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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 2020

How to Choose the Best Air Filters for Your Home

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Your unit’s performance is directly influenced by what air filters you choose and how well you maintain them.

Air filters are one of the most important components of your HVAC system. Your unit’s performance is directly influenced by what air filters you choose and how well you maintain them.

Here is a breakdown of the main types of air filters for your home, and how to choose the right one for you. 

hvac filter

Types of Filters

Certain features and properties set apart different types of filters. To browse for air filters efficiently, you have to decide what kind of product your unit needs. Here’s what to keep in mind.

The Size of the Filters

Make sure to accurately measure or check the size of the old filters on your HVAC system. Only go with that the manufacturer recommends, as filters that are incorrectly sized will not perform properly. Atypical openings will need air filters in special sizes and shapes, as trying to adjust a standard one yourself can render it inefficient. 

The Materials Used

The variety of materials and styles you can find can make your choice difficult, especially if you don’t know what to look for. You might need a thicker and denser filter if you live in a house where more air is circulated.

Most air filters are made out of fiberglass, as it’s one of the more affordable options. Eco-friendly materials are also available, especially for reusable filters that one can wash for maintenance.

The Style

Two of the most commonly found styles of air filters are: pleated and honeycomb. 

Pleated filters have a bigger surface area to process the air, allowing the filter to catch more particles and circulate the air easier. In addition to the pleated style, these filters often have an electrostatic charge, which traps the particles and makes them stick to the filter. 

The honeycomb structure is mostly seen in more affordable filters. The honeycomb cells are made with paper fibers, fiberglass, or textile fibers, filtering the dirty air through the flutes.

The characteristics above are the very basics of air filters for your home. Here is more information that you can check when looking for air filters for your home. 

The MERV Rating

The MERV rating system (an acronym for the minimum efficiency reporting value) is a 1 to 16 scale that shows how effective an air filter is in filtering out particles.

MPR (Microparticle Performance Rating)

MPR rates the filter’s ability to keep out nanoparticles from the air (particles with a circumference smaller than 1 micron. For people suffering from dust, mites, pollen allergies, a system with a high MPR can drastically change the quality of their life.

St. Louis Heating & Air Conditioning

Whether you need a basic filter to replace the old one, or you would like to update your AC filters to something more performant, consulting an HVAC expert will guarantee you the best choice for your system. Contact Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC for all your St. Louis HVAC needs.

24/7 SERVICE. FIVE STAR REVIEWS. 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

CALL (314) 471-7625

4 Heating Mistakes That Could Be Costing You Money

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Even when you are trying to save energy, you may be making some mistakes that are costing you big time. 

Winter is upon us and while curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book sounds pretty much like the coziest thing you could do, you may start dreading the winter months soon if the utility bills break your bank. 

According to Energy Star, heating accounts for almost 30% of a typical utility bill. Saving energy is essential for your finances. The problem is that even when you are trying to save energy, you may be making some mistakes that are costing you big time. 

St. Louis HVAC Company

Closing Doors and Vents

One of the biggest and costly misconceptions about saving energy is that you can conserve heat by closing the vents and doors to the rooms that don’t need to be heated. Unfortunately, that’s not the way heaters work.

A heater pulls air from the inside of your house, heats it, and then returns it. If there is not enough airflow, the heater will have to work harder to pull the air.

Moreover, the heater will push the air into the closed vents, leading to pressure building up in the ducts. Over time, this added pressure can shorten the heater’s lifespan. 

You’re Not Setting the Thermostat Correctly

It may make sense to crank up the thermostat if your home is freezing and you want to heat it quickly. However, there is a problem with this.

The thermostat activates the heater and then shuts it off when it reached the set temperature. Cranking it up will only make the heater work harder and for longer, inflating your utility bill and causing wear and tear.

You Are Using Multiple Sources of Heat at Once

If the heater is not warming the house as fast or as much as you would like, you may decide to turn the fireplace on too. While it may seem like a good idea to use all your sources of heat at once to reach a comfortable temperature, it’s generally more cost-effective to alternate them. 

You’re Using the Heater at the Wrong Times

By using a smart thermostat and creating a schedule, you can save as much as 10% on your utility bills. Returning to a cold home is not desirable, but that doesn’t mean that you should blast the heater nonstop. Instead, set a lower temperature when no one is home or when you are sleeping. 

Are You Making Any of These Costly Mistakes? 

You may understand that if you want to save energy, you should seal the doors and windows to avoid allowing hot air to escape and inspect the air filters regularly. But there also are the little things that you may not be paying attention to that can cost you a lot of money. 

24/7 SERVICE. FIVE STAR REVIEWS. 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

CALL (314) 471-7625