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Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - Furnace & HVAC Repair St. Louis

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - Furnace & HVAC Repair St. Louis

Archives for December 2013

Detecting Problems In Your Homes Ductwork

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Your homes ductwork system is a long series of pipes that run throughout your house, hiding behind its walls, ceilings, and floors.

Some will even snake their way into your attic or garage. Since the system is mainly hidden from sight, homeowners do not give much thought to their condition. Over time, air duct connections can loosen or be damaged. If you suspect that your air duct system is no longer working as before, ask your HVAC technician to examine it. One small break in the air flow can be costing you hundreds of dollars each year.

A faulty air duct system can cause a homeowner to lose up to 30% of heated or cooled air. Undetected problems directly influence how your cooling and heating systems operate and should always be repaired by a professional HVAC company.

Hot or Cold Spots

The first sign of trouble may be a consistently hot or cold spot in your home. This is an indication that air may be escaping from a duct hidden behind a wall. When you call your HVAC company make sure to alert them to these spots. You may also notice one of your vents is not pushing out a significant amount of air. This too is indicative of an issue.

Improper Insulation

Improper insulation is a major factor in poor air production in a duct system. Ducts that travel through an area of your home that is not heated or cooled, such as an attic or garage, need to be wrapped in insulation. If not they will lose valuable energy to a process called conduction, where the air moving through the ducts succumbs to the temperature of the air inside the space. An HVAC technician can wrap the ducts in insulation, minimizing the loss.

Initial Installation Problems

Poor initial installation may lead to damaged ducts in the future. Connections may come loose or completely pull apart from each other. Sealing a duct is an option, but if the break is severe, parts may need to be replaced entirely. Since your air ducts are mostly located in hard to get areas of your home, it is important that a qualified HVAC company be hired to do the job. Inexperience may lead to the same problem occurring in the near future.

The most complicated problem that could be affecting your systems duct work are its returns. These are the ducts that carry air back to your heating or cooling system. If there is not enough return air flow, your system will not function in the way it was intended. An unproportionate amount of return air grilles to supply air grilles can cause inefficiency in your heating and cooling systems. The return-air ducts are also prone to leakage which may be problematic. A quick count of the number of intake grilles to outtake grilles should be enough for an HVAC technician to determine if that is indeed the problem.

At any time, if you feel that your home is not being heated or cooled to the same effectiveness as the previous season, Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC will be able to help you determine what the root of the problem is, and resolve it.  Contact us today at (314) 471-7625.

Staying Warm This Winter

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The holidays are right around the corner, and so is cold Missouri winter.

One of the most miserable ways to start a winter day is to wake up and find that your furnace has stopped working and your home is almost as cold inside as the freezing temperatures outside. The most likely culprit is a blown out pilot light. If this is a continuing problem with your homes furnace, you will need to call a reliable HVAC technician out to your home. You don’t want to be caught without heat in the midst of a blizzard.

house in the winter

Fixing a Pilot Light

The easiest cause to an extinguished pilot light to deal with is a draft. The cover over the furnace should protect it, but sometimes a breeze entering the space from a different direction will put it out. An HVAC technician will first relight the pilot and then work to determine the source of the draft. If none is found than it would be determined that another issue caused it to blow out.

A Faulty Thermocouple

A faulty thermocouple may be causing your pilot light to go out. This device is located next to the pilot light and controls the flow of gas to it. It is a safety feature designed to prevent the leakage of gas into your own if the pilot light is not lit. A malfunctioning pilot light will stop that flow unnecessarily. If this is the case with your furnace, you will have to call your local HVAC company to come out and replace it. This is not the type of repair a homeowner can do themselves.

Regular Furnace Maintenance

A well maintained and cleaned furnace will help keep your pilot light burning. Soot and corrosion can interfere with its functionality and cause it to burn out. The apparatus surrounding the pilot light is sensitive and should be cleaned by an HVAC professional. Establishing a regular maintenance schedule with him will help avoid future problems.  In the event that your furnace uses electricity to ignite the gas, there will be no pilot light. In that case you will have to call your HVAC company immediately.

Even the most do it yourself enthusiasts should stay away from trying to fix a house’s furnace on their own. Some outside trouble shooting is acceptable, such as checking the thermostat settings and filters, but leave opening the furnace to professionals. These are complex machines connected to either gas or electrical lines. If not handled correctly they can put you and your home in grave danger. If you have a newer furnace than there is a good chance that it is still under manufacturer warranty as well as installation warranty. If you start tinkering with the many moving parts you could cause more damage and void your warranties.

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC have experienced HVAC technicians who are qualified to determine the root cause of your furnace’s problem. A furnace is outfitted with many sensitive parts that require specialized training to understand. Call us today at (314) 471-7625.

Photo credit:  Brandon Morse

Energy Star Approved HVAC Appliances

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Do you know what the Energy Star labels mean?

HVAC Installation and RepairSince its inauguration in 1992, consumers have been seeing Energy Star labels on appliances in all retail stores, including those used to heat and cool our homes. But do you really know what those numbers mean? If you are considering replacing your homes boiler or air conditioning unit, ask your HVAC technician if an energy star approved model is your best option.

The Energy Star Program

The Energy Star program is a not for profit organization that promotes energy savings to consumers. Their goal is not only to help homeowners save money, but also to protect the environment. Ratings are shown in kWhs used per year. The lower that number is the more energy efficient the appliance. The label attached to an air conditioner is only describing its energy efficiency. It may not be the best model, but it will save you the most money in energy costs.

In order for an appliance such as a central air conditioning unit to even be allowed to carry the Energy Star label, it must first meet some very strict criteria. It must serve its purpose, while still being energy efficient. Consumers expect an air conditioner to cool off their home, no matter how energy efficient it is.  A unit will not be awarded a star if it cannot do that. If the air conditioner is energy efficient, but considerably higher priced than a less efficient counterpart, a consumer has to be able to recoup the cost in utility bill savings within a reasonable amount of time. So if the model you choose is Energy Star approved, but $200 more than a similar, less efficient model, you can expect to recover that $200 in a decreased electric bill over a short period of time.

If you have an older central air conditioning unit in your home and are considering a new one, go to the Energy Star website and take their quick home energy efficiency test. If the results are poor, then replacing your old unit may be a good long term investment for your home. Air conditioning units do not have a long life expectancy, and will begin to put a lot of strain on your energy bill as they get older.

HVAC Appliances In The Energy Star Program

Air conditioners are not the only HVAC appliance in your home that can receive an Energy Star rating.  Gas furnaces that receive an Energy Star label can be up to 16% more energy efficient than other models and save a homeowner around $90 each year in energy costs.

Air source heat pumps, which run off of electricity, are almost 10% more efficient if they have an Energy Star label, then new models that don’t. Energy Star makes strong recommendations for geothermal heat pumps in American homes. So much so that they offer a 30% tax rebate to homeowners who install them. These are 45% more energy efficient than air source pumps and will show a substantial savings in your energy costs.

St Louis HVAC Company

Energy conscious homeowners should take advantage of the free rating service offered by Energy Star when considering replacing their homes HVAC appliances. While initial investment may seem costly, the savings you will see over time will more than make up for it.  Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 to find the best HVAC appliances.

Utilizing UV Rays To Protect Your Home From Pollutants

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It is estimated that at least 50% of illnesses are the direct result of indoor air pollution.

Asthma From Indoor Air PollutantsConsidering the amount of time we spend indoors, it would be prudent of us to try and eliminate contaminates from our homes air. The biggest distributor of pollution in our homes is the heating and cooling systems. If this is of special concern to you ask your HVAC technician about installing a UV light in your home. This is a safe way to remove many irritants and pollutants from your homes atmosphere.  Do not be scared off by the UV. These lights are installed inside of your duct system. You and your family will never be directly exposed to it.

What Type of Pollutants Are Being Destroyed?

Scientists have named the group of pollutants most commonly found in our home bioaerosols. They consist of dust mites, fungi, pollen, spores and mold. These are all either tiny living organisms or pieces of living things, such as pet dander. Bioaerosols can cause infections and allergies. They are most often associated with pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. People who suffer from asthma are at higher risk for an attack in a home that has a high concentration of pollutants. The good news is that UV germicidal lights are effective at killing 98% of bioaerosols. This is accomplished by the UV light breaking down the DNA of the organisms. Without intact DNA, bioaerosols are unable to grow and thrive in your home.

The air inside your home passes through the heating and cooling system approximately 75 times a day, more if the blower is constantly on. By placing a UV light inside the ductwork, you are forcing that air to pass over it. Each time it does a band of light kills the contaminants within. Within 45 minutes you can reduce the amount of bioaerosols in your home by half.

Should You Install The UV Lights Yourself?

Although it may seem simple, if you would like to install a UV light a professional HVAC technician will need to be called. You will need their expertise at choosing the right size to fit your home as well as where inside your ductwork it should be placed to reach all of the circulated air. In order to be effective, a UV light should be installed downstream of air conditioning coils. This is a breeding area for bacteria and mold. By installing the light above it you eliminate those risks. Making sure it is not impeding with the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems is also a consideration.

Considering the health benefits offered by a UV light, the small cost to you will be well worth it. You will see a decrease in sinus infections, allergic reactions and bronchial infections. In fact, after installing a UV light many asthma sufferers report an almost immediate relief from symptoms.

HVAC Company In St Louis

In order to keep your indoor environment safe, you need to tackle the pollution problem head on. Talk with Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 to learn if installing a UV light is the right solution for your home.

 

photo credit: NIAID via Flickr