Are Annual Furnace Inspections Necessary?

January 1, 2020

Ideally, you will have your home’s furnace inspected at least once a year to ensure that it is in proper working condition. An inspection may make it possible to detect minor issues before they wreak havoc on both the furnace and your finances. Inspect Every Aspect of the Furnace It is unlikely that you have the tools or experience to conduct a thorough and comprehensive furnace inspection. A NATE-certified technician from in O’Fallon will ensure that there are no gas leaks, that the motors are clean, and that there are no physical defects that need to be fixed. Service plans may be available that make it easier to ensure that your furnace gets the attention it needs. Ensure Your Furnace Is Efficient Throughout the Year An annual furnace inspection will enable this component to work more efficiently during the colder winter months. Ultimately, your home will be warmer without necessarily increasing your heating bill. This is because you may be able to keep the thermostat at its current temperature or even lower it a few degrees. Furthermore, you will see even heating throughout your house, which means that you may not need space heaters or other products that use extra...

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What Causes Heating Repairs?

December 20, 2019

As the winter holiday season kicks in full swing, you’re probably going to start spending more time indoors. To get that conducive holiday experience that you so much desire, you may have to resort to heating and warming your house using various solutions, the most common of which is your HVAC equipment. What frustration level can exceed that of turning on your heating equipment only to find out that it is broken? Here are various causes of such problems that may prompt heating repairs. Strange Noises Your heating equipment’s functioning parts can produce some strange noises that you have never heard of before. These noises are normally associated with a developing problem, which, when left unattended, could lead to a major breakdown. Most strange noises come from the equipment’s moving parts, such as the blower or even the drive belts. Insufficient Heating When you turn on the thermostat to adjust the temperature setting, it may fail to capture the accurate heat levels that you desire. This is another common problem in most of our homes today. It is caused by thermostat-related problems, which can be corrected by replacing the thermostat. It can also be caused by a malfunctioning furnace, where...

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How to Save Energy During the Holidays

December 10, 2019

The winter holiday season has already begun. It is commonly associated with a frenzy of holiday-related activities, such as cooking, decorating homes, shopping, and even buying gifts. As you may have already noticed in previous holidays, your energy expenses tend to go up, thereby raising your electricity bills. This holiday season, you can leverage the following tips to save energy. Go for LED Lights Your temptation to use the conventional incandescent lights should be overcome by cheaper, more cost-effective LED lights. These lights consume only 10 percent of the energy that regular incandescent bulbs use. Decorating your Christmas tree with LED lights will, therefore, save you a ton of money. Use Energy Efficient Appliances The market today is awash with various energy-efficient appliances, such as those provided by , which have an ENERGY STAR label. These appliances go a long way to catching on the energy expenses. When purchasing appliances to use for your cooking and other household holiday activities, you may want to focus on checking for the ENERGY STAR label. Go for the Fireplace Heating is probably one of the most energy-consuming areas in your home during the holiday season. Using your HVAC equipment to warm your house...

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How Clean Is Your Indoor Air?

December 1, 2019

Air pollution is a major cause of concern in the world today. Dirty, polluted air is closely associated with a range of infectious diseases, such as the flu. That’s why you cannot afford to live in a home environment where the air quality is compromised. Living in a clean indoor air environment can greatly enhance your home comfort. Here are tips on how to clean and boost the quality of your indoor air. Preventing Smoke Accumulation Any kind of smoke can greatly compromise your air quality. To prevent such cases, it is important to consider basic measures, such as banning indoor smoking. The fireplace should also have a well-functioning chimney to let out any smoke that may otherwise build up in your sitting room. You may also choose to install smoke detectors to warn you whenever smoke accumulates unknowingly in your rooms. Improving Your Ventilation To ensure optimal levels of indoor air quality, your house needs proper air ventilation. The circulation of air between the inside and outside of your house should be enhanced by well-installed ventilation systems. At , we greatly recommend homeowners to consider installing HVAC equipment to ensure that such circulation is achieved. Monitor Indoor Humidity Levels...

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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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