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.
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!
Spring isn’t so far off—the days are getting longer, the birds are starting to come back for the season and before we even know it, summer will be here.
Fall and spring are the most important times of year for your HVAC system. Heading into the winter, you want to make sure your furnace is fully prepared to efficiently heat your home. Heading into the spring and summer, it’s important to know you have a system that is ready to give you cool air consistently.
Rather than waiting until the heat finally arrives, you should get an appointment for HVAC service in St. Louis, MO scheduled now. Here are just a few reasons why getting that tune-up done early is so important:
Save for the whole season: Some homeowners might not feel great about paying the initial cost of an early season tune-up, but if you end up having a major repair need later on in the season, it will not only cost you more money to make that fix than it would have cost to do the tune-up, but it will also leave you without cool air when you need it. Plus, if your system isn’t working at peak efficiency, you could actually be wasting money on unnecessary costs every month on your utility bill. This means getting your tune-up done early could actually save you money over the long term.
Longer unit life: An HVAC system is a significant investment for a homeowner. Replacements are not cheap, which is why it’s important to keep your unit running as smoothly as possible for as long as you can. Having regular inspections and tune-ups each year is the best way to extend the life of your system. Your air conditioning unit and furnace need regular maintenance, just like a car, and these yearly tune-ups are ideal to make it happen.
Greater protection: Timing is important with these tune-ups to make sure your home is cooled efficiently all summer long. HVAC technicians are not usually anywhere near as busy during the spring as they are during the summer, so you should not have any problem getting an appointment. The longer you delay, the more likely it is you’ll have to wait. Plus, if it turns out any parts or repairs are needed, there will be plenty of time to get those parts in and make the fixes before you actually need to rely on your unit for comfortable air temperature in your house.
Peace of mind: Getting the tune-up and inspection done early will allow you to rest easy knowing your system is in good condition and that you will not have to worry about any major repairs or a full system replacement. Instead, the system will get you through another season without worry!
For more information about why it’s so important to schedule seasonal tune-ups for your air conditioning and heating needs, contact our experienced HVAC service in St. Louis, MO today and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.
The outdoor temperatures are dropping and stormy weather is brewing—winter is upon us, which means you are likely running your home heating system as we speak. Do you have seasonal furnace maintenance on your to-do list? Think back to fall—did you have your furnace looked at for condition and efficiency? If not, then now is the time to get it done to stay warm in your home and prevent expensive repair costs!
Here are five benefits of hiring a professional HVAC service in St. Louis, MO for winter furnace maintenance:
Longer lifespan: Your furnace will wear down over time. How long it will take before it stops working depends on how often you use it and whether its components have been properly maintained over the years. To avoid the unit breaking down before its time, get it inspected and serviced at least once a year by a professional furnace technician. Another thing to do is test the unit’s startup and running efficiency.
Increased efficiency: When you schedule an appointment to have a professional perform an annual maintenance check, you can rest assured your furnace will be tested to see that it’s producing an adequate level of heat and that the intake is pulling in enough air. Note that a significantly dirty or clogged air filter can hinder your furnace’s performance, resulting in both inefficient heat levels and higher energy bills. Regular maintenance means better indoor comfort and a fuller wallet this winter.
Improved safety: Wanting to keep your family, pets and home safe is a natural concern—regular preventative home maintenance can help put your mind at ease. When a technician comes to perform yearly comprehensive furnace maintenance service, they will inspect everything from the unit’s safety features to its connectors and controls to locate any possible problem areas. Professional maintenance can decrease the danger of a possible fire or gas leak, thereby improving your family’s safety.
Improved performance: Between parts inspections, adjustments and lubrication, you can expect your furnace to heat your home quickly and easily. A warm, comfortable home is important when the outdoor temperature is dropping. After maintenance—assuming there are no major issues—your furnace should be working at peak performance, keeping you warm and happy through the cold winter months.
Fewer repairs: The key to avoiding costly furnace repair bills is to schedule seasonal inspections with an experienced HVAC technician. They will fully inspect your furnace components and can find small problems and fix them before they get worse. Regular maintenance also means you’ll experience fewer problems and breakdowns during furnace operation. Keep up on furnace maintenance to avoid being left out in the cold this winter.
There are steps you can take as a homeowner to ensure that your furnace lasts and performs well for many years to come. At Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, every single HVAC service in St. Louis, MO that we provide is performed by a knowledgeable expert to ensure your home stays warm all winter long. Call us to schedule an appointment today!
With the temperatures dropping lower and lower, and the official first day of winter not too far off, making sure that their heating system is ready for another cold season is on the top of most homeowners’ lists. With very little time left to waste, now is the time to seek out routine HVAC service in St. Louis, MO for your heating system. Here are just a few of the many benefits that routine maintenance can provide for your HVAC:
Improved safety: While the average heating system is very safe when running normally, there are still many things that could go wrong and put your family in danger. One of the most common hazards that your heating system presents is the release of carbon monoxide gas when the system is not being vented properly. Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because the gas is odorless, and in many cases homeowners don’t even know that they are breathing it into their system. With routine tune-ups, you can make sure that your heating system has the ventilation it needs to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in your home.
Fewer repairs: Making sure that your heating system is maintained regularly each year could potentially reduce the need for repairs by up to 85 percent during your system’s lifespan. When you add up all of the money you can save, the price of routine maintenance quickly becomes well worth it.
Retain energy efficiency: While upgrading to a newer heating system with improved energy efficiency is great, it is not something that many homeowners can afford to do on a whim. Until you can update your heating system, routine maintenance can help play a large role in helping your existing system retain efficiency. Without regular maintenance, your system could be using up to 25 percent more energy than normal. On the other hand, making sure to have maintenance done on an annual basis can help your system retain peak energy efficiency for the majority of its service life.
Extended lifespan: A well-tuned heating system is one that can benefit from an extended lifespan. Something as simple as making sure that all of the mechanical parts of your heating system are properly lubricated before the winter can help prevent premature wear of your motor or blower shafts, which can help you get the most out of your system. Routine maintenance will give homeowners peace of mind that their heater will not only make it through this season, but for many winters to come.
If you want to schedule annual HVAC service in St. Louis, MO in time for winter, give us a call at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today. Since 1999 we have been the leading heating repair company in the area, doing whatever it takes to make sure that all of our customers are ready when the weather gets rough outside. If you don’t want to be left out in the cold, make sure you contact us and schedule your appointment right away.
