Common Furnace Problems in Winter

admin | November 23, 2019

As the temperature plunges into the single digits and another winter swoops through the American Midwest, it’s time for our furnaces to earn their keep. After sitting dormant for months on end, however, your furnace may not be in the best condition. If your furnace is acting up on you, here are some common problems to look for. Some are minor, though some require heating repair in St. Louis, MO.

Clogged filters

As your furnace circulates air through your home, it also kicks up dust and microscopic particles. Fortunately, most furnaces push air through a filter or series of filters. When these filters become clogged, it can cause numerous problems. For example, your heater may only blow cold air. You may also experience increased wear and tear on your furnace as it works overtime to push warm air through your clogged filters.

A high-pitched squeal

If you turn on the furnace and notice a high-pitched whine or an unsettling squealing noise, you could have an issue with your blower belt. Sometimes, excessive use can cause the belt to slip off its mechanism, creating an unpleasant sound.

The wrong furnace

No homeowner wants to hear that they’ve had the wrong furnace installed in their home, but if you’re experiencing uneven airflow—i.e., one room is warm and toasty while another is frigid—you might have the wrong furnace in your home.

Scraping noise

One of the most commonly overlooked parts of a furnace is the ball bearings. These critically essential components wear down over time, gain texture and can brush against your heater, causing a scraping noise.

Carbon monoxide leaks

On a long enough timeline, furnaces—especially older models—can develop tiny cracks in their structure. These small fissures allow dangerous carbon monoxide to leak into your home. Make sure your home has a functioning carbon monoxide detector at all times, and if you notice a leak, make sure to get immediate heating repair in St. Louis, MO.

Excessive cycling

Are you noticing that your furnace is turning on and off more than it should? This issue, known as excessive cycling, is caused when there is a leak in your home or when something is blocking the flow of air through your vents.

Your go-to furnace pros

Stumped by what could be troubling your furnace? Don’t let the problem fester—call the highly-trained staff at one of the St. Louis community’s most acclaimed HVAC companies. As we celebrate 20 years of serving the extended area, Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is doubling down on our commitment to excellence. When you need cooling and heating repair in St. Louis, MO, there’s no more reliable team to trust than the veterans at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling.

In addition to helping you maintain your furnace, our courteous squad can ensure that all your HVAC needs are met. From installation to maintenance to repair, we do it all. No job is too big, and no brand is off limits. Give us a call today!

Avoid Costly Heating Repair in St. Louis, MO with Regular Furnace Maintenance

admin | January 23, 2018

The best way to avoid costly heating repair in St. Louis, MO is to take preventative measures. Here are six signs that your furnace may need professional maintenance services:

Unusual noises: You may here a click or other sound coming from your thermostat indicating the heater is powering on—this is normal. What’s not normal are unusual noises coming from your furnace. A loud bang when the unit turns on could point to dirty burners, while a whistling or howling sound during operation could mean the fuel supply is being restricted. Noises coming from your furnace that catch your attention should be checked out and diagnosed by a professional. A technician will come to your home to perform important maintenance and repairs to ensure you enjoy a warm home.
No hot air: Regardless of the age of your furnace, problems with the heating system can cause serious heating inefficiency. If your heater is not producing heat when the system is on, and there’s nothing wrong with your circuit breaker, call an expert for maintenance.
Strange odors: There are three main causes of strange furnace odors—dusty heating elements, new ductwork and broken or damaged components. If you smell dust, it should burn off of the heating elements and the inside of the ducts as the home starts heating up. Having new ductwork installed will likely yield an odd odor for the first several uses, but this should dissipate over time. However, smelling unpleasant odors, such as burning oil or rubber or even smoke, is definitely not normal. Call an expert so they can rule out a serious safety hazard or fix the problem.
Inconsistent indoor temperature: Constant indoor temperature is important when winter weather arrives. If your air ducts are the right size for each room and all the vents are open, then your heating system should have no problem keeping all areas in your home at a comfortable temperature. You can check this by going from room to room when the heater is on to see if any rooms are colder than others, but someone in the house having to adjust the thermostat to stay warm is a big indicator of an issue. Get your system evaluated and find out if the HVAC unit, furnace or ducts are the wrong size for your house.
Poor indoor air quality: Your HVAC plays a huge role in your home’s indoor air quality. Let’s say you’ve changed the air filter recently, but the air continues to be dusty, stale or dry. This could be a sign that a tune-up is needed. Older furnaces with clogged air filters or faulty humidifiers can also cause problems with your family’s comfort and health.
High energy bills: Although energy bills tend to be higher in winter and summer, significantly higher bills in winter could mean your furnace is in need of maintenance or repairs. Worn or clogged heating system components make the heating system have to work harder, leading to less efficient operation.

If you are in need of heating repair in St. Louis, MO, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We are here to help you year-round!

Seven Tips for Keeping Warm During Holiday Parties

admin | December 27, 2017

No matter what your holiday traditions may be, there’s a good chance that you will be spending time with family, friends and loved ones this season. If you are hosting a holiday party or get-together, there are a lot of things that you will have to consider. Between getting the word out to guests, planning appetizers to serve and cleaning up your home, you might already feel busy with holiday planning. Another thing that you will have to think about is how to keep your home as comfortable as possible for all of your guests. This means that heating your home should be on your list of things to think about for your holiday party.

In order to make sure that your guests stay warm, there are several things that you can do to maximize the effectiveness of your heating system:

Opt to use your fireplace: If you have a fireplace, a holiday party is the perfect time to use it. Not only does it offer heat, it also creates a warm and cozy ambience that your guests will enjoy.
Maximize your heating resources: If you have space heaters or other heating sources, consider using them to heat your holiday party. Using a humidifier can also help, since the extra moisture in the air will retain more heat.
Reduce draftiness: Seal doorways and use curtains on your windows as a way to minimize drafts and prevent cold outside air from getting into your home.
Offer blankets to your guests: Since everyone has a different preference when it comes to indoor temperature, it’s a good idea to set out a few blankets in your living space to offer guests who tend to be colder.
Cook ahead: Cooking after all of your guests have arrived can add a lot of extra heat that makes your home uncomfortable. Consider preparing a few dishes ahead of time so that you don’t alter the temperature in your home too drastically.
Adjust your thermostat accordingly: The more people you have in your home, the warmer it will get. If you are hosting a large gathering, set your thermostat a bit lower than it usually is to account for the extra body heat.
Have your HVAC system serviced: Before your party, make sure to have your HVAC system serviced by a professional. Any maintenance or heating repair in St. Louis, MO should be done before your party starts to ensure that you are able to heat your home effectively and efficiently.

Before you have guests over this winter, make sure that your heating system is ready to go with help from the team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We are the local experts when it comes to HVAC repair, service and installation for homes and businesses. No matter what kind of questions you have, our knowledgeable team is here to supply you with all of the answers that you are looking for. Give us a call today to find out more about how we can help you stay warm this winter with heating repair in St. Louis, MO.

Busting Four Myths About Heating Systems and Heating Repair in St. Louis, MO

admin | November 27, 2017

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!

What Are the Effects of Frequently Adjusting Your Thermostat?

admin | October 23, 2017

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.

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