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

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

Archives for April 2014

Five Ways Leaky Ductwork Can Create Problems In Your Home

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You might have installed a good HVAC system in your house, but you still might be experiencing heating and cooling problems.

HVAC-ductworkWhat could be the reason behind this? Is the HVAC system faulty? Does it require expensive repairs? Before jumping to conclusions, give some thought to the ductwork in your house. If the ductwork is old and worn out, and there are some visible signs of damage such as hanging duct tape or water seepage from some parts, then it is possible that the ductwork is responsible for all your woes. Leaky ductwork can create problems in your home. It not only plays havoc with your HVAC system’s performance, but it can also flare up your energy bills. Here are some of the problems caused by leaky ductwork.

Higher Energy Bills

The most obvious problem created by leaky ductwork is higher energy bills. The cooled or heated air tends to escape from the leaks causing inadequate cooling and heating. The HVAC system has to work harder to achieve the desired temperature. The longer working time translates into higher energy bills.

Poor Internal Air Quality

Another major problem created by leaky ductwork is poor air quality inside the house. Due to leakages, the ducts suck in a lot of dust and other pollutants. These pollutants are circulated in the home with the heated or cooled air. The home remains generally dusty, and residents may suffer some allergies and other respiratory disorders.

Increased Need For Repairs

If the ductwork is leaky, the HVAC system has to work harder and longer to match the thermostat setting. Over-burdened HVAC systems will suffer frequent breakdowns and may require expensive repairs. This may happen even if your HVAC system is relatively new, but the ductwork is old or leaky.

Improper Heating and Cooling

Leaky ductwork may not allow all the rooms of the house to get heated or cooled evenly and adequately. Some rooms may be more hot or cold than others.

Frequent Air Filter Clogging

Dust and pollutants get sucked into the ducts and they clog the air filters. Home owners have to replace the air filters frequently, or else it will affect the energy efficiency and performance of the HVAC system.

It is advisable that you periodically inspect the ductwork, and in case you come across any leakage, you should immediately bring it to the notice of your heating and cooling company. Do not try to repair the leakages on your own, because not only will it be dangerous, but it will not be effective. Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 to repair the leaky ductwork.

Photo credit: Patrick Finnegan via Flickr

Is Your Air Conditioner Ready for the Warmer Months?

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Make sure your Heating & Cooling system is ready for warmer weather!

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Finally, the super-chilly winter days are gone, and we are ready to welcome the warm sunny days. It is also the time to conduct the maintenance and cleaning jobs we may have been putting off. During the next couple of months, you will probably not need to heat up your home; instead, due to rising temperatures outside, you will probably need to cool your home. So, you need to undertake the important job of ensuring that your Heating & Cooling system is geared up for the oncoming warmer months.

Your Heating & Cooling system has worked overtime during the winter months, so maintenance is very important. This will ensure that it is ready for cooling your home during the warmer months ahead. So, start your spring cleaning with HVAC maintenance, and make sure that your home or business is comfortable, healthy, and safe.

Change the Air Filters

Clogged air filters can cause your Heating & Cooling system to work harder to achieve the desired temperature. It also prevents proper air circulation in the home making the your system less effective. Another problem caused by dirty and clogged air filters is that of indoor air pollution. Dirty air filters cause the pollutants and allergens to circulate in the house. So, replacing your air filters should be on top of your priority list.

Do Not Ignore the Ducts

Changing the air filters alone might not be of much use if the ductwork is dirty and leaky. Leaky ductwork can reduce the efficiency of your system by over 40 percent, and can increase the energy bills by over 20 percent. So, it is important to seek professional help from a heating and cooling company to inspect, clean, and seal the ductwork.

Clean the Outdoor Unit

The compressor, also known as the heart of your cooling system, is located outdoors. This means your unit very likely accumulates a lot of debris from the surrounding environment. Clear the debris, and if required, use a vacuum cleaner to pull out debris from inside the cage.

Test Your Air Conditioner

You need to check if your air conditioner is functioning correctly and whether or not there are any defects that may need professional intervention. Run your air conditioner for a brief period and check if it is working fine. This will give you an opportunity to get the repairs done before the hot summer months.

Schedule Professional Heating & Cooling Maintenance

The best way to prepare your Heating & Cooling system for the cooling months is to get a professional Heating & Cooling Company to perform maintenance on your system. At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC, we can ensure that your air conditioner works at its peak efficiency without using up too much energy.

Now that we are well into spring, now is as good time to schedule air conditioner maintenance. This will ensure that your cooling system is ready to perform at its peak efficiency in the oncoming summer months.

Things to Consider When Replacing the HVAC System

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Is it time to replace your HVAC system?  Consider these five points before choosing a new HVAC system for your home.

St Louis Air ConditioningIf your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system has served you well over 15 to 20 years, and has started to give you trouble and is causing unjustifiable repair costs, then it means the time for a replacement has come.

A new HVAC system calls for a considerable investment, so it makes sense to do adequate research, and seek consultation from a professional HVAC company before you decide on the HVAC system that will best suit your needs. Here are some key points that you need to consider before investing in a new HVAC system.

Replacing Only a Few Components or the Entire System

Quite often, home owners might be tempted to replace only a few components of the HVAC system, such as the duct work, the furnace, or the air conditioner, as they believe this will save money. However, in doing so, it should be ensured that the new components are compatible with the existing system; otherwise the system efficiency will suffer. The best approach, in fact, is to replace the entire system. It may cost more up front, but will offer significant savings in terms of better climate control, lower power bills, and an increase in property value.

Choosing the Correct Size of the HVAC System

Bigger is not always better when it comes to the HVAC system. A system that is larger than what is required can mean higher energy bills, inefficient cooling, high humidity, and of course, a higher initial investment. The best way to ensure that you get only the right size HVAC system is to consult an HVAC company, and request them to carry out a detailed load calculation.

An HVAC System That Will Suit Your Needs

HVAC experts are the best people to decide which HVAC system would best suit your homes needs. Evaluating various systems may involve technicalities such as SEER and HSPF, which are terms less understood. So, leave it to the HVAC company to recommend a system that will work best for your home.

Any Changes Required in the Home

For your new HVAC system to work effectively, you might have to consider some changes in your home insulation and improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Selecting the Right HVAC Company For the Job

The most important thing to do when you plan to replace your HVAC system is to hire a heating and cooling company that will do the installation. Before hiring the contractor, check out his qualifications, certifications, prior experience, and customer testimonials.

Replacing your HVAC system is a huge decision for a household. However, Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC can make the task a breeze for you. From providing consultation and answering all your questions, to installing a high quality HVAC system in your home, we will ensures that the whole process is smooth and hassle free.  Call us at (314) 471-7625 today.

Safety Tips for the Next Winter

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When temperatures hit rock bottom, home owners try out everything possible to stay warm and at the same time save energy.

winter-st-louisFrom heating systems to fire places and space heaters, these are used to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the home. HVAC experts feel that home owners should exercise precaution while heating up their homes during winters so as to ensure the safety of their family. Quite often, we come across cases of home fires in winters. Surprisingly, 36 percent of these fires are heating related.

There are various aspects of HVAC systems that can malfunction and cause a fire. Some irresponsible acts on the part of the residents may also lead to a fire and other health hazards. In order to ensure complete safety of our customers during cold weather, we have compiled a list of some tips to stay warm and safe.

The Heating System

Your heating furnace should be in perfect condition if you want to keep all hazards at bay. It is important that you get a professional HVAC company to conduct a complete inspection of the furnace to see if any repairs are required. Routine maintenance should be done well before the onset of winter.

The Fire Place

Many home fires in the United States are caused by build-up in chimneys and fireplaces. You should get a complete maintenance done to check if the chimneys and fireplaces are in perfect order. In this case too, the maintenance should be carried out well before winter starts. When you start lighting up the fireplace, you should bear some important things in mind. Do not keep any combustible substances close to the fireplace (not even by mistake), and ensure that the fire has been completely extinguished when you go off to bed.

Air Pollution

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause serious and long lasting health problems. A faulty heating system, or overuse of fireplaces and other heating sources can lead to carbon monoxide build-up. You should invest in a carbon monoxide detector to ensure that any build-up is quickly detected and checked. Apart from this, excessively dry inside air during winters can cause several respiratory problems. So, you should ensure that the air in your house is humidified. A whole house humidifier can be a great investment if there are low humidity levels in your house.

Space Heaters

In sub-zero winter temperatures when the heating system of the house does not seem to be sufficient to fight biting cold, people often use space heaters. However, it is important that you purchase space heaters that are approved by underwriting laboratories and have an auto shut-off feature.

Just in case you are suspecting any problems in your heating system, call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625, and get necessary repairs done before it causes damage to health or property.

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