FAQs About Air Filter Ratings

September 20, 2020

No matter what type of heating and cooling system your St. Louis, MO, area home has, it’s important to check its air filter once a month. The air filter captures particles from your home’s air, which keeps your home cleaner, reduces excess wear and tear on the heating and cooling equipment, extends the heating and cooling system’s lifespan and helps you breathe easier. Choosing an air filter can be tough, which is why our technicians at offer these 10 FAQs and answers for homeowners in and around St. Louis. 1. What Rating System Is Used for Heating and Cooling Air Filters? The rating system used for heating and air conditioning air filters is called the minimum efficiency reported value, or MERV, system. This rating system was designed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. This is a group of professionals who each have decades of hands-on experience with building, designing, installing, maintaining and repairing heating, ventilation, refrigeration and air conditioning systems. 2. What Is the Range of Ratings for Air Filters? MERV ratings range from 1 to 20. The higher the MERV rating, the more particles 0.3 microns in size the filter is able to capture. It’s...

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A Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Air Quality

September 10, 2020

It used to be that our technicians worked mostly with heating and air conditioning systems. After all, is the company O’Fallon residents can trust to keep their homes at the right temperature. However, our expertise has expanded beyond the reading on your thermostat. Our experienced technicians also work with equipment that will improve the quality of your air. Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality People often take the air they breathe for granted. They assume that if there is no visible pollution, it must be clean. Think about what you see when a sunbeam shines through a window. Particles of dust float lazily in the light. If it is in your air, you and your family members are inhaling it with each breath. Your body does a decent job of filtering out some impurities. But smaller impurities make it through your natural defenses. When your home has poor air quality, you will see a variety of symptoms. People who are prone to allergies may develop a runny nose and cough. Irritants in the air can trigger asthma attacks in people with this condition. Chemicals floating in your air supply can cause headaches, poor sleep and an overall sense of feeling...

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Want To Save Energy and Money? Consider a Zoning System

August 15, 2020

If you are looking to save money and energy in your home, you should consider installing a zoned heating and air conditioning system. With this type of system, you can reduce your total energy usage as you control the temperature in each room. Here are a few things that you should know about this system. What Is a Zoned System? In some cases, a home will use two separate systems to heat or cool down the rooms. With a zoned HVAC system, the single unit will serve two or more zones. A zoned HVAC system usually includes a furnace combined with an air conditioner unit. An air handler or heat pump might also be a part of the setup. For each zone, several motor-driven dampers control the airflow to every room. Depending on the ductwork, the HVAC system might have a damper for each major component. These dampers can be left open or closed in the house. A modulating controller is also used to open the dampers halfway to meet each zone’s air conditioning or heating needs. Controlling the Temperature With a zoned system, there are several ways to control and monitor the zone temperatures. One of the simplest ways...

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How To Prevent Cold Spots in Your Home

August 2, 2020

If you are experiencing some significant differences in the cooling in your home, your HVAC system or any other related component might not be operating efficiently. Disparities in the general temperature of your house are caused by the formation of cold and hot spots. Cold spots are a major hassle because they prevent your household from enjoying consistent cooling and heating while increasing energy costs. The following are some steps you can take to eliminate cold spots in your residence. 1. Replacing Your AC Filters Your air conditioner’s filters do not only help to improve indoor air quality, but they also allow the central air in your property to flow freely. Dirty filters are to blame for the cold spots in your home. Therefore, ensure you check and change them regularly. If you are not sure where to find the filters, how to check them, or even how to change them, an experienced HVAC professional can walk you through the entire process. Keeping your air filters in good repair and clean will increase your cooling and heating system’s efficiency, enhancing your overall indoor comfort. 2. Rearranging Your Room One of the simplest solutions for spaces with heating disparities is to...

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Benefits of an Automated Thermostat

July 20, 2020

The first smart thermostat hit the market in 2007. It was deemed “smart” because the device had the ability to connect to Wi-Fi. Since then, other smart thermostats have hit the market, too. Many of them have achieved success thanks to the backing and research from large tech companies in Silicon Valley. The industry was not sure if the smart device would catch on. There is definitely a segment of the market that adopts all-new technology early. Then, there are those who wait. In O’Fallon, MO, some of your neighbors have adopted the technology for the benefits it offers. If you are interested in one, too, our team at can offer you more information about automated thermostats. If you are on the fence, here are some benefits this technology delivers. 1. A Smart Thermostat is An Automated Thermostat Technology has entered every facet of the standard American’s life. It has done this through software and machine learning. A smart thermostat has the ability to connect to Wi-Fi. This allows it to be programmed by the user. Simply download the corresponding app on your smartphone or tablet. Then, input your preferences. Once you have input your preferred settings, the thermostat is...

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5 Signs That Your AC Is on the Decline

July 10, 2020

A reliable AC is a wonder of the modern world. However, these units don’t last forever. At the end of its lifespan, you’ll inevitably notice some problems. For 2020, let us take a very close look at five signs that your AC is on the decline. 1. Wear and Tear To start things off, visible wear and tear on your AC is never a good thing. If you can see damage to the unit, you know it is on the decline. This could take the form of rust that will slowly corrode the metal. This could be chipped paint that exposes the core of the AC to the rest of your home. While these things might not directly affect the temperature of your home, they will certainly have an impact in the long run. An AC with a weakened exterior will slowly develop cracks and fractures in the rest of the system. Sooner or later, the vents will crack, and you will no longer be able to operate the appliance. Wear and tear can also occur in the interior. When you change the air filter, take a look around. Look for clogs or backups that prevent air from flowing through....

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6 Benefits of Geothermal Systems

June 2, 2020

When it comes to heating and cooling your home, technology has given us many options to choose from. In the opinion of , arguably one of the most unique and intriguing options is a geothermal system. These systems are wonderfully efficient and help to keep your O’Fallon, MO, home comfortable year-round. Since geothermal systems can be quite a significant investment, though, it’s important to understand the benefits you’ll receive before you commit to installing one in your home. To help you understand if a geothermal system is right for you, here are six perks that make a geothermal system worth considering. What Is a Geothermal System? Before we move any further, it’s important to understand just what a geothermal system is. A geothermal system uses a looped pipe that is placed deep in the ground underneath your home. Above ground, a compressor works to move fluid in this pipe down to a depth where the temperature stays at a constant 55 degrees year-round. This constant temperature is important because it is almost always warmer or cooler than 55 degrees above ground. In the summer, when it’s warmer than 55 degrees, your heat pump can remove heat from your home and...

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What Are The World Health Organization Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality?

June 1, 2020

In your home, you want to maintain a healthy and safe environment for your family. However, some everyday pollutants can cause health issues. While you do your best to keep the air clean, you still might need help from a professional company to find the contaminants. For those wanting to maintain a healthy level for their air quality, you can follow some well-established standards. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued its own guidelines to help keep indoor air quality healthy for everyone. Indoor Air Quality Is Important Have you ever walked into a building and started to sneeze or cough? The poor air quality might cause those reactions in the building. Without clean and healthy air, your body will begin to feel the side effects of some pollutants. For those with allergies or asthma, poor air can trigger some irritating symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes. These pollutants are much more harmful than a few dust bunnies in the air. In the most extreme cases, the contaminants can cause cancer, heart disease, or lung problems for those exposed to them over a period of time. You don’t have to be living near a manufacturing facility to...

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Causes of AC Failure

May 20, 2020

Most central air conditioning systems last for about 12 years before they have a major breakdown. Since O’Fallon, MO, has a lot of hot and humid weather, however, it’s almost always too soon to experience an AC failure. Knowing about the most common causes behind air conditioner issues allows you to take preventive actions. Here are some of the most common reasons why air conditioning systems fail. Refrigerant Leak Older air conditioning systems use Freon as the chemical refrigerant. Systems made since 2006 usually use R-410-A, an environmentally-friendly refrigerant. A refrigerant leak triggers the air conditioner to have low pressure. The safety switch is triggered by low pressure. If the pressure is too low, the air conditioner will not turn on. A leak of R-410-A could be repaired. The fixtures, hoses, and valves can be checked and replaced by qualified technicians. In the case of a Freon leak, the system should be replaced. Frozen Coil Air conditioners have refrigerant flowing through their coils. The coils are located on the outdoor condenser unit. Those coils need warm air circulating around them, otherwise, they can freeze. A frozen coil stops the flow of refrigerant. When the refrigerant cannot flow into the indoor...

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What Are MERV Air Filter Ratings?

May 1, 2020

In 1968, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers released its first air filter testing standard. Nearly two decades later, ASHRAE created the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, aka MERV. This was an update that the society felt was necessary. The ratings, which range from 1 to 20, are used to determine the quality of any given air filter. MERV measures the filter’s efficiency by its ability to trap airborne pathogens. At in O’Fallon, MO, we help install air filters that meet MERV standards and recommendations. Here are some things you should know about the MERV air filter ratings. What Rating Should I Use? The proper rating for your interior depends on several factors. The higher the rating, the more particles the air filter is expected to trap. If the air filter is going to be used in your home, you do not need the highest-rated air filter. However, you’ll need a filter that’s going to do the best in your HVAC system. While a filter with a high rating is wonderful, it’s not necessary for all situations. In fact, it may not be good for your system. For residential heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, there are filter recommendations....

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