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

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

Commercial Heating and Cooling

How to Save Money on HVAC Installation and Repair

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With over 30 years of HVAC engineering and installation experience, we can help you save money on HVAC installation and maintenance.

HVAC Energy Savings

Homeowners and start-up business owners alike, may be interested in saving money on HVAC installation and repair. Efficiently installing a heating, ventilation, and cooling system can be costly and can be an obstacle for small business owners to expanding and growing their business when it comes to occupying a new space. Some entrepreneurs circumvent this problem by sharing a work space, and renting desks or office space in a shared building. But there are other ways to save on HVAC as well.

  1. Energy Rebates – Missouri offers different options for energy rebates, depending on what you are looking for and what type of system you need. There are rebates for residential HVAC, renewable energy solutions like solar power, as well as loans for commercial HVAC systems. Another good way to search for rebates is to look for rebates specific to your city, as these are the most likely to suit  your needs.
  2. Manufacturer Deals – The next option you should look into is rebates or deals that are offered by specific manufacturers. Rebates on especially high-priced systems are usually offered, but in some cases, a moderately priced system may be a better deal. So investigate manufacturers in your area and look into their offers.
  3. Tax Credit – Some HVAC systems, repair, or maintenance may qualify for energy tax credits. If you are looking to have work done on your residence or are beginning a new construction project you can save money by choosing a system that qualifies. Depending on the project you are working on, you may qualify for different credit. For example, if you are looking into solar energy for a new construction project, you could get a tax credit for up to 30% of the total cost of your system. Or if you are working on insulation or HVAC on your home you could receive a tax credit of up to $300 or 10% of the system up to $500, depending on the work.
  4. Off Season Discounts – Yet another option is to wait until it is not peak season to have work done on your system or a new installation project done. Summer and winter are the busy seasons for HVAC companies for obvious reasons, so waiting until either spring or fall might be another good option for getting a discount. If you ask for an off season discount from HVAC companies during these times of year you could be pleasantly surprised.

Contact Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC

With over 30 years of HVAC engineering and installation experience, we can help you save money on HVAC installation and maintenance.

Contact us today at (314) 471-7625 for a free estimate or fill out our online contact form.

Improving the Bottom Line with HVAC Maintenance

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The price of doing business is something every business owner has to manage. There are strategies to help control operating costs.

commercial hvac st louis

All businesses, large and small, are affected by operating costs. There are strategies to help control operating costs. Considering how the operating costs of a businesses’ commercial HVAC system affects the bottom line is a good place to start.

Install Digital Thermostats

Install digital thermostats out of reach of employees or put them inside a lock box. Employees love to adjust the temperature to their personal needs without any regard to the customer or your bottom line. Hundreds of dollars can be saved by using a digital thermostat to keep a consistent temperature inside the building. Taking away the ability to fiddle with it ensures that your system gives you the most return.

Adjust Business Hours

If possible adjust your business hours. This will not work in the retail industry, but many companies, especially those in particularly hot climates, will start their business day in the very early hours, allowing them to be closed in the late afternoon when temperatures reach their peak. There is no law that says a production company has to be open from nine until five. By starting the workday at six o’clock and ending at two o’clock, you can have the business closed during the hottest time of day in the summer.

Regular Maintenance Program

Make regularly scheduled maintenance checks a priority for your commercial HVAC system. By operating a clean system with new belts and filters a business can save almost forty percent on their utility bill. Ask an HVAC technician about adding adjustable speed drives to your fans. This keeps the fans moving only the air that you need.

When to Consider an Upgrade

Although a large initial investment, consider replacing any component that is over ten years old or in constant need of repair. Newer models are much more energy efficient and the money you save in repair costs and utilities will make up for the investment in just a few months. Newer commercial HVAC systems are built with better technology that is meant to give a business owner the highest possible efficiency.

An HVAC company that specializes in commercial buildings will be happy to come out to your business and help you ascertain where your biggest losses are coming from and how best to improve on them. You will be amazed at how much of a difference just a few minor adjustments can make to your profit margin.

All businesses, large and small, are affected by operating costs. Owners should try and look at every possibility that could help save them money in the long run. Having a brand new commercial HVAC system installed will end up saving a business thousands of dollars over the course of time.

Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 today or fill out our online contact form to request a free estimate.

Five Myths About Energy Efficiency At Home

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Are you looking for ways to increase energy efficiency in your home?

energy efficiency st lous hvac

To increase energy efficiency in your home and save money, it may be necessary to conduct a home energy audit. An audit will allow you to check the areas or items inside your home that may require modifications to make it more energy efficient. You may also consider purchasing energy efficient products to replace outdated ones. Solar panels, solar exterior lighting, solar water heaters, and wind turbines have begun to emerge in the housing market. However, it is necessary to be aware of some myths about energy efficiency in homes.

Myth # 1

Compact florescent lights are hazardous due to the presence of mercury. Although CFL bulbs contain some amount of mercury, they provide environmental benefits in comparison to incandescent bulbs. CFL bulbs use less energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power-generating companies. Trimming the demand for these facilities through the use of CFL bulbs decreases mercury levels in the atmosphere.

Myth # 2

Resetting the thermostat higher or lower increases the use of energy. Although the HVAC system runs until it reaches an appropriate temperature, it may not be using as much energy when the system is set at a lower or higher temperature when the homeowner is not in the house or is sleeping.

Myth # 3

Closing the vents in other rooms reduces energy use. Although this belief may appear to be true, it is actually a myth. Shutting the vents does not direct air into used spaces inside the house. It only obstructs air flow and reduces the efficiency of the HVAC system. In fact, the HVAC system may have to work harder if the vents are closed. An HVAC system is meant to ensure a balance in air flow. Any disruptions in the air flow may result in limitations in the air that goes into a room even if the vents are opened. Closing the vents will allow heat sources to get into the house and make it difficult to keep the house cool.

Myth # 4

Turning electronics off reduces electricity use. A number of energy efficient appliances feature a standby mode that allows them to be turned back on quickly whenever they are going to be used. To completely prevent energy from being used, homeowners should unplug their home appliances when they will be gone on a long vacation.

Myth # 5

Replace 90-day filters after three months. Whenever filters are dirty, it is necessary to replace them, even if they have been used for only twenty days. Filthy filters have a negative effect on HVAC systems, so it is necessary to change them whenever necessary. They are reasonably-priced and replacing them as needed may save you expensive repairs in the future.

St. Louis Heating and Air Conditioning

Continue to look for ways to save energy and maintain your HVAC system. Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC offers full service residential HVAC maintenance in St. Louis with over 30 years of experience. Call us today at (314) 471-7625 for HVAC maintenance services.

How Efficient Is Your Commercial HVAC System?

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Having a commercial HVAC system that is in tiptop shape is crucial to running a business and keeping employees happy and productive.

happy productive St. Louis workers

Whether it is a chilly winter day or in the midst of a summer heat wave, you want to make sure that your HVAC system is not going to quit on you.

A lot of time is spent at work, and those eight to ten hours can be completely miserable if the HVAC system is not working properly. Yet, energy efficiency is equally important. An HVAC system that runs continuously, or turns on and off frequently, can essentially be money down the drain. Making sure that your system is installed properly and maintained efficiently will keep your budget in check without sacrificing comfort.

Heating and cooling a commercial business is different than heating and cooling a home. The increased number of people, equipment, electronics, can all be taxing on the system if it is not high functioning. This means that there often needs to be dual heating & cooling and regulation. Different businesses have different HVAC needs, so there is no one size fits all system. However, an HVAC system that is high-functioning and efficient will include components like ducts that are sized correctly and sealed properly, proper insulation, and an HVAC system that is fine tuned to your business’ needs and size requirements. This  means that in an office setting the rooms needs to be heated and cooled to an appropriate temperature that does not leave employees uncomfortable. Additionally, a business with a large open warehouse space should easily be heated or cooled throughout.

How an Experienced Heating and Cooling Company Can Help

A good heating and cooling company should be able to work with you regarding your needs and concerns. Some business owners may be more geared towards sustainability, looking to learn more about solar power or heat pumps, while another business owner may simply be looking for a way to save as much money as possible.

Due to the potentially high costs of heating and cooling a business, it is generally a good idea for business owners to consider the benefits of having a programmable thermostat installed. With programmable thermostats you can avoid having all components of the system turning on at the same time, as these peak demand moments will typically be more expensive.

Another crucial component of an efficient commercial HVAC system is the ductwork. Ducts need to be inspected and then tested to ensure that there are no leaks and that the system will ultimately be as efficient as possible. Many buildings change owners several times and there is a chance the building your business is in was originally intended for a different purpose. Discussing the ductwork and efficiency of the system with an HVAC professional who can customize a system to meet the requirements of your particular business should be a top priority. You may want to do some work on the ducts, especially cleaning and sanitation, to make sure that the air is clean, before you set up shop.

St. Louis Heating and Air Conditioning

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC is a full service residential  and commercial heating and air conditioning company. With over 30 years of experience, and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner,  we can analyze your system and provide you with the very best solution. Call us today at (314) 471-7625 or contact us online to schedule a service call or get an estimate on a new system.