These days, a lot of folks are taking steps toward better decisions that affect the environment—lowering their carbon footprint by driving less, repurposing still usable items and conserving household energy, among others. Since we would all prefer to avoid needing heating repair in St. Louis, MO, why not make it a point to use your heater less so as not to overwork it? If you want to reduce the stress your heater encounters during the cold winter months, then now is the time to incorporate some alternative ways of staying warm:
- Use a space heater and adjust airflow: Why heat up the whole house when no one else is home? If you’re home alone and you’re going to be in one room or area, consider turning down the heater and flipping on a space heater—they’re small but surprisingly effective, and cost little to use. Alternatively, you can also adjust the airflow by closing air vents in the rooms not benefiting from warm air blowing in, while keeping vents open wherever you’ll be.
- Take advantage of sunlight: Winter days do not mean the sky will always be cloudy or that the sun is nonexistent. When the clouds clear and the sun peeks out, open up those window blinds and throw back the curtains to let the warm sunlight in. Additionally, weather permitting, warm up while treating yourself to a nice natural dose of vitamin D.
- Stop drafts: From old or insufficient attic insulation to poorly weather-sealed windows and doors, cold winter air can seep through to the inside of your home, wrapping you in a chill. Since the outside air will simply flow in through cracks and broken seals, and the warm inside air can escape, turning up the indoor heat to combat drafts will just waste energy and cost you more on your monthly heating bills. Invest in insulation improvements and new seals to save money and stay comfy.
- Relax covered up: Your home is not a fashion show. It’s a place of comfort where you can be you. So if the weather is cold, change into layers of warm clothing, wear socks or slippers and use a throw blanket when you’re lounging on the couch. Let your heating unit rest at night—turn it way down—by covering up with more than one thick blanket at bedtime, as well as using a feather or synthetic down comforter.
- Throw a log on the fireplace: Sometimes the most obvious things are right in front of you. Take the fireplace, for example. Right now, is your fireplace blocked by storage boxes or decorations, or have you simply never tried using it? Get it inspected and cleaned and use it this winter. Making a warm fire in your home fireplace is a great way to spend quality time with family or to curl up with a book. Turn the heater off, or way down, for the duration of the fire and enjoy the natural warmth.
We know that HVAC system issues can arise no matter how much cleaning, care and maintenance it receives. At Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, we are here to help should you need a reputable company for residential HVAC installation, maintenance, inspections or cooling and heating repair in St. Louis, MO. Call us today to learn more!
Whether you’re a business owner or managing a team, one of your jobs as a leader is to protect employees from workplace hazards—and one such hazard involves complications created by a failing commercial heating or cooling system. Should you need to wait for emergency HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO, here are a few ways to handle the situation:
- Turn off the system, immediately: Are you experiencing loud banging sounds, strange odors or sizzling coming from behind the thermostat? For safety’s sake, turn off the entire HVAC system if these factors are present. With causes ranging from loose ductwork to bad wire connections, constant loud sounds that are not due to the system turning on or off are not normal. Indoor office and dirty filter smells can circulate when the blower kicks on, but questionable odors need to be taken seriously. Another concern is the presence of sizzling or crackling coming from or within the vicinity of the thermostat.
- Notify your employees: In the best-case scenario, the unit just failed and has shut down without further problems. In the event that that’s not the case, let everyone in the office or building know there’s a possible problem with the HVAC system. After informing your staff, ask them to be on the lookout for anything suspicious that may be related to the broken HVAC, including smoke, electrical smells, wetness in the area around the cooling unit and visible sparks or sounds.
- Strong odors? Leave the building: Strong odors connected to the heating or cooling system that are so overwhelming you’re left coughing or having trouble breathing are a signal that it’s time to get outside. Oftentimes, dangerous odors are invisible, meaning that they are not accompanied by smoke or a solid material. You may not know where it’s coming from, so get everyone out of the building until the right officials have deemed it safe to re-enter.
- Evaluate what you can: If safe to do so, conduct your own mini investigation to make sure no sparks or fluids are present. Don’t touch anything, but do take notes to relay important information to the service providing emergency HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO. In the future, take measures to keep the commercial unit working smoothly by way of preventative maintenance, or look at replacing an old unit before it has the chance to break down.
- Get temporary HVAC equipment: If you live in an area where the weather has a tendency to knock out the electricity or cause other issues with cooling and heating units, it might be a good idea to have temporary HVAC equipment at the ready. In the building’s basement or storage area, keep a generator, a portable heater or air conditioner and fans, or retain the contact information of a nearby heating and cooling equipment rental company.
Being vigilant and taking precautionary measures during an HVAC emergency are some of the most important steps you can take. When such emergencies arise, call a professional commercial HVAC company, like Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, for HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO.
While it’s obvious winter has already arrived, something that may not be as apparent is an inefficiently working heating unit. Indications of potential heating problems range from a haziness or stuffiness in the indoor air to the sound of a train barreling down the tracks every time you turn the heater on. Are you wondering whether you might need to fix your heating unit? Here are five signs that heating repair in St. Louis, MO may be necessary:
- High electric bills: Although utility rates for both gas and electricity tend to fluctuate, if you notice a sudden and significant increase in your monthly energy bills, there may be something wrong with your heating system. Compare your higher bills to your heater usage to see if you’ve been turning the heat up more than in winters past to reach a comfortable inside temperature—this could mean heat is escaping somewhere or a part needs to be replaced.
- Breathing difficulties: Typically a gradual affliction, you might not know you are having trouble breathing the air in your own home. A heater works by circulating warm air throughout the home, which unfortunately also includes contaminants like dust, pollen, mold spores, pet fur and other nasty particles you don’t want to be taking into your lungs. Oftentimes, simply changing the air filter or furnace filter will go a long way toward clearing up the air, but if not, something more serious could be wrong within your heating system.
- Loud noises from the heater: It should be unusual for your heater to make loud banging or scraping noises when it’s running. Strange or loud noises could mean necessary heating repair in St. Louis, MO, which should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent further damage or additional wasted energy. Day or night, it’s a good idea to contact specialized emergency heater unit repair experts like Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling when your heater is noisy.
- The whole house doesn’t warm: Have you noticed this winter that it’s always nice and toasty in the living room but chilly, drafty and not warm in the slightest in one of the bedrooms? House airflow issues arise when the ductwork malfunctions due to damage or age, which creates a break in the amount of warm air successfully reaching connected vents. This can cause your system to work overtime in an effort to heat your whole home.
- Thermostat “up” button is getting a workout: A push here, and a push there—between higher electric bills and the house not warming up fast enough, think about just how often you’re hitting the thermostat button to reach a higher temperature. Are you turning up the heat beyond a reasonable temperature to remain comfortable during the cold winter months? If so, your heater is likely not working as efficiently as it should be, costing you more on energy bills. Get that furnace inspected and make sure all issues, no matter how small, are dealt with.
Don’t let your home temperature drop while your monthly utility bills go up. At Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, we offer 24-hour emergency heating repair in St. Louis, MO. This winter, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime for needed heater fixes or inspections.
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!
