How to Properly Winterize Your HVAC System

September 24, 2019

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 keep an eye on the unit throughout...

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Are Furnaces Good for Your Health?

September 14, 2019

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 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 States each year. It can also cause...

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Don’t Panic When Your Furnace Won’t Shut Down">Don’t Panic When Your Furnace Won’t Shut Down

March 10, 2019

If your furnace or heating system won’t shut down, you shouldn’t worry. You just need to set up a service call with your local heating company. In the meantime, there are ways to shut down the unit to avoid any further damage to your system. Why Won’t My System Turn Off? When your system is constantly running, this is a sign that something is wrong. There are several causes for this issue. One of the most common issues is the thermostat. The wiring, switches, or heating sensors can fail on your unit. If this is the case, then you’ll need to replace the thermostat with a newer model. A damaged primary controller can also cause the furnace to stay turned on. This is the main heating element of the system. If it stops functioning, then the furnace can’t regulate temperature. Your system may have another mechanical issue as well. A boiler system uses a check valve to warm your home through heated water sent through radiators. A properly functioning valve will circulate the water throughout the system. A faulty check valve could be the cause of this type of heating system to fail. If your heating system will not shut...

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Choosing the Best Heating System for Your Home

March 1, 2019

Whether you’re in the process of building a new home or you’re replacing an existing heating system and looking to explore your options, this type of project is a major investment. To take some of the confusion out of the process of choosing the best heating system for your home, let’s look at the three of the most common options for heating installations — furnaces, heat pumps and boilers — and some other factors that you’ll want to consider. Furnaces A common heating system used by homeowners in O’Fallon, MO, and the surrounding area is a furnace. This particular heating system works by delivering forced hot air throughout your house via ductwork and vents. Gas, oil, and electricity are the three main fuels a furnace could use. Annual fuel use efficiency percentage (AFUE) for a furnace is determined by the type of fuel it employs and how efficient the particular model is. The higher this rating, the greater your long-term savings potential will be. Heat Pumps and Boilers Heat pumps work by using outside air to heat your home during the winter months. If indoor air quality is a big concern for you because of allergies and other health issues,...

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The Benefits of Regular Heating Maintenance

February 12, 2019

You probably would never drive your car around for an entire year without having any maintenance tune-ups. The same should go for your home’s furnace or heat pump. It also needs yearly maintenance to make sure it’s running properly and ready when you need it. Consider these benefits that heating maintenance can provide. Improved Efficiency Regular heating maintenance helps ensure that your heater will continue to run at its optimal performance. An important part of maintenance is making sure dust and debris are regularly cleaned out of your heating equipment. It is not enough to just change or clean your system’s air filter monthly because dust can still accumulate and interfere with your heater’s performance. Prevents Major Breakdowns Yearly maintenance can alert you to small problems before they grow into big and expensive repairs. Our service technician will inspect all moving parts and make needed adjustments and recommend parts replacements as needed. This helps cut down on breakdowns when you need your heat the most. Keeps Your Family Safe Yearly furnace or heat pump maintenance includes an inspection of wires and other electrical connections in your heater for any fraying or scorching that could indicate a fire hazard. The technician...

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What is Geothermal Heating?

December 27, 2018

Are you looking for a way to decrease your heating bills this winter? Hoff Heating & AC is proud to offer the greater O’Fallon, MO area with full-service geothermal heating equipment and services. Now is the perfect time to learn more about this cost-effective option that is also great for the environment! How Can Geothermal Heating Help to Improve Your Home? This heating technique harnesses the warmth of the sun and will immediately decrease your heating bills by 30% to 60% while decreasing the impact that you and your family have on the environment. Simply put, a geothermal system taps into the warm underground temperatures that remain close to a constant 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. If you dig about six feet underground you will find a nearly constant ambient temperature. A geothermal system takes advantage of these warm temperature levels by distributing a water-based solution through a closed-loop system that can provide the air and water heating in your home. Additionally, this process is also able to tackle cooling your home with the same device! Easy Maintenance and Upkeep These systems are easy to maintain and are incredibly effective once installation is complete. The closed-loop system will be...

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When Should I Replace My Furnace?

December 19, 2018

When your furnace stops working properly, it puts you and your family at risk. Most often, repairs are possible. This can be the least expensive option. If your technician recommends replacement, though, you may be unsure what to do. Should you replace your furnace? Our technicians in O’Fallon can help you. Signs It Is Time to Replace Your Furnace As repairs become more difficult, it gets more expensive to continue to put money into an existing furnace to keep it running. Many people do this only to find it would have been less expensive in the long run to replace the existing model. Here are a few key signs you need a replacement. Repairs Are Frequent Repairing your furnace more than once or twice a year is an indication that the system is in need of a significant overall or a replacement. Even if the repairs are different, it could indicate that the system is aging quickly. You may wish to speak to your repair technician about the lifespan remaining on your system. He or she can give you some indication of whether additional repairs are going to be necessary. Current Repair Is Expensive If you are paying $1,000 or...

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Should I Turn My Furnace Off When on Vacation?

November 28, 2018

As winter weather approaches and you gear up to take winter vacations and visit family for the holidays, you may be wondering if you can turn off your O’Fallen home’s furnace while you are away. While turning off your furnace while you are gone for several days may save the most money on your heating costs, you should never completely turn off your furnace during the winter due to the risk of returning home to frozen and burst pipes. Vacation Thermostat Settings for Heat Pumps and Electric Furnaces Home heating thermostats can be set as low as 55 degrees while you are away on vacation. This will keep your home above freezing and help prevent frozen plumbing pipes. However, reheating your home once you return from vacation can eliminate all of your savings due to the high cost of electricity. A better rule of thumb is to decrease your thermostat by three to four degrees prior to leaving for vacation. You’ll save between two and three percent on your home heating costs per degree, and you won’t eliminate your savings when you return home and reheat your home. Vacation Thermostat Settings for Gas and Oil Furnaces Gas and oil don’t...

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3 Benefits of Furnaces

November 8, 2018

Despite the emergence of many technological heating systems, furnaces remain to be one of the most popular heating systems. The use of furnaces dates back to before the Industrial Revolution. At that time, they depended on wood and coal. Keep reading to find out more about the benefits of furnaces and why they have remained popular for such a long time. 1. Flexibility A furnace can run on plenty of fuels so you have many options. Even though many furnace users prefer to use natural gas as the fuel, it is possible for a furnace to run on a variety of fuels including propane, oil, and electricity. This means that they can accommodate the needs of many homeowners who may depend on various sources of fuel. Furnaces are available in a variety of sizes to suit the needs of different people. It is possible to find something regardless of your energy needs or the size of your home. 2. Energy-Efficiency Furnaces have evolved to be very energy-efficient. The newer models may score up to 98% on AFUE ratings. This means that they use up to 98% of the fuel to provide you with heat and only two percent goes to...

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What to Look for in a Furnace Installation Company

October 12, 2018

When working with a professional furnace installation company, homeowners achieve value for their investment in the system besides enhanced comfort. It is essential that customers inquire about the services of different companies from friends and family to help settle on the best. Alternatively, customers can establish the quality of services provided by a company by looking at customer reviews on their website. Hoff Heating and A/C Company has over thirty years’ experience in installing furnaces in O’Fallon. Our products and services are centered on the following key customer considerations: 1. Product and Service Guarantee Furnaces can fail to function as required due to poor installation. A quality company inspires customer confidence by providing a guarantee in installation. At Hoff Heating and A/C, we offer a guarantee on all our services from installation, maintenance, furnaces system checks, and ductwork fabrication. We also conduct energy analysis to ensure customers do not incur high bills due to faulty installations. 2. A Company’s Experience Customers should establish how long a furnace installation company has been in business. Companies that have been in the business for long have experienced staff who can help suggest efficient and cost-effective furnace installation methods. Our range of products includes...

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