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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How To Light a Pilot Light on a Furnace

February 20, 2020

When your furnace’s pilot light goes out, the bad news is that you won’t have any heat. The good news, in most cases, is that you’ll be able to re-light it on your own. Follow These Steps Each furnace should come with an instruction label that will tell you what to do to light it. If you can’t find or read this label, these general instructions should work. First, look for an On/Off switch for your pilot light, which should be at the bottom of your furnace. Turn the switch to the Off position, and wait for five minutes or longer so that any gas can dissipate. This is an important safety step that will ensure that the gas in the air won’t ignite when you’re holding an open flame. While you’re waiting, find the button that says “Reset,” since you’ll be using this later. After at least five minutes, turn the switch to “Pilot.” Hold down the reset button while bringing the flame from a long lighter or match to the pilot light opening. It should catch immediately, but once the flame does catch, let go of the reset button. Still Won’t Work? If you’re not able to light...

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How Long Should a Furnace Last?

February 10, 2020

In today’s consumer culture, where many items you purchase in O’Fallon are made to be replaced within a short time, you may be concerned about the lifespan of your furnace. After all, a furnace is a significant investment as well as an important part of your family’s comfort, so you don’t want it to simply break down after a few years. Fortunately, a furnace is one consumer item that is built for the long haul. Just how much time, though, can you expect to get out of a furnace? Read on to find out more. Buy Once, Buy Quality Though you’ll be able to get several years out of any furnace you buy, there are different levels of quality depending on how much you spend upfront. That’s not to say that you should purchase the most expensive furnace available, just that’s it’s good to buy a quality furnace once if you can afford to rather than buying a mediocre furnace two or three times. Make sure to do your research before making a purchase and be sure to buy through a reputable O’Fallon, Missouri, dealer such as . Maintenance Is Everything If you want to get every last year out...

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How To Improve Indoor Air Quality Naturally

February 1, 2020

Your home should be a fortress that keeps you safe from harm. Unfortunately, the air inside it can often become so polluted that your home causes you harm instead of protecting you from it. Typically, poor indoor air quality is caused by the closed and sealed nature of a home, which prevents pollutants from leaving and fresh air from entering. Fortunately, there are several natural solutions to the problem of poor indoor air quality. Here are a few that should help spark some ideas of your own. Plants Plants are often appreciated for their ability to purify the air outdoors. Fortunately, these same air-purifying properties also apply to plants that are indoors. Plants absorb carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and other common indoor pollutants, releasing fresh oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Therefore, if you want to purify your home’s air, a thriving garden of indoor plants is a great place to begin. Activated Charcoal Another great way to absorb pollutants and foul odors in your home is to use activated charcoal. Activated charcoal typically comes in cloth pouches of various sizes and is made from the charred remains of bamboo and other plants. Due to the millions of tiny...

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What Can Be Done to Prevent Mold Buildup in My Home?

January 20, 2020

Mold exposure is more common than you may realize. You can find mold in both the inside and outside areas of your home. For those with asthma and allergies, it can cause harmful side effects. Here are several ways to prevent mold from growing throughout your home. Clean and Dry Surfaces to Prevent Mold Some places in your home are breeding grounds for mold, including floors and sinks. When you have a non-porous surface, it is easy to use a disinfectant or other cleaner to prevent mold. For those with soft surfaces, a vapor steam cleaner is another effective way to disinfect the home. As you use this product, you want to make sure that no moisture remains on the surfaces. Mold can start to grow on wet surfaces in only a few hours. Keep Proper Airflow With proper air circulation, you can limit the growth of mold in your home. If you have dark areas or confined spaces, then you should focus on keeping those places ventilated. For those with heating and cooling systems, you need to schedule regular maintenance on the unit. At , our technicians can conduct a complete inspection of your ducts. We can help you...

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What Are the Most Important Rooms to Have an Air Purifier in?

January 10, 2020

The best rooms to put an air purifier in are the ones where you and your family spend the most time. Purifiers are designed to clean the air in the immediate vicinity by removing the contaminants. Those who suffer from allergies are said to benefit from the devices the most since they have sensitivities. Here are the most important rooms to put an air purifier in. Bedroom The most important room to put an air purifier in is the bedroom — yours as well as the bedrooms of your children. This is the room where you spend the most time because this is where you sleep. As you sleep, you are breathing in all the contaminants in the air as well as anything else floating around. An air purifier can clean the room for you so that you can get a healthy sleep. Living Room The living room is a great room to put a purifier in because it is shared by the entire family. This means that everyone’s sensitivities collide there. To keep everyone comfortable, keep the air in this space clean. Nursery If you have a nursery for your newborn, you want to ensure that your baby is...

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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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