Are you diligent about your residential preventative HVAC maintenance? A little effort can go a long way to extending the life of your system, creating more comfortable surroundings in your home and reducing the need for HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO.
What should you do to reap these benefits? Use the following checklist to guide your efforts. The right maintenance each season will have a huge impact on your system.
Professional Service
When was the last time you scheduled professional service by an HVAC company in St. Louis, MO? Partnering with these professionals is the best way to stay on top of your preventative maintenance tasks. An expert technician will ensure all systems are operating properly and are prepped for the season. Their maintenance will include inspection, cleaning and replacement of all parts necessary for optimal operation. Schedule a maintenance visit each spring and fall to avoid further HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO.
DIY Service
In addition to professional maintenance, homeowners can perform their own ongoing maintenance to avoid major HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO. For exterior unit maintenance, keep the air conditioner clear of any debris. Clean off any dirt, leaves and other items regularly. Trim plants at least three feet away from the unit. These efforts will help maintain proper airflow for the system.
To maintain your indoor systems, watch for any leaks in the ductwork or any drainage issues. Replace filters regularly. Check the filters each month and replace if dirty. Listen for any unusual noises when the system starts up. Be on alert for any abnormal odors as well. If you notice any of these red flags, contact a professional to inspect the issue further and make any necessary HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO.
More Efficient Service
For additional savings, homeowners can take steps to increase the efficiency of their HVAC system. These maintenance steps will help you save money on utility bills and repairs and enjoy a more comfortable home environment.
For cooling efficiency, use drapes or blinds to block sunlight during the warmest parts of the afternoon. Use ceiling fans to help keep rooms cool and reduce the need for air conditioning. Keep the home’s interior cooler by cooking outdoors. Additionally, make sure your attic is properly ventilated.
For heating efficiency, ensure the home is properly insulated throughout. Lock and properly seal all windows to keep warm air inside. Arrange furniture and area rugs so all heating vents are clear of obstruction. Lower the thermostat during sleeping or working hours. A programmable thermostat is a helpful tool to efficiently regulate the temperature in the home and reduce utility bills.
Protect Your System
No homeowner wants to spend more than is absolutely necessary on HVAC repair in St. Louis, MO. To keep your costs to a minimum, partner with the pros at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. As your trusted local HVAC company in St. Louis, MO, we offer in-depth knowledge and experience to help you keep your system running smoothly year-round. Contact us today with any questions about maintenance, repairs or installations.
Controlling the climate in your home or business is important, especially during the winter months when temperatures can dip below freezing. A heating system allows you to adjust the temperature in your home to keep it comfortable for you, your family and your guests. If you’re a business owner, it’s important to maintain a comfortable environment for your employees and any visitors or customers who might come by.
Regardless of your setting, there will generally be one of two types of heaters in use: gas or heat pump. Gas furnaces heat your home or business by burning natural gas, whereas heat pumps operate as a sort of air conditioner in reverse, using refrigerant and electricity rather than a fuel source to heat the air. There are a few major differences between these types of heating system and, depending on your specific needs, you might find that one is a better choice for you:
Cost: One of the biggest things to take into account when discussing gas and heat pump systems with HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO is the cost. The amount that you will spend on the operation of your system will vary widely and is based on your energy usage as well as how much natural gas costs in your area. If you can get natural gas relatively cheaply, it might be cheaper for you to go with a furnace rather than a system that runs off electricity. On the other hand, you might be better off with a heat pump system if natural gas isn’t readily available to you.
Location: Where you live has a lot to do with how effective a heating system will be for you. If you live in an area where temperatures dip below freezing, you might be better off with a furnace. Although newer heat pumps can be more effective at heating your home or business, they are not able to handle excessively cold temperatures the way that gas furnaces can. HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO will generally be able to help you determine which option makes the most sense for you.
Efficiency: Although older furnaces were not especially efficient, newer models have the capacity to effectively utilize almost all of the fuel that they consume. Despite advancements, though, heat pumps still tend to beat gas furnaces when it comes to overall efficiency of energy use. Of course, you will have to take into account the differences between using natural gas and electricity in order to accurately determine the true winner when it comes to effective energy use and consumption.
In the end, much of your decision about whether to choose a heat pump or a gas furnace will be dependent on your specific circumstances. If you need help deciding which option would be best for you, or if you want to invest in a new heating system for your home or business, you can contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, one of the premier HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO. Our team of experienced professionals is here to assist you with all of your heating and cooling needs, from the installation of a brand-new system to repairs for your current unit. No matter what you need help with, you can reach out to us for assistance.
When people are in need, they tend to call on professionals for assistance. Homeowners who experience issues with their furnace or AC will request the help of an HVAC expert. Should you be in need of an HVAC professional, when you contact potential companies to schedule an appointment, there are certain things they should offer you if they are a good, quality service.
Here’s what any prospective HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO should be offering you:
Professionalism: All businesses are expected to have employees who are professional while on the clock. This includes whatever company you decide to reach out to for assistance with your HVAC system repair or installation. What this means is that they should be courteous, respectful, competent and more. This doesn’t just include the contractors, but anyone else you interact with from the company as well. If you don’t experience this level of professionalism, it may be wise to choose a different company for the job.
Guidance: After reaching out to the company for help, you will need some sort of guidance from them to make the process go smoothly. From making the appointment to meeting the contractors when they come to service your HVAC system, you have to know if there is anything you should or should not do—for example, whether someone needs to be home at the time of service or if animals need to be out of the home.
References: You might be curious about how current and past customers feel about the company you are thinking about hiring to service your HVAC. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make sure you are making a smart decision, so do not hesitate to request a list of references from the company. They should have no problem giving you a few names of customers who will give their honest opinion about the company and the quality of work that was performed.
Peace of mind: A broken HVAC system that needs repair can stress you out and make you feel a bit nervous until it is finally fixed. You are in need and will probably want to know that your concerns are understood by the company, but also that they genuinely care and want to help. When contacting professionals, it is important that you get this peace of mind and feel comfortable knowing that help will be on the way.
You have a lot of options to choose from when you are in need of a professional who can service your HVAC system. The expectation for the company you hire is that they will repair your HVAC system and ensure it is functioning properly, and while lots of people can probably do the job, you want to ensure the company you hire offers you what you need. Doing so will allow you to have a positive experience and hopefully find the company that you will always call during an HVAC emergency.
Are you looking into HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO to help with your heating and cooling issues? Consider contacting Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling for assistance today.
A long-standing debate between HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO has been whether tube heaters or unit heaters are best for commercial buildings and warehouses. The reality is that both are suitable options, and their compatibility with your specific needs is what will make one option better than the other. Let’s look a little closer at the functions of each, which will help to determine which one is best for your commercial heating needs.
Tube heaters
Tube heaters are tube-like heating mechanisms that are usually secured on ceilings or support beams, and are utilized predominantly in warehouses near dock doors or other small sections of space that consistently see cooler temperatures due to an influx of outside air. The tube heater doesn’t heat the air, but instead provides a great source of heat for all of the objects in the area, including people, flooring and walls. The biggest knock against tube heaters is that they don’t heat entire spaces as effectively as unit heaters, because they can only heat the area directly below their location.
While this is a valid concern, it is possible to at least partially remedy this issue with the strategic placement and layout of multiple tube heaters. The higher up a tube heater is placed, the more surface area it will be able to heat. You can also opt for a design that includes larger aluminum reflectors, which will increase the distance that the heat is projected. Tube heaters are also the most cost-effective option, especially if you are placing them in an open area from which forced air would be wastefully escaping. If you have a large warehouse with multiple open spaces and dock doors, then tube heaters might be the best option for your commercial heating needs.
Unit heaters
While tube heaters are powerful, unit heaters pack the most punch. With output specifications of up to 400,000 BTUH, forced air unit heaters are ideal when you do not have specific pockets of cool air permeating a space, and are instead looking to create a more uniform comfort level throughout a room. Forced air units usually operate as one entire system, instead of several individual units that need very specific placement for maximum effectiveness. Warm air is blown into an entire room, and this heated air is distributed evenly, creating a consistent and lasting feeling of warmth that allows you to move around the room comfortably.
Because of the high capacity of unit heaters, you will likely need fewer units to heat an entire building. This means that while tube heaters are the most cost-effective option in the long-term, the installation of unit heaters is cheaper, and can be the best choice if your budget is limited initially. Unit heaters are also ideal in situations where there will be lengthy interactions with customers inside of your building. Not to be taken for granted, this comfort could be one of the reasons people decide to come back.
Tube heaters and unit heaters both have their own practicalities that work best in certain situations. Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling has been one of the top HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO for more than 15 years, and our experienced team is ready to help you figure out which system will work best for your company.
When your air conditioning unit goes down, choosing between repairing or replacing the unit can be difficult. Sorting through all of the pertinent factors can be overwhelming, but HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO can help.
To repair or replace?
The very first thing to take into consideration when deciding between repairing your current AC system or replacing it with a new one is the age of the existing unit. The industry recommendation is that, if your unit is more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing it. Although a quality unit is built to last longer than this 10-year threshold, the unit loses its power and efficiency with age. As a rule, if the age of your unit in years, multiplied by the cost of repairs, exceeds $5,000, then it is in your best interest to replace the system.
Additionally, if you are shelling out big bucks for repairs on a frequent basis due to the age of the unit, it might be time to invest that money in a new, properly working unit. And if the unit that you are sinking money into is less than 10 years old, that could be an indication that there is a larger problem with the unit that is causing continuous malfunction, and it may need to be replaced.
There are certain times, though, when repairing your existing unit is the best option. Careful contemplation of your current circumstances and your future plans could reveal the best course of action. For example, consider the length of time you plan on being in your home. You may have plans to move to a bigger house in the near future because you are planning on adding to your family. Or you might only be in a particular city for a temporary job relocation, and you know that your living situation will be changing soon. In these instances, it would be more economical for you to try to repair your system if at all possible.
On the other hand, if you have just purchased a new home and know you will be there permanently, ask the seller for access to the maintenance history of the AC unit. Knowing that the unit has received maintenance on a regular schedule suggests that the unit will need less repair overall in the future, and you can have confidence that these repair costs will be manageable.
Energy efficiency saves you money
Even if you have an older unit that is in good condition, you might still be spending quite a bit on your air conditioning bill because it isn’t equipped with any of the new energy efficiency options that many newer units include. It has been shown that upgrading to a system with improved energy efficiency ratings could save you up to 20 percent on your energy bills. Upgrading to this type of system also raises the value of your home, and could even put you in line to receive rebates. This innovative energy efficiency is also much better for the environment, and can drastically reduce your carbon footprint.
When the time comes and you have to make a choice between keeping and repairing your current AC unit or installing a new one, let your local HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO be your guide. There are pros and cons with either choice, but the knowledgeable technicians at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling can walk you through all of your options so that you are able to make the best decision for you and your family. Contact us today to learn more.
