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

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

Archives for July 2019

5 Reasons an Oversized Air Conditioner Is a Bad Investment

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A properly sized air conditioner keeps a constant temperature. Besides this obvious function, it also maintains the air humidity under control.

There are a lot of factors that you need to consider when browsing the market for the ideal air conditioning unit for your home. We’re talking about efficiency, extra features, size, energy saving capacity, and so on.

Whether you suspect your air conditioner is too big for your home or you want to buy a new unit and you don’t know what to choose, here are several reasons why you should go with a properly sized appliance and not an oversized one. Spoiler alert: a bigger system isn’t necessarily better.

You Will Keep Turning It on and off

A unit that is designed for a bigger space than the one you have will cool down your home too fast, forcing you to turn it off soon. However, the walls won’t have enough time to cool down, so you will have to turn it on and off again, trying to reach the ideal temperature.

Not only that will wear out your unit, shortening its life, but you won’t be that comfortable either. We thrive in an environment with a nice, cozy and constant temperature and an oversized unit can’t provide that.

The AC Unit Won’t Control Humidity Properly

A properly sized air conditioner keeps a constant temperature. Besides this obvious function, it also maintains the air humidity under control.

A unit that is too big will not have time to dry the air, leaving you with too much humidity. That will make you feel uncomfortable, as humid air feels hotter than drier air. Being sweaty with the air conditioning on doesn’t seem right, does it?

It Is NOT Cost Efficient

st. louis man stressed over energy bill

Many people choose a bigger unit on purpose, thinking that it will lower their electricity bills by running less than a small unit. But keep in mind that a bigger unit consumes more electricity than a normal unit, and turning it on and off constantly does not help either.

It Takes up More Space

One of the most obvious downsides of getting a bigger air conditioning unit is its size: it simply occupies more space. Having a giant condenser unit next to your house can be really unpleasant. Not only that it’s anesthetic but it can get quite noisy too. Moreover, you would have to put more effort into keeping debris out of it and cleaning the vents and filters.

It Costs More

Since many homeowners care about the financial aspect of such a big purchase, we will mention that a bigger unit is more expensive than a properly sized one. Since we already debunked the myth of the energy saving big unit, it simply isn’t worth getting one, since it doesn’t cover the investment in time.

These five reasons should help you understand why you should stick with a properly sized air conditioner when purchasing a new one or even get you to replace the one you already have if it is indeed too big.

For all your heating and air conditioning needs give Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning and Heating today! Call (314) 471-7625

7 Reasons to Consider a Geothermal Cooling System

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Geothermal systems use the properties of the soil to provide both cooling and heating for your home while being friendly with the environment and helping you save money in the long term.

older st. louis couple happy about saving money

If you are interested in the newest technology to update your old HVAC system, you might browse for similar systems, but with features like air purifiers, preset settings, programmable thermostats, etc. While the newest models of traditional air conditioning units are indeed very interesting, here’s why you may want to consider alternative systems for your home.

One of the most energy-efficient systems at the moment is a geothermal cooling and heating system. This system uses the properties of the soil to provide both cooling and heating for your home while being friendly with the environment and helping you save money on the long term.

How Does a Geothermal Cooling System Work?

A geothermal heat pump works by transferring heat underground, through a system of pipes that are buried deep enough underground, where the temperature remains constant year-round. Soil has amazing insulating properties, so your heating and cooling system will rely on its natural efficiency to provide cool air and water.

Here are seven reasons why you should consider installing a geothermal HVAC system for your home.

It Is Very Cost-Efficient

This is the number one reason why many consider geothermal cooling systems better than traditional HVAC systems. They are very energy-efficient. So much so that you can recover the initial investment in 5-7 years from purchase. On average, they will reduce the energy costs by 30-70%, which is a huge accomplishment, considering the next point.

You Are Using Clean Energy

This is the reason why geothermal HVAC systems will be more and more popular in the near future: they are self-sustained and don’t use fuel. Plus, they are not affected by fluctuations, like other green energy systems are. Unlike wind or solar power, geothermal energy is constant.

It is Able to Both Heat and Cool Your Home

Because you want your HVAC system to be unitary, having both heating and cooling provided by a geothermal system is another great reason to consider this technology for your home.

It Requires Very Little Maintenance

The pipe system that does the heat transfer is buried deep underground and it has a very long life span. Compared to a traditional HVAC system, a geothermal one requires very little maintenance.

It Has a 25-50 Year Life Span

These systems are long-lasting and sturdy, which makes your return of investment substantial.

It Does Not Make Noise

Geothermal HVAC systems are silent and will allow you to enjoy birds chirping and pleasant sounds, instead of feeling stressed every day from noise pollution.

It Is Safe for Your Family, and for the Environment

A geothermal HVAC system eliminates the risks of other systems, like intoxication with combustion gases, house fires, allergies, respiratory problems, etc. It is also safer for the environment.

The seven reasons above make an investment in a geothermal HVAC system worth considering. Even though they may cost more than traditional systems initially, it is often a better choice in the long term. To see if a geothermal system is right for your St. Louis home, give Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning and Heating a call today at (314) 471-7625.

How to Choose the Right HVAC Unit for Optimal Humidity

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Humidity plays a huge role in how you perceive the temperature around you and how comfortable you feel.

Sometimes the heat is unbearable because of excess moisture in the air not allowing your sweat to evaporate. Fortunately, your air conditioning unit can be set to act as a dehumidifier, making the indoor air bearable.

We will learn how to set the AC unit to dehumidify the air and what are more complex options if your indoor air is constantly close to saturation.

st. louis couple comfortable at home

Choose the Right Sized Unit for Your Space

First of all, it is important to choose the right sized air conditioning unit for your space. A unit that is too small will not be able to process the indoor air quickly enough to get rid of the excess moisture. The cooling capacity is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU,) and it should be chosen based on the size of the closed space where the air conditioning will be used.

By taking the volume of the room into account, you can calculate the minimum BTU capacity of your AC unit (around 25 BTU per square foot.) If your unit is too small for your space, it will run continuously without being able to cool the air efficiently. If you go with a bigger unit, you can also make a mistake, as a big unit will cool the air too quickly, not having enough time to remove moisture from the air.

Choosing the Right Settings for Your Unit to Dehumidify the Air

Your air conditioning unit generally does not have a built-in dehumidifier because it already can have that function. By cooling the air, it can collect moisture from it through condensation, then get rid of it by running the fan. Your AC unit might already have a dehumidifying mode (usually it is marked with a water drop symbol.)

If your unit does not have the preset mode for collecting excess moisture, you can just run the fan on the automatic position and cool the air as much as you can (set the temperature on the lowest setting.)

Use a Third–Party Dehumidifier

If your air conditioning unit is not powerful enough to dehumidify the air to a comfortable level, you can use a third party appliance for it. You can opt for a whole house dehumidifier that will connect to your HVAC unit, or you can use portable dehumidifiers, according to your own needs.

Replace Air Filters on Your Unit Regularly

If you are using the dehumidifying function often, make sure you replace the air filters regularly, so that the air flows undisturbed and also to prevent the growth of bacteria or mold.

For a better evaluation of your space, contact an HVAC expert that can recommend the best solution for your space. Give Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning and Heating a call today at (314) 471-7625!