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.
Winter is here, and so is the potential for heating system failure. But remain vigilant and don’t ignore HVAC issues, and you will get through the colder months in comfort, as well as save money on energy bills and HVAC repairs. Let’s get some advice from a professional HVAC service in St Louis, MO about how to keep your heating bills low this winter.
Get a programmable thermostat
Most older homes that have not been updated are typically fitted with super basic manual thermostats. They are likely digital, but some may still be older dial thermostats. When we say basic, we mean thermostats that might feature up and down buttons, an on/off switch and the option to heat or cool, and that’s it.
Saving money on your heating bills starts when you make a change, and in this case, you should consider buying a programmable thermostat. Instead of it gliding on autopilot all day, you’ll be able to set the temperature to do its thing at scheduled times. This is especially handy for when you and your family are not home and while you sleep.
Seal air leaks
If there are cracks and breaks in weather stripping, then the warm indoor air can escape. Do check the seals around window frames and doors for gaps, but the quickest way to find a seal leak is to perform a smoke test. Light an incense cone and move it around windows, doors and crawlspace openings, and don’t just do this in suspected air leak areas. You might be surprised how often leaks can be found where no one thought to look earlier. Move slowly, as the smoke will appear to waver in the presence of blowing air.
Also, look for signs of busted seals—including materials that are cracked, ripped, torn, punctured, loose in the track or missing entirely. Note problem areas, and then head on down to your local hardware store for replacement weather stripping.
Change the air filters
One of the most common forgotten HVAC maintenance tasks is changing the air filter. How does changing the filter help you save on heating bills? For one, a dirty filter will cause the heating unit to struggle and be overworked every time the system kicks on, because the system airflow has nowhere to go. This is when it might feel as though the inside air is a bit stuffy or humid, which in turn means the indoor air quality will be quite unhealthy. Airflow is trapped on the other side of the dirty filter, hence the air in your living space will either remain stagnant or end up recycling through the system.
Get a professional inspection
While there’s a lot of regular HVAC maintenance you can do as a homeowner, plan on scheduling annual inspections and maintenance with a professional HVAC service in St Louis, MO. During the inspection, the pros can perform a tune-up—including tightening components, lubricating parts, checking wires and connectors and doing a thermostat check—as well as look for any needed repairs.
Contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling for superior HVAC service in St Louis, MO this winter, and all year round!
With winter approaching, now is the time to get your home winterized and ready for the season. An HVAC service in St Louis, MO can help you get your home ready for winter by ensuring your heating system is ready for operation and your cooling system is prepared for its long hibernation. Here are some ways an HVAC service can help get your home ready for winter:
- Change filters: Dirty filters are one of the most common problems when a furnace doesn’t work properly. It can make your heating system run inefficiently, and can even cause it to stop working at all. Changing your filters now can get you ready for the winter and will save you from a repair necessitated by clogging.
- Drain AC lines: This is a must, as you don’t want to suffer damage to your AC system during winter. Because any water left in your AC lines can freeze, you need to make sure they are properly drained to prevent this. This is as simple as letting them release any stored water, and an HVAC service in St Louis, MO can help you perform this task. This is also a good time to turn the water off at your outdoor spigots to ensure they don’t freeze.
- Plug drafts: Are there areas of your home that are letting in cold air? If there are, this can increase your energy bill each month, as your heat is literally going out your windows. Inspect your home for areas where air from the outside is coming in, and plug these holes as best you can. You can use a draft stopper to eliminate the cold air from coming in, or have repairs performed to remove the draft completely. An HVAC service in St Louis, MO can help you identify common draft areas and give you ideas for preventing cold air from getting in.
- Seal ducts: When your air ducts leak, this can prevent proper heating in your home. Looking for cracks and holes in your duct work can save you money on your energy bill by sealing these areas to prevent air from escaping through them. An HVAC service in St Louis, MO can inspect your ducts for signs of leaks and repair any damaged areas to ensure you have good airflow in your heating system all through the winter.
- Check your heating system: One of the most important things an HVAC service in St Louis, MO can do for you is give your heating system a checkup. They will be able to perform a maintenance check on your furnace and make sure that it will operate correctly through the winter. They will clean all components and check your thermostat to ensure that it is holding temperature and functioning correctly.
Winterizing your home now will have you prepared for the cold weather season. An HVAC service in St Louis, MO can help you get your home ready and ensure your heating system works properly come winter. For HVAC service at your home or business, contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We are seasoned HVAC contractors with technicians who are skilled in all areas of heating and cooling. Let us identify any issues preventing effective winterization and perform any necessary repairs to your heating system before the cold weather starts!
