as you prep for (and revel in) the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, overlooking even routine maintenance of your furnace or heating system could have disastrous consequences for the people closest to you.
If you’ve skipped on heating repair in St. Louis, MO, the only time it’s too late to call for some professional help is after your HVAC system breaks down. Before that moment, there’s really no wrong time to schedule some routine maintenance. If you haven’t had your furnace or HVAC attended to by a technician, here are some significant reasons to make it happen as soon as possible.
Don’t get left in the cold
Easily the foremost nightmare scenario for a furnace is a complete breakdown at the moment when the weather is supposed to be at its chilliest. If your furnace or heating system is still in good working order, then it’s not too late to get a professional to put your HVAC system through its paces. Just a quick check of your system can identify weak spots and flaws and eliminate your risk of a sudden breakdown.
Keep your family (and yourself) safe
One of the most compelling reasons to enlist professional heating repair in St. Louis, MO is the potential for harm that can befall your loved ones. As with every machine, eventually, your heating and cooling system wears down. Parts get loose. Leaks pop up. When this routine wear and tear occurs, your family is at heightened risk of everything from fire to carbon monoxide poisoning. The eye of a skilled technician can prevent these issues from cropping up and causing damage.
Invest now, collect later
The sooner you have your HVAC system looked at, the less you’ll have to pay in the long run, because you’ll be avoiding long-term issues with early remedies. The benefits of professional attention to detail can extend the life of your furnace or HVAC system by several years. That means you can forestall the installation of a new system even as your family enjoys first-rate comfort for as long as two decades.
Trust the team that knows
There’s no better team to call for heating repair in St. Louis, MO than Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. For 20 years and counting, our courteous, professional team has strived to provide the region’s best heating and cooling repair. Whether your issues are residential or commercial, one of our talented team members will race to your rescue.
We’re ready to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you need repair, we’re standing by the phone. Don’t put the safety and comfort of your friends and family in the hands of a less qualified HVAC repair team. Call on Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling and be confident you’re getting the region’s premier HVAC service. Visit us online or give us a call today. We look forward to checking out your system soon!
During the summer, your HVAC system can seem like a luxury—it’s something to help stave off those dog days of June and July. They may be blistering hot, but if you stay inside, stay hydrated and stay near a fan, you’ll get by. During the winter, however, your HVAC system could very well save your life. When the temperatures dip below freezing, you’ll be grateful to have a high-functioning heating system.
If you’d like to avoid expensive heating repair in St. Louis, MO, the smartest thing to do is make sure to schedule routine maintenance of your heating system as far in advance as possible. Here’s why.
Save yourself some money
Take the sting out of buying gifts during the holiday season by scheduling maintenance early. For a minimal fee, a talented technician can keep your system running smoothly. That translates to less stress on your HVAC system and lower utility bills at a point when your pocketbook could likely use the help.
Stay close to your heater
As mechanically talented as you may be, the only person who can lend insight into the condition of your HVAC system is a certified professional. A little attention from the right person can extend the life of your heating system and help you prepare for the transition from your old system to a new one when the time comes.
Maximize your comfort
It’s probably not a surprise to find out that your family will spend most of its time inside your home during the darkest, coldest months of the year. Routine maintenance will improve the flow of air through your ventilation system, ensuring that warm air is spread evenly throughout the house.
Do your lungs a favor
Something as simple as routine heating repair in St. Louis, MO can have a dramatic impact on the air quality in your home. A little professional attention and a new filter, for example, can do wonders right before you and your family cuddle up for a long winter indoors.
Improve the safety of your home
As vital as your HVAC system is, wear and tear are inevitable. When that occurs, certain aspects of your heating system become a threat to your wellbeing and that of your family. Should an issue crop up during the dead of winter, you may have trouble getting a technician out to your home.
Eliminate emergencies
Perhaps most importantly, a dose of heating repair in St. Louis, MO can diminish the odds of something catastrophic happening when you need your heat to work the most.
Throughout the St. Louis and Jefferson County areas, there is no more trusted name in HVAC maintenance and repair than Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. For two decades, we’ve established a reputation for unparalleled customer service and top-notch work. Whether you need residential or commercial service, our talented technicians have the HVAC solution you need from world-class brands you trust, like Amana, Goodman and more.
When you want the best, there’s only one name to call: Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We can’t wait to hear from you.
For countless families across the United States, the furnace is the only thing keeping them from facing the harsh reality of a bone-chilling winter. You depend on your furnace to warm your entire house when the days turn short and the winds turn crisp. There’s nothing worse than reaching for your thermostat and switching it on only to find that your furnace is blowing cold air throughout the house.
If you find yourself with a furnace blowing cold air through your home, it could be something small, or you could require significant heating repair in St. Louis, MO. Here are some tips and pointers to help determine what may be wrong with your heater.
Check the fan setting
Before you jump to dire conclusions about the state of your furnace, check the basics. Every furnace has a fan that blows air through your home’s vents, and most heaters have a manual fan setting—you can find its location in your manual. If the fan setting is turned on, that means air is circulating through your home 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the furnace is currently operating or not.
The result is a steady current of air—sometimes cold, sometimes not—blowing through your home. To fix it, turn the fan setting to OFF or AUTO.
The pilot light is out
If you have an older model furnace, it’s possible that, over time, the pilot light has gone out. Start by turning your furnace off, then find your furnace’s pilot light assembly and reset it.
The assembly itself isn’t complicated. It’s a knob with three settings. The first thing to do is turn the knob to OFF. Then, wait at least three minutes. Next, turn the knob to PILOT and press down. Simultaneously hold a match or lighter up to the pilot opening. The pilot light should ignite once more in a bluish flame. Finally, turn the knob to ON.
If the pilot light continues to go out even after you’ve reignited it, you may need heating repair in St. Louis, MO.
Clogged filters
As your furnace circulates air through your home, it keeps that airflow clean by pushing the air through a filter. When that filter has been in use for too long, debris can accumulate, blocking the flow of warm air through your vents.
Turn your furnace off at the thermostat, then check the integrity of your unit’s air filter. It could be as simple as running to a hardware store and popping in a new screen.
St. Louis’s most trusted HVAC specialists
If you can’t determine the cause of your issues, you may need heating repair in St. Louis, MO. No matter what’s wrong with your furnace, you can count on Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to provide a solution that works for you.
We have two decades’ worth of satisfied customers who will confirm our dedication to customer satisfaction. The entire highly-trained team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is committed to providing the extended St. Louis area with unmatched service. Call us today and let us make you a believer.
