HVAC Service - Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling

What to Consider Before Replacing Your Furnace

admin | August 7, 2018

If you’ve been suffering frequent furnace breakdowns or have been routinely having to make expensive repairs to your unit, it’s probably time you got the equipment replaced. But before you make the final decision, there are a few things you should consider.

Here is some information from an HVAC service in St. Louis, MO to help make your furnace replacement decision a more informed one.

Know if a repair won’t do the trick

Do you really need to replace your furnace altogether? This is a significant investment, so it’s important to be absolutely sure that a full-on replacement is in your best interest. In general, it’ll be a good idea to replace your furnace if it’s more than three quarters through its life expectancy and the repairs you’d need to make would cost more than a third of the cost of replacing it.

Most of the time, there will be a label on the furnace that indicates its manufacturer and installation dates. Furnaces last an average of 15 to 20 years, and maybe another five to 10 if the furnace is a high-quality brand and it has been regularly maintained.

Calculate the efficiency potential

Most standard furnaces today are about 80 percent efficient, meaning about 20 percent of the fuel energy goes up and out through the chimney. However, there are some furnaces that are up to 98.5 percent efficient. The number you’re looking for is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. Having a super-efficient furnace can add $1,000 to $2,000 to the cost of the furnace, but could also result in some significant savings. Let’s say a 15 percent increase in AFUE saves you approximately $300 per year (if you’re paying about $2,000 per year to heat your home). If the added cost you pay for the furnace is $1,500, the efficiency will have paid for the extra price within five years, meaning you’ll save a significant amount of money if your furnace lasts you a total of 15 to 20 years.

Determine what you can do to lower your heating needs

If you already have a super-efficient furnace or don’t want to make that investment, you could consider adding insulation to your home. Adding insulation to your attic floor or spraying foam along the top of all foundation walls can be a good way to give your home some extra insulation. This is one of the best ways to decrease your heating needs and your reliance on your furnace, which will in turn help to extend your furnace’s lifespan.

Check your ducts

The ducts could be causing some of the inefficiency you experience with your furnace’s operation. You might have air escaping into the attic, basement or crawlspace. Improving the ducts by sealing up gaps and re-insulating them can be a good step to take, as can cleaning the ducts or other components of the HVAC system if they have a significant amount of debris.

For more information, contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to schedule HVAC service in St. Louis, MO.

Is Duct Cleaning Worth It?

admin | July 24, 2018

Duct cleaning has become a popular service in recent years, with many providers of HVAC service in St. Louis, MO and even specialized commercial cleaning services offering it to their customers. But is the service worth investing in?

First, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting when you get your ducts cleaned. Professional duct cleaning involves the use of specialized vacuums, blowers and brushes to clean out every part of your ducts, including intakes, supply and return ducts all throughout your home. The process involves a thorough cleaning of the registers, grilles, fans, air handler, housings, motors and coils in your HVAC system.

There are not any studies that indicate regular duct cleaning improves the air quality or reduces the dust in your home. However, there is plenty of evidence to indicate that a buildup of dust in your HVAC system makes the unit less efficient.

When to invest in duct cleaning

Duct cleaning is not always (or even usually) necessary, and the EPA even says the ducts only need to be cleaned if they or the HVAC unit are contaminated. However, there are some circumstances in which it definitely makes sense to have it done. Here are a few examples of these scenarios:

Renovation: If you recently remodeled or renovated your building, your ductwork could benefit from a cleaning, especially if your home was likely to have had asbestos or lead paint. The remodeling process is likely to have kicked up a significant amount of dust and debris that could find itself lodged inside your HVAC system.
Mold: If you discovered mold growing inside your ductwork, you should have your ducts and HVAC system cleaned, as this is one circumstance in which the air quality in your home can absolutely suffer. Mold releases spores into the air that trigger symptoms of asthma and other breathing conditions. It also can damage areas on which it grows, and cause an unpleasant, musty smell throughout your home.
Animals: By this, we don’t mean pets. If you have discovered signs of an animal infestation in your ductwork, especially if there’s any nesting happening in your ducts or HVAC system, it’s important to have those animals removed and then clean out the system, and figure out a way to prevent it from happening again.
Contaminants: If you regularly notice debris such as pet hair, dust or other contaminants being released into the room or frequently notice an unpleasant smell emanating from your ducts, then your ductwork may benefit from a good cleaning.
Illness: If someone in your family suffers from unexplained respiratory illnesses or asthmatic symptoms, you could benefit from a duct cleaning at your home.

These are just a few scenarios in which it makes sense to seek out duct cleaning services from an HVAC service in St. Louis, MO. To learn more about the various repair, maintenance and cleaning services we offer, we encourage you to contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

The Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning

admin | July 9, 2018

The air ducts in your home carry air from your heating and cooling system to every single room, keeping you comfortable all year long, no matter the season. This air circulates through the ducts several times each day—the very same air that runs through those spaces gets pushed into your living area for you to breathe. Therefore, it only makes sense for you to want those ducts (and the air) to be as clean as possible.

Air duct cleaning services help you remove dust and other contaminants located inside your ductwork. Professionals use powerful vacuums to suck out that debris, keeping it from being pushed back into your living spaces.

Here are just a few of the benefits of air duct cleaning from an HVAC service in St. Louis, MO:

Cleaner living spaces: By having your air ducts cleaned, you can be sure the dust from those ducts won’t end up scattered on your bedding, floors, furniture and walls. This will reduce the amount of cleaning you’ll have to do yourself throughout your home to keep it looking good.
Reduced air contaminants: Air ducts don’t just contain dust—they’re also breeding grounds for various contaminants and microorganisms like bacteria, mildew, mold spores, pollen, pet dander and other toxins. If you have anyone in your home who suffers from any sort of respiratory condition such as asthma or allergies, these particles will make life even worse for them. Therefore, getting your air ducts cleaned regularly will help you live healthier and keep those contaminants out of your air.
Fresher air: The air ducts collect smells and odors resulting from household cleaning products, pets, paint fumes, food preparation, tobacco use, mold and just about anything else you can imagine. Every time the furnace or air conditioner runs, those odors will be pushed throughout your house. Over time, this can cause the ducts themselves to build up an unpleasant, musty smell. Cleaning the ducts get rid of all the particles that trap those odors in place, which means you’ll have a fresher, better smelling home that you can enjoy each day.
Air efficiency: If your ductwork and registers have lots of dust, grime and debris built up in them, there’s a good chance it’s restricting the amount of air you’re actually getting from your air conditioner or furnace. This means your system is likely working much harder than it should need to in order to get your home to your desired temperature. This decreased efficiency will result in higher energy bills. Therefore, getting your air ducts and registers clean and free of this buildup will help you get more cost-effective, environmentally friendly performance out of your HVAC system.

These are just a few of the benefits associated with getting air duct cleanings from an HVAC service in St. Louis, MO. For more information about how you can benefit from cleaner air in your home, contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

How Summer HVAC Service in St. Louis, MO Can Boost System Efficiency

admin | May 23, 2018

Owning a business requires significant attention to detail. With so much on your plate, it’s easy to forget about things like getting summer HVAC service in St. Louis, MO. Even though it might not seem pressing, your HVAC system can decline in efficiency over time unless you take steps to consistently care and maintain it. Since you don’t want to deal with the hassle and discomfort of a malfunctioning AC system in the midst of the summer months, it’s important to handle HVAC maintenance before cooling season really picks up. Read on to find out more about what you can do to improve the function of your HVAC system and reduce your energy bill while you’re at it:

Assess your efficiency: Before you know how to increase your system’s efficiency, it’s important to figure out where the weak points in your system are when it comes to energy usage. Invest in an energy audit to determine how efficient your system really is and whether there are any clear culprits when it comes to energy waste. By performing this assessment, you can approach efficiency optimization with some useful background knowledge that will help you effectively address any problems.
Take care of leaks: Cracks, gaps and spacing in your HVAC system can cause major inefficiencies. If there are places in your ductwork where air can escape, it will reduce the level of air pressure that your AC system is able to maintain to promote circulation through your home. To compensate for this, your system will have to work harder to achieve the same level of cooling. This wastes energy and also causes your system to wear out much faster. By identifying and repairing these leaks, you can boost the efficiency and the longevity of your HVAC system.
Use new technology: HVAC technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. New products on the market are specifically designed to maximize efficiency and give you complete control over the comfort of your business. The more comfortable your climate is, the happier your employees and customers will be. Proper cooling can actually promote increased productivity and improved morale among your employees. Try out a programmable thermostat that can be accessed remotely online or through a mobile app. This allows you to shut your system off or turn it on with the touch of a button. You can also set your thermostat to turn on with a motion sensor so that you don’t use energy on heating or cooling while people aren’t in the building.

Save money and increase the comfort of your employees and customers alike this summer with quality HVAC service in St. Louis, MO from Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We are a premier provider of comprehensive commercial and residential HVAC services, including sales, installation, maintenance and repairs. We know how much of a difference the right maintenance can make when it comes to the efficiency of your system, and we would be happy to help you achieve energy savings this summer. To schedule service with one of our trained and experienced technicians, get in touch with us today.

What’s Involved in a Spring HVAC Tune-Up? Here’s a Quick Checklist

admin | March 8, 2018

By now, you have probably heard that it is important to get seasonal checkups on your HVAC system—cooling in the spring, heating in the fall. But what exactly is involved in spring HVAC service in St. Louis, MO that makes it so important?

Here’s a quick checklist of some of the items you can expect to be included in your tune-up, and why they’re so important:

Thermostat check: The thermostat must be properly calibrated to ensure proper temperature control and energy efficient operation.
Startup: The unit must be verified as being operational before the technician can proceed with the rest of the tune-up.
Return filter: A restricted return air filter causes the unit to waste energy, which can shorten the life of the compressor.
Evaporator coil: Routine cleanings of the evaporator coil can ensure better energy efficiency. A dirty coil can lead to failure of the compressor over time.
Blower wheel: A dirty blower wheel reduces airflow through the system, which in turn increases costs of operation and can cause the compressor to fail.
Lubrication: All motors and bearings should be regularly lubricated. Improperly lubricated parts will ultimately fail.
Belt and pulleys: The technician will check the belt, pulleys and general alignment to make sure everything is in its correct position and operating as it should.
Blower motor: Blower motors should be stable and clean. A dirty motor will be less efficient and more likely to fail.
Electrical usage: Technicians check the total electrical consumption of an HVAC system to ensure it is meeting optimum performance levels.
Check for wear: In addition to cleaning and lubricating many of the system’s parts, technicians will also check for any signs of visible wear. Doing so can pinpoint potential problems before they arise and turn into expensive repair issues.
Check disconnect switch: Worn and overheated disconnect switches can blow fuses, which makes them potentially dangerous. Disconnect switches should be in good operating condition.
Clear debris: If any debris has built up around the unit, it’s important to remove it. This promotes better energy efficiency and prevents the unit from overheating and potentially suffering from major damage.
Condenser coil cleaning: Dirty condenser coils can cause the refrigerant pressures to increase, which in turn increases the electrical costs of running the system.
Condenser fan blades: If the condenser fan blades are vibrating at all, they need to be tightened. Vibrating condenser fans can damage the unit and lead to costly service calls.
Cap capacitors: Bad capacitors can lead to the motor or compressor failing in the long run.
Check controls: Performing regular checks of all system controls extends the life of the system, preventing failure and saving you money in the process.
Test refrigeration metering: Blockage or improper operation of a metering device can reduce the unit’s cooling capacity, which in turn increases fuel cost and shortens the life of your system.

This is just a sampling of what your spring HVAC service in St. Louis, MO will entail. Contact us today for more information!

Monday:	7 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday:	7 AM - 6 PM
Wednesday:	7 AM - 6 PM
Thursday:	7 AM - 6 PM
Friday:	7 AM - 6 PM
Saturday:	7 AM - 6 PM
Sunday:	7 AM - 12 PM