What To Do If My Furnace Keeps Turning Off

November 22, 2019

Various problems can cause your furnace to constantly be turning off and on. This revolving sequence of turning off and on is called short cycling. Do not despair! Fixing this problem can be simple and relatively inexpensive. What You Can Check There are three simple things you can check to see if they are causing your furnace to keep turning off: Filter: Check to see if your air filter is clean. If your air filter is dirty, it will restrict the air flowing into your furnace, causing the heat exchanger to overheat. When the heat exchanger gets too hot, your furnace will turn off. Open the filter door and remove the filter. If it is covered in dust and dirt, go ahead and replace it. Replace your filter every two or three months during heating season. Thermostat: Make sure the thermostat is working properly. If your thermostat is functioning improperly, it will send wrong information to your heating system controls. Observe it while your furnace is operating. Look for anything that is odd. Make sure the batteries are fresh. Vents: Make sure all of your heat vents are open. Open all of the heat vents in your house or business....

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Furnace vs Fireplace: Which One is More Efficient?

November 15, 2019

People in Missouri have all sorts of options when it comes to heating their homes, but the most common debate is probably furnace versus fireplace. Both options offer advantages, and the choice of whether you should go with a gas furnace or a gas fireplace may come down to personal preference and the design and size of your house. Among the factors you should consider are BTU ratings, efficiency and reliability. What Is a British Thermal Unit? Heating power is measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. One unit is equivalent to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. BTU ratings give you as the homeowner an idea of how powerful a furnace or fireplace is. It should be noted, however, that the BTU rating of a particular furnace may not be directly comparable to that of a fireplace because of differences in their operation. Judging the Efficiency of a Furnace Versus a Fireplace For furnaces, the manufacturer will usually list the unit’s extraction efficiency in the manual. Extraction efficiency is about how much of the fuel is turned into heat. The problem with a furnace is that some...

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3 Tips for Maintaining Your Furnace This Winter

November 7, 2019

has been a leading provider of heating services in O’Fallon for more than 35 years. Our clients often ask us what our top tips are for preventing furnace problems in winter. While in-person answers are personalized to the customer, here are our top three tips for the average homeowner. 1. Schedule a Tune-Up in Autumn We recommend a tune-up in advance of the cold setting in. In fact, most furnace problems that occur during winter can be avoided through preventative care. It may seem like an unnecessary cost when everything was fine with a furnace the year before, but tune-ups are relatively inexpensive. They include a comprehensive examination as well as whatever maintenance your system may need. 2. Inspect Your Furnace Filter Each Week Air filters have a much bigger effect on the efficiency and wear and tear of a furnace than most people realize. Many people have the notion of changing the filter every three months, but this is just a guideline and often woefully inadequate during winter. Our recommendation is to check the filter each week. If you can see that the filter is dirty, replace it, and if the color is unusual, schedule service. 3. Reduce Your...

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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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How to Properly Winterize Your HVAC System

September 24, 2019

4 Steps to Winterizing an HVAC System 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...

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What to Do Before Turning on Your Furnace

September 24, 2019

Do Proper Maintenance Before Turning on Your Furnace 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...

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Are Furnaces Good for Your Health?

September 14, 2019

Can My Furnace Impact My Health? 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 a 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...

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Everything You Need to Know About Smart Thermostats

August 27, 2019

The thermostat that is installed in your home determines the level of comfort provided in the building and how much you spend on your energy bill each month. In recent years, thermostats have become more advanced and technologically “smarter,” which allows them to perform more functions. If you’re considering smart thermostats, here are a few facts about them. They Pay for Themselves Although smart thermostats may have a higher upfront cost when they’re purchased, they can pay for themselves over time due to the savings obtained through lower monthly energy bills. Smart thermostats use less energy. They’re designed to automatically adjust the temperature in a building, which yields savings throughout the year for residents. Ultimately, this allows the HVAC system to run less frequently, and that means fewer repairs will be required. They Learn the Owner’s Schedule Smart thermostats are both practical and convenient. After you install one, you’ll discover that one aspect of this is the device’s ability to learn your schedule and adapt to it. Whether you usually go to bed at a certain time or you spend several hours each day away at the office, your smart thermostat will recall the changes you make. By learning the...

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