3 Signs Your Heating System is Overworked

October 22, 2019

As winter settles into St. Louis, your furnace will kick in to keep you and your home warm. While the equipment is designed to function throughout the cold season, it shouldn’t be overworked. An overtaxed heater is prone to many issues from reduced energy efficiency to more frequent repairs. How do you know if your heating system is overworked? Keep an eye out for these red flags: 1. High Utility Bills It’s natural for your utility bills to rise during winter, but unusually high spikes could indicate your system is exerting itself more than usual. If there’s a problem causing your system to work harder to reach your desired temperature, it will consume more energy. This rise in energy consumption leads to higher utility bills, and that should alert you to a problem. 2. The House Is Always Cold If your house feels cold no matter how high you crank the thermostat, then you may have a furnace problem. Pay attention to your furnace to see how it’s running. If you can hear it operating constantly, then it’s overworked and unable to keep up with your heating needs. This can be caused by something as simple as a dirty air...

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How to Locate Cold Air Leaks in Your Home

October 12, 2019

If you are experiencing cold drafts, you have air leaks throughout your house. You don’t want to pay for heat as it escapes through a crack. It can be hard to find these air leaks in the interior and exterior of your house. However, there are a few tips to stop heat from getting out of your home. Do an Energy Audit It can be easy to conduct an energy audit by yourself. You can find checklists on various government websites. These lists will give you an idea of where your home needs to be on the energy efficiency scale. If you don’t have time to do your own audit, you should consider hiring a professional technician. At , we can help you with a home energy audit in O’Fallon. In addition to that, you might even qualify for state or federal rebates for your energy repairs. Use an Air Leak Detector When you stand by a window or a door, you can feel the draft from an unsealed frame. An air leak detector can help you to “see” these leaks as well. A smoke pencil will produce a fog, and you can easily spot the air draft. While you...

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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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