The Importance of BTUs for HVAC Equipment

October 18, 2022

The last time you took a trip through your local home and hardware store, you likely saw a number of air conditioners and heaters for sale. Any homeowner in O’Fallon, Missouri can purchase their own HVAC equipment. However, this doesn’t mean that they should. There are a number of important factors to consider when choosing and installing heating and cooling systems. If you buy the wrong unit for your home, you could be throwing money down the drain. This is especially true when it comes to system BTUs or British Thermal Units. BTUs determine how much heating and cooling power HVAC equipment has. Read on to find out why BTUs are so important and how getting a unit with the wrong BTUs could make your life unnecessarily challenging. What BTUs Are BTUs are a measurement of energy. They’re used to denote the power of heating and air conditioning systems all throughout the United States. Much like inches, pounds, ounces, and even degrees Fahrenheit, BTUs are part of the typical measuring system. However, despite their name, BTUs aren’t commonly used to express the heating and cooling capabilities of HVAC systems in the UK, where the metric system is the standard. A...

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Advantages of Getting a Fall Tune-Up for Your Furnace

October 10, 2022

When the weather gets a little cooler, homeowners are forced to turn on their furnaces to keep their homes comfortable. Waiting until the last minute to schedule a furnace tune-up might be increasing the chances of a furnace breakdown. A furnace tune-up can help improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency, and it can help prevent costly repairs down the road. Here are the benefits of getting a fall tune-up for your furnace. Reduces Emergency Breakdown Risks Before the temperatures drop, you should schedule a tune-up for your furnace. Although it may seem like an unnecessary expense, it is actually of great benefit. One of these essential benefits is that it reduces the risk of an emergency breakdown. Over time, like other machines, furnace systems undergo wear and tear, increasing the chances of an unpredictable breakdown. With a tune-up, any potential problems with your furnace will be discovered and fixed before they have a chance to cause a breakdown when you need the furnace the most. This can save you a lot of money, hassle in the end, and ensure the efficiency of your system. Increasing the Lifespan of the Furnace One of the best things you can do for...

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6 Important Furnace Safety Basics

October 2, 2019

As the winter approaches, it is important to place a high priority on furnace safety. Taking the necessary actions to guarantee the safety of everyone in your home will also help you keep your heating costs low, so don’t neglect to apply these furnace safety basics. 1. Keep the Furnace Area Clear of Flammables Even though you might be tempted to use the furnace area as closet space, keep the area around your furnace free of combustible liquids as well as any boxes or other items. 2. Replace the Air Filter Clogged air filters can lead to overheating of your furnace. Changing the air filter every couple of months is a good rule of thumb for keeping airflow unblocked. 3. Check the Vent Pipe A simple look at the vent pipe should be enough to notice any deterioration, obstructions, or loosening of joints. 4. Inspect the Supply and Return Vents in Each Room If too many of the vents in your home are closed, the furnace might overheat. To prevent this, make sure that at least 80% of the vents are open at any time. 5. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors Human senses cannot pick up carbon monoxide. It is therefore...

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How to Properly Winterize Your HVAC System

September 24, 2019

Your HVAC system requires care and maintenance throughout the year to ensure proper operation. During the winter season, the appliance can suffer from excessive wear or damage due to environmental elements. Here are a few ways to winterize your HVAC system and keep it operating. 1. Cover the HVAC Unit One of the best ways to protect your HVAC system from damage is by covering the unit with a trap or furnace cover. The top is the main area that needs to be covered to prevent icicles, leaves, and other types of debris from settling on top of the appliance. Exposed pipes should also be covered with foam pipe covers that are available at home improvement stores. You can avoid worrying that the pipes will freeze or break if they’re insulated during the winter season. 2. Perform a Tune-Up Hire a company like to perform a tune-up when transitioning the unit from heating to cooling. The technicians will thoroughly inspect all of the parts and can also perform any repairs that may be needed to improve the efficiency of the system. 3. Keep an Eye on the Unit Make it a point to keep an eye on the unit throughout...

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What to Do Before Turning on Your Furnace

September 24, 2019

As the warmth of summer gives way to cool, crisp fall weather, you’ll feel the itch to turn on your furnace. But before you start up the furnace for the year, there are a few maintenance chores you should do to make sure it’s ready to handle the cold weather. Here at , we’ve spent years keeping the O’Fallon area furnaces running smoothly. These are three things to do before you turn on the furnace for the first time. Change the Air Filter Every furnace has an air filter inside of it that sifts out dust, debris, and allergens from the air. Not only does the filter improve your home’s indoor air quality, but it also protects your furnace from damage. A dirty air filter can release dust and debris into the furnace, lowering its energy efficiency and increasing the odds of component failure. To avoid these issues, change your air filter every three to six months. Replace Thermostat Batteries The thermostat is a small wall-mounted device that communicates with your furnace. Most modern furnaces are battery-powered and need to be changed about every six months. If the batteries die, your thermostat stops working and, in some cases, your furnace...

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Are Furnaces Good for Your Health?

September 14, 2019

The furnace in your home is an intimate piece of equipment. It probably runs all through the winter months. Just the fact that it keeps your home warm and comfortable is a positive health benefit. Without it, you would be quite uncomfortable at the very least, and at the worst, you could become seriously ill. A furnace that has been in operation for many years can pose certain hazards. An older furnace typically has a pilot light and other components that can be dangerous to your health or personal safety if they are faulty. Possible issues include carbon monoxide poisoning and a higher risk of household fires. Old Furnaces and Carbon Monoxide The pilot lights in older furnaces usually have manual controls, and maladjustment can cause carbon monoxide production. Modern homes are built to be fairly airtight, so this gas could build up. The flame of a pilot light should be bright blue with a slight tinge of green and have a yellow tip. If the entire flame looks yellow and weak, it could indicate a problem. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and sometimes fatal. It kills over 200 people in the United States each year. It can also cause...

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Do New Furnaces Work Differently Than Older Furnaces?

March 19, 2019

In O’Fallon, St. Charles and the rest of St. Louis County, MO, we rely on our furnaces in the winter, so we need to keep track of when our older furnace has exceeded its useful lifespan. At , our customers often ask us to explain what the differences are between the older and newer models of furnaces and if it is a good time to upgrade to a newer furnace. Depending on the age of your current furnace, there may be differences in how the new models of heating systems operate. The following are some of the major differences. Thorough and Efficient Heating The newer furnaces are often able to heat your home more thoroughly and more efficiently because more air is blown over the heat exchanger. More Cost-Effective Energy Source Some older furnaces work by converting electricity to heat. That is often the most expensive way to heat a home unless you are using a heat pump. The newer furnaces use gas, which is more efficient and cost-effective in converting to heat. Variable-Speed Air Handlers – More Efficient and Quieter The new furnaces are equipped with variable-speed rather than single-speed air handlers. These devices can lower or raise the...

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Furnace Repair Warning Signs

February 21, 2019

It’s late at night. You wake up to a quiet house that’s steadily getting colder. The furnace has stopped working, and now you need to make an emergency repair call. However, your furnace may have been giving you the message that it needed a repair for some time. This article will describe some common signs that a furnace repair may be coming soon. Unusual Noises Every homeowner knows that the heating system makes some amount of noise. The normal sounds tend to fade into the background. If you hear other, unusual sounds, your furnace may be telling you something. Call a professional if you hear: Rattling sounds: It could just be a loose screw or it could be something more important. Scraping sounds: The sounds of metal on metal may indicate parts that have come out of alignment. Whining sounds: A loose motor belt will squeal at a high pitch. Booming sounds: If your furnace fires up with a bang, it may mean that the timing of the burner is off. Strange Smells There is often a slight burnt smell when the heater turns on for the first time of the season. Most other smells coming from your furnace indicate...

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How to Tell If You Need Furnace Repair

January 8, 2019

is a premier heating company in O’Fallon, and our technicians know that a well-maintained heating system can last for decades. However, there are those times when the system simply needs to be fixed, and that’s usually beyond the ability of the owner. How do you know when the time has arrived? The Furnace Simply Won’t Run If your furnace won’t come on even after the thermostat is reset and the circuit breaker is checked, you’ll probably require technical assistance. Sometimes, a furnace won’t respond because its motor is overheated. If you wait for several minutes, try to turn on the furnace again and it still won’t operate, it’s time to call in our team. You shouldn’t try to restart an oil furnace after the third try. Oil can build up in the combustion chamber and cause a flash. Energy Bills Keep Going Up As a furnace gets older, it gradually becomes less efficient. You can see this when you receive your monthly bill and the operating expenses keep going up even though you’re not using any more energy than usual. The Unit Keeps Cycling On and Off When a furnace keeps cycling on and off even after the filter and...

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