Can a Smart Thermostat Save Me Money?

May 13, 2024

Many homeowners want to know whether a smart thermostat can save them money, and the answer is an emphatic yes. In fact, the U.S. EPA estimates that the average American home can save anywhere between 10% and 30%. That estimate reflects annual savings across both the space heating and cooling portions of your utility bills. Let’s explore the features that may help you achieve those savings. Remote Access and Control Both programmable and smart thermostats provide scheduling, but internet connectivity is what sets the smart thermostat apart. Most brands offer an app that you can download to and use on your smartphone and other devices. This lets you check your thermostat and adjust it no matter where you are as long as you have cellular access. It’s a powerful tool. It ensures you’ll never lose money because you left on a business trip and forgot to set the temperature down. Automatic Setback at Night Much of the energy that the average household without a smart thermostat wastes occurs at night. Just think of all the money you spend on air conditioning and heating that you really don’t need. The EPA estimates that you can hit the 10% savings mark by...

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What Does Dual Fuel Furnace Mean?

April 20, 2024

While there are many ways to heat your O’Fallon, MO home, few offer the efficiency and flexibility of a dual-fuel furnace. Also known as hybrid heating systems, dual-fuel furnaces combine natural gas furnaces and electric heat pumps. As needed, they seamlessly toggle between the two to maintain comfortable indoor conditions with minimal input. Whether you’re interested in lowering your carbon footprint or your home energy bill, opting for a dual-fuel furnace is an excellent way to reach your goal. The Benefits and Drawbacks of Natural Gas Heating Natural gas furnaces are the top choice for winter heating in regions like O’Fallon where outside temperatures regularly dip and remain below freezing. Natural gas is clean burning and available at a reasonable cost. Gas furnaces produce heat with temperatures as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows for rapid heating and also ensures that the cold air seeping through cracks and gaps in building materials or the heat that escapes when residents enter or exit the building doesn’t completely diminish the heat gains. Unfortunately, despite these and other attributes, natural gas furnaces have come under fire in recent years due to their greenhouse gas emissions. All fuel-burning appliances produce carbon monoxide (CO)...

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What Are The Controls On My Mini Split Remote?

April 4, 2024

Modern mini-split remotes have become quite sophisticated. They typically have digital displays, provide Wi-Fi access and offer you a wide array of features. All those useful features often result in a cascade of controls that can be a bit overwhelming at first. In order to demystify these options, let’s explore the most essential of those mini-split remote controls. Power Most mini-splits have a power button similar to a TV remote. The button has a broken circle with a ‘1’ through the center. Many users believe this indicates that the button toggles between on and off. It actually indicates toggling between on and standby. Some mini-split remotes allow you to hold the power button for several seconds to put the mini-split in a true off mode. Mode The mode select button allows you to cycle between your mini-split’s operating modes. The most common modes available are auto, cool, heat, dry and fan. Auto is generally the default mode when your unit wakes from standby. It lets the mini-split switch between cool and heat depending on the current ambient temperature and your temperature setting. Cool provides air conditioning. Heat provides heating and is only available if you have a heat pump and...

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Do I Have Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

March 26, 2024

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. It originates from such sources as gas-fired appliances, wood stoves, and blocked chimneys. Its unnoticeable characteristics are risky, making the comprehension of its sources and indoor air quality relevant. HVAC services are helpful in CO detection and elimination. Regular inspections and maintenance guarantee that heating systems and appliances work well, reducing CO accumulation risk. We also recommend carbon monoxide detectors, which are an important safety measure against this invisible danger. What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious problem caused by breathing CO gas. This poisonous gas binds with the hemoglobin in the blood, forming carboxyhemoglobin and reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to the body’s organs and tissues. With an increased CO in the blood, oxygen transport decreases, resulting in tissue damage and possibly fatal consequences. The cunning nature of CO poisoning is its silent progress that someone may initially miss until symptoms escalate. CO emissions mainly come from malfunctioning or incorrectly used fuel-burning appliances like furnaces, water heaters, and room heaters. Other common sources are blocked chimneys, exhausts from attached garages, and gasoline generators working too...

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Are HVAC UV Lights Safe?

March 6, 2024

Indoor air quality has become a crucial concern for many homeowners. Many have resorted to using ultraviolet (UV) light together with their HVAC systems to ensure their air is clean. However, as this technology becomes accepted, there are also health risks due to improper installation and maintenance of UV lights. The question that everyone is asking is, are HVAC UV lights safe? UV lights can be used for air disinfection; nevertheless, the right usage and safety measures are necessary. Read on to find out more. UV Lights in HVAC Systems UV light has been used in applications such as water treatment for many years because of its short wavelength radiation between 200-280 nm. It is very destructive to the nucleic acids of microbes, thus preventing their replication. UV lights are often found in the ductwork of an HVAC system before the air handler. The circulating, conditioned air is exposed to the UV light, which then attacks any airborne pathogens by breaking down their DNA or RNA, thus making them inactive. Some HVAC UV light systems also incorporate ionization to eliminate odors and statically charged particles in order to be filtered downstream. The UV lights need to be always on so...

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Can Dehumidifiers Help With Mold?

February 9, 2024

is committed to making families more comfortable with reliable whole-home dehumidifiers in O’Fallon, MO. As the name suggests, a dehumidifier is a device that reduces or controls humidity in a certain area, home, or space. Missouri is a beautiful state but is known for being humid, with average levels at 82.25%, making it the 13th most humid state in the US. Having a whole-home dehumidifier is one of the best ways to beat the heat while also making sure you and your family breathe clean air. Worry no more about mold and mildew growth with a quality humidifier that you can lean on when you often deal with comfort and allergy issues, as well as damp, musty odors and visible signs of moisture in your house. The Mold and Humidity Link There are many reasons why you do not want mold in your home. The spores are unpleasant to look at, and they stink. Not only that, but they also cause a variety of health problems. If you have breathing problems or allergies, mold is not your friend. If left untreated, it can cause destruction, such as wood rotting and warping. Thankfully, there are a few practical and easy ways...

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5 Tips to Reduce Strain on Your HVAC System This Winter

December 8, 2023

One way you can save money on energy costs and repairs is by reducing the strain on your heating and cooling system. If your system works harder than usual to keep your home comfortable, you can expect your energy bills to go up. Moreover, the strain on your system intensifies the wearing process, meaning you will have to pay for repairs and replacements every so often. Although these costs might not seem a lot at first, in the long run, they can quickly add up. If your system strains to keep your indoors comfortable, chances are you will likely have to replace your unit prematurely. For most homeowners in O’Fallon, MO, HVAC installation is an expensive investment, necessitating substantial financial sacrifices. Accordingly, you want your system to serve you long enough to get value for money. With the following tips, you can lessen the load on your system and extend its lifespan while enjoying comfort. 1. Clean or Replace Filters Your system filters are responsible for trapping indoor air pollutants, including dust, mold spores, dander, pollen, and other small particles that would otherwise compromise your home’s indoor air quality. Over time, these contaminants can accumulate on the filters, restricting airflow,...

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Are mini-split units good for heating purposes?

November 7, 2023

Finding the right heating solution for your O’Fallon, MO home could prove challenging. After all, there are many equipment types to choose from, and each comes with its own level of safety, convenience, and efficiency. While many households are reliant upon ducted furnaces and heat pumps, ductless mini-splits are garnering attention for their low operating costs, ease of use, and overall flexibility. Having a mini-split installed is among the cheapest ways to keep your living space cool in the summer, but you may be worried about using it for heating purposes. Read on to discover just how well these systems handle cold weather. What Are Mini-Split Systems and How Do They Work in Winter? Ductless mini-split heat pumps have been commercially available since the 1970s. However, they’ve sparked recent interest among consumers who are actively searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprints. Like central air conditioners, mini-split systems have outdoor condensers that are installed on level, composite, or concrete pads. These units are connected to one or more indoor air handlers to service select areas or entire buildings. In summer, ductless heat pumps are functionally identical to air conditioners. They harness warm, indoor air, pass it over refrigerant-filled coils,...

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What Is a Heat Exchanger and How Does It Work

November 1, 2023

There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about the heating equipment in your O’Fallon, MO, home. From your furnace’s electric ignition switch to its venting system, there are many important components working together to provide an even and consistent stream of heat. Among these is your furnace’s heat exchanger. Much like its name implies, the heat exchanger is where heat transfer occurs. Positioned just below the combustion chamber and the furnace blower, it has a major role in determining just how efficient and safe your furnace is. How a Heat Exchanger Works Heat exchangers are L-shaped metal shells with multiple internal and external tubes. This shell-and-tube configuration minimizes thermal energy loss during heat transfer. When your furnace burns or combusts fuel, the hot exhaust gases from this process leave the combustion chamber and enter the heat exchanger, where their heat is absorbed. As filtered air is blown across the exchanger, it collects this heat before entering your ductwork and being distributed throughout your home. Heat exchangers experience regular and significant fluctuations in temperature along with incredibly high levels of heat. Their all-metal design makes them excellent heat conductors. This also makes them resistant to temperature-related cracking. Cracked Heat Exchangers...

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Understanding the Furnace Installation Process From Start to Finish

October 19, 2023

Installing a new furnace in a home is a much more complicated process than most people realize. Removing an older furnace and replacing it can be time-consuming, but it can usually be completed in one day. However, it is always something that has to be done by a certified technician. You can’t just plug in a furnace, hook up the gas, and have it ready to go. There are a huge number of steps and tests that need to be done to ensure it operates safely and heats effectively. This guide will show you all of the various steps involved in replacing or installing a furnace so that you know what to expect during the process. Load Calculation Before installing a new furnace in a home, technicians will need to perform what’s known as a Manual J load calculation. A load calculation is essential as it enables them to accurately determine what size the furnace needs to be to heat the home effectively and operate as energy efficiently as possible. When performing the load calculation, technicians will take into account a wide variety of different factors including the home’s square footage and the climate zone. They’ll also need to measure...

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