Which Are the Best Filters for Your HVAC System?

Although something as minor as an air filter may seem completely inconsequential to the overall functioning of your HVAC system, it might actually be the key, not just to keeping your energy costs in check, but also to increase the longevity of your air-conditioning and heating units. The filter is the first line of defense that your HVAC system has to limit the amount of dust and debris that makes its way into the system and can make your units work overtime and increase your energy bills. If you aren’t paying much attention to your HVAC filters, you might be doing your entire system a disservice.

There is a difference in the way that air filters work and what they do. Knowing what those differences are can help you to choose the right option for you and your system.

Fiberglass Filters

The most common type of air filter is the fiberglass filter. The most economical option, it is comprised of many layers of fiberglass material. The filters work by trapping the particles that are dense and stopping them from getting into the ductwork. The biggest disadvantage to fiberglass filters is that they can get clogged easily, and they aren’t as efficient at getting smaller particles as other alternatives.

Electrostatic Filters

Electrostatic filters are made from a type of material that emits an electrostatic charge to the air as it flows through them. The electrostatic charge works like a magnet to attract particles before they enter your HVAC system. They are generally more effective at catching particles than fiberglass filters, and are worth the extra cost for someone who has asthma or allergies. These types of filters need to be changed on a regular basis, just like their fiberglass counterparts, to keep your HVAC system working efficiently.

Electronic Filters

Electronic filters work by artificially generating an electrostatic charge to ionize the particles as they pass through the device, which can trap those particles that become airborne. These  filters have to be plugged into a power source, and they have to be cleaned regularly instead of just replaced. They are usually considered the top-of-the-line in air filtration and are typically more expensive than other types of filters. The biggest advantage is that they can be washed instead of having to be replaced frequently.

Specialty Filters

There are other types of filters on the market that function as a good line of defense against particles getting into your ductwork. They work by preventing viruses and bacteria from getting into your system and being recirculated over and over again.

If you are ignoring your air filters, you may be doing your energy costs a huge disservice and putting undue wear and tear on your HVAC system. Not paying attention to your air filters and not changing them as needed might also be making your allergies worse and recirculating bacteria and viruses throughout your home. No matter which filters you choose, regular maintenance is critical to having a healthy and efficient HVAC system. 

Scott-Lee Heating Company

11010 Gravois Industrial Ct

St. Louis, MO

63128

Phone: (314) 756-9444

Refresh Your Indoor Air with These Simple Tips

We have little control over the quality of outdoor air, but we can certainly improve the indoor air quality and make sure it keeps the family healthy and comfortable. In this post,we will offer some tips to refresh the air inside your St. Louis home:

Clean the Ducts

No matter the quality of your ducts are, over the time they sometimes tend to develop cracks and leaks, which means, they allow dust, allergens, and dirt to enter your home, and let the cool air slip out. If your HVAC system is under stress or is older, you will need to pay attention to the ducts as they might be doing more harm than good. You can call up a HVAC company to carry out inspection of the ducts and if required clean them.

Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Humidifiers and dehumidifiers are often a wise investment for St. Louis homeowners. Maintaining suitable humidity levels is essential to ensure the comfort and well being of the family. It also prevents damage to your furniture and other property caused by high humidity levels. 

Air Purifiers

Some studies show that the quality of indoor air could be 5 times worse than that of outdoor air. This necessitates the use of air purifiers in the home. You can invest in an air purifier with high efficiency and high circulation rate. These air purifiers can remove more pollutants and circulate a large air volume. Air purifiers can remove pollutants and allergens such as pet dander, insect waste, smoke and more. 

Ventilators

Activities such as cooking, washing dishes, laundering, and showering create significant humidity, and this moisture can help the growth of allergens such as mold, mildew, and other allergens. Ventilators can bring in the fresh air from outside and push out the stale air. With ventilators you can improve the comfort level without stressingthe HVAC system further. 

Carbon Monoxide Detector

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious threat faced by many homes in United States.  It leads to many deaths every year. A carbon monoxide detector is a must if you want to prevent poisoning. It detects the carbon monoxide levels in the home and once it go beyond acceptable levels, the alarm goes off. 

UV Lamps

Even your HVAC systems can pollute the indoor air and create air quality issues. The air conditioner drain pan or could can harbour bacteria and mold. In such situations, a UV lamp can work best to kill bacteria and mold before they pollute the air and cause health issues. UV lamps keep the indoor air clean and make your HVAC system more efficient. 

You may not need all of these in your home especially if your home is new and the HVAC system is efficient. It is best to seek advice of HVAC technicians, who can inspect your property and recommend best ways to maintain good air quality.

Call Scott-Lee Heating Company at (314) 756-9444

Common Air Conditioner FAQs

Air conditioning systems do a lot more than just keep your home or office cool during the summer. 

Air conditioners help maintain the right level of humidity in your house. During some seasons, when humidity is high, the air conditioner frees the internal air from excess humidity. It purifies the air you breathe in your house by preventing micro-organisms, dust, and soot from entering the internal air stream. It also keeps the room well-ventilated. By doing so, it helps you maintain good health.

How Do I Make My Air Conditioner More Energy Efficient?

There are several measures you can take in order to make your air conditioning system more energy efficient. You can save a lot on energy bills by sealing the leaky ducts in your air conditioner and replacing dirty air filters regularly. You should also keep the evaporator coils of your air conditioner clean and check the airflow periodically. It is also advisable that you keep the outdoor unit of your air conditioner free from blockages.

How Can I Ease Excessive Strain On My Air Conditioner?

Air conditioners break down every now and then in the summer, primarily due to overuse. You can reduce the strain on your air conditioner by insulating your house. Shading windows is another measure you can take to reduce air leakage. Limiting the use of heat producing appliances in your house can decrease the strain on your air conditioner. Use of exhaust fans to remove heat from the kitchen and bathroom can also be very helpful.

Why Is Ventilation So Important?

If your house is not ventilated properly, it can lead to some serious health hazards. Your air conditioner plays an important role in ventilation. It takes a cycle of at least four hours of running an air conditioning unit to move the stale air out of your house and fill it with fresh air. It is advised to let your air conditioner complete at least one such cycle per day.

How Do I Lower the Humidity In My House During Humid Days? 

Besides controlling temperature, the air conditioner also controls the humidity level in your house. Interestingly, it was invented with a primary aim to control humidity. Too much humidity may lead to mold formation which can be hazardous to you health; you should use your air conditioner not only to keep your home cool, but also to dehumidify the house.

You can keep your thermostat fan switched on auto to keep the humidity at bay during excessively humid days. If humidity levels are too high, this may not be the perfect solution to dehumidify your house and use of a dehumidifier may be necessary. Use of exhaust fans in areas like the kitchen and bathroom can be very helpful; these fans can blow away the moisture produced by activities such as cooking or showering.

For more information on air conditioner maintenance, get in touch with Scott-Lee Heating Company at (314) 756-9444.

Photo credit: Jeremy T. Hetzel via Flickr

HVAC Systems: How Do They Impact a Home's Property Value?

HVAC systems do more than just heat and cool your homes and offices. 

An updated and well maintained HVAC system
will increase your home's property value.

They play such an important role in your home that they even impact the value of the property. Homes that have a modern, top of the line HVAC system tends to fetch higher prices in the market compared to other similar properties in the area that have an old and inefficient HVAC system.

How the HVAC System Affects Property Value

Homeowners planning to list their property for sale tend to focus on various things such as updating fixtures and appliances, enhancing the curb appeal, painting the walls, changing the carpets, and doing other things that can enhance the appearance of the property. However, many homeowners do not pay attention to the heating and cooling system. It may be surprising to learn that the HVAC system can have a huge impact on the value of the property. Here are some ways in which the HVAC system can impact the value of your property.

Updating the HVAC System To Accommodate Additions

Many homeowners like to add a sunroom, bathroom, or convert an attic into a room to create additional space in the home. However, it is important to bear in mind that it is important to evaluate the HVAC system to check if it can handle the additional load. According to HVAC experts, it takes approximately 25 BTU to heat or cool a square foot of space. If the existing unit is already working to its full capacity, then you would need a new, larger HVAC system for optimal coverage. If you have added space, but your HVAC system does not support it, your buyers might not like it.

Fixing Drafts and Cold Corners

If the ductwork or venting is not installed properly, then the home may have drafts and cold rooms. This would also translate into higher energy bills. If any of these problems exists in your property, it is advisable that you have an HVAC technician come and inspect the vents and ducts. This will reveal all the problem areas, which can be repaired. Some simple repairs can bring back the ductwork to a good condition and help save a lot of money. This definitely has a positive impact on the property value.

HVAC and Insurance

The age of your HVAC system has an impact on insurance premiums. It is likely that the insurance company may charge you a higher premium if your HVAC system is older than a specific age. Older HVAC systems are not as energy efficient as modern ones, and may cost you more in energy bills, which potential buyers would not like.

It is also important to note that elements and harsh weather conditions can cause damage to external units. It may be necessary to conduct repairs, and in case of extensive damage, the homeowner might have to consider replacing the unit.

If you want to maintain the value of your property, it is important that you maintain your HVAC system. Poorly maintained and outdated HVAC systems can have an adverse impact on your home's property value. Call Scott-Lee Heating Company at (314) 756-9444 to learn about our HVAC maintenance program.

Photo credit: Allan Ferguson via Flickr

Investing In a Whole House Humidifier

A whole house humidifier can make your home more comfortable.

Keep your family comfortable with a whole house humidifier.

Controlling the temperature of air inside your home might not be enough to make you feel comfortable inside your home. There are other factors that determine the comfort levels that you experience inside your home. Internal air quality and humidity levels are a just a few of them.

Controlling the Moisture Level Inside the Home

Even if your HVAC system is maintaining your home at a comfortable temperature during the winter, you might still feel cold and uncomfortable if the air inside your home is too dry. So, it is important to get all the necessary equipment in your HVAC system that can regulate the humidity inside your home.

One such piece of equipment that can make a huge difference to the internal air quality and comfort level you experience inside your home is a whole house humidifier. As the name suggests, a whole house humidifier adds moisture or water vapour to the air inside the home and controls the humidity levels. It is a great investment for homes with low humidity levels.

Benefits of a Whole House Humidifier

Homeowners looking for a humidifier can purchase a standalone portable humidifier or a whole house humidifier. The latter makes a better option, because it is integrated in the HVAC system of the house, draws water directly from the water supply of the home, and circulates moisture through the ductwork. The benefit of using a whole house humidifier is that it controls the humidity of the entire house, and not just in one room or part of the house. It ensures that the entire house has uniform humidity levels.

Another major benefit of a whole house humidifier is that it offers a set it and forget it solution to the problem of dryness in your home. Once it is integrated into your HVAC system, it requires very low maintenance, and  will maintain the home at a constant humidity level with just a one-time set up.

Improving the Air Quality Inside Your Home

There are various ways in which a whole house humidifier can prevent health risks and improve the comfort level that you experience inside your home. Once you have the humidifier up and running inside your home, you will experience substantial improvement in the quality of air inside the home. You will feel warmer even when the thermostat is maintained at the same temperature as before.

If any of your family members have been experiencing problems such as allergies, breathing problems, irritated nose, colds, and respiratory infections, you will notice a remarkable improvement in their condition. Better humidity levels will also help other health conditions such as headaches, fatigue, cracked lips, dry skin, and itchiness. It will also rid your home of the painful and highly annoying problem of static shocks.

Contact Scott-Lee Heating Company at (314) 756-9444 to install a whole house humidifier. We will recommend a humidifier that will best meet your home’s requirements.

Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org via Google

Geothermal Heat Pumps: How Good Are They for Residential Use?

As energy costs keep getting higher, the demand for non-conventional, renewable, and cheaper sources of energy is at an all time high.

Two such energy sources that have made their way into our homes and commercial establishments, and have bought down costs are solar energy and geothermal energy.

Geothermal energy is being widely used to heat up homes and commercial establishments during winters. Geothermalheat pumps offer an energy efficient and effective alternative to conventional heating systems. Geothermal systems require one kilowatt /hour power to generate 12,000 BTU, while the other conventional systems require as much as 2.3 kilowatts per hour to generate the same amount of energy. According to HVAC experts, you can easily save up to 50% on your annual heating costs.

Geothermal heat pumps may require higher initial investment than the conventional heating systems, but they pay themselves off quickly in terms of low running costs and even lower energy bills. So, many homeowners are opting for geothermal heat pumps for their homes. Here are some advantages that geothermal heat pumps offer over other conventional heating systems:

• Installing a geothermal system requires high initial investment. However, the energy savings are considerable when compared to conventional heating systems. This means, you can recover your investment relatively quickly.
• According to some estimates you are generally able to recover your initial investment in a period of 4-8 years.
• Geothermal systems are environment friendly. There is no combustion in these systems, so there is no emission of conservatory gases.
• An important advantage of geothermal system is that it is much more durable than the conventional systems. The average life of a conventional system is about 10 years, whereas a geothermal system can last for about 50 years without requiring much maintenance and repair.
• Geothermal heat pumps operate very quietly.
• Geothermal systems do not ruin aesthetic appeal of the property where they are installed, because all pipes are laid underground and are not visible.
• These systems can also be used for heating water by getting a few attachments installed. This can further bring down the energy consumption in your home.

By getting a geothermal heat pump installed in your home, you would not only bring down your energy consumption, and eventually the expenditure on energy, but you will also take a step towards a greener environment. So, geothermal systems are not just good for your home, but also for the environment as a whole.

Contact Scott-Lee Heating Company today if you are interested in having a geothermal heat pump installed in your home. We can survey your home, look at its energy requirements, feasibility of geothermal installment, and let you know all about the systems, energy savings they bring in, and the initial investment required.

Call us today at (314) 756-9444