HVAC Maintenance

What Is Static Pressure and How Do You Get Rid of It?

January 15, 2020 by Thomas Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Static pressure is one of the most important factors in evaluating how your HVAC system works. It is a parameter that you should check frequently and understand at least at a basic level so that you can easily identify problems with your air conditioning.

Let’s go through the basic information about HVAC static pressure and how to get rid of it.

What Is Static Pressure?

When it comes to HVAC systems, static pressure defines the resistance to the airflow in the ductwork system. In order for your HVAC system to function properly, it needs to push the air through the ducts with a greater force than the static pressure in the pipes. If this condition is not met, the airflow will be affected.

Just as high blood pressure is a sign of stress and malfunctioning in our bodies, static pressure indicates a problem with your HVAC system if it exceeds certain values.

To measure the static pressure in your ductwork, your HVAC expert may drill a few test ports and will insert a manometer in the ducts, reading the static pressure values. Just as your blood pressure has an ideal range, your static pressure measurement shouldn’t be too high or too low.

Diagnosis of HVAC Systems Based on Static Pressure

When the static pressure is too high, it means that airflow is restricted. This will make your HVAC system work harder to compensate for the poor airflow, and it will overwork itself. Your electricity bill will go up and the air conditioning system might get damaged.

Possible reasons for high static pressure in your duct system at:

A blockage in the ducts
Closed dampers
Offset flex duct
Restrictive filters

When the static pressure is too low, it means that there’s a leak somewhere on the way. Possible reasons for this are:

Missing filters
Leaks in the duct pipes
Low fan speed
Separated duct sections

How Important Is the Ductwork in Your HVAC System?

Understanding how important it is to read the static pressure in your ducts will also make you realize how crucial good ductwork is to your system. Many homeowners and even HVAC experts focus a lot on the equipment when they plan an upgrade of the HVAC system, but what would truly add to the value and efficiency of the system is a good ductwork system.

If you are looking for a solution for low or high static pressure, or if you are browsing new HVAC systems, look for a company that has experience with ductwork and can design, install and repair it efficiently. Also, plan static pressure readings as a part of the regular maintenance of your HVAC system and you will be able to detect issues in time and solve them with less time and costs.

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

CALL (314) 471-7625

How to Fix Hot and Cold Spots in Your Home

November 13, 2019 by Thomas Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Checking for possible causes of hot and cold spots in your house may not be entirely possible without the right equipment and expertise.

Ideally, your HVAC system should be calibrated to provide a nice, constant temperature and airflow in every room in your home. Sure, when you live with other people, they might have different preferences for their room, which is why many systems come with programmable thermostats for separate areas of the house.

However, when your house has hot or cold spots that you can’t control, this becomes a problem that may require some investigation. Here are some possible causes of hot and cold spots in your house.

Airflow Issues

When one of your rooms is hotter than it should be while the others may get too much cold air from the air conditioning system, the problem is likely with the air ventilation network. The hot room is simply not receiving enough cold air, which in turn goes to other areas of the house. The result is an uncomfortable mix of hot and cold.

Here is what to investigate first:

Are Your Air Ducts Properly Sized?

If the air ducts are too narrow, then the airflow is restricted to certain areas and you’ll get hot spots. You might need to adjust the duct size in certain rooms, so that more or less air comes in, depending on the type of size discrepancy.

Is the Ductwork Damaged?

A leak could be the cause of your hot and cold spots. A damaged air duct can easily disturb the balance in your climate system. An HVAC professional is able to evaluate your ductwork and see if there is any problem with it.

Poor Insulation

If a faulty duct system didn’t cause the problems with the airflow, then poor insulation may be the reason behind the temperature fluctuations. Again, a professional would be able to test this with special equipment. Poorly insulated areas can be too hot or too cold at certain times of the year, or all the time.

Air Leaks

Even if your home’s insulation is ok, it might be compromised by air leaks that let the temperatures go up and down. Gaps and cracks in the house can let in cold or hot air from the outside, sabotaging your HVAC system. If airflow and insulation turn out to be ok, but you still have hot and cold spots, that would be the next step to investigate.

Checking for possible causes of hot and cold spots in your house may not be entirely possible without the right equipment and expertise. Speak with an experienced HVAC technician to look into the problem and avoid frustration and too much trial-and-error testing. They will be able to suggest the best options to solve your issue.

Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 471-7625!

Why Autumn Is the Perfect Time to Schedule an HVAC Check-Up

October 17, 2019 by Thomas Hoffmann Leave a Comment

The best time to do preventive check-ups of your HVAC system is Spring and Autumn.

st. louis woman scheduling hvac maintenance

Most households nowadays are relying heavily on HVAC systems to go comfortably through the heat of the summer and chilly autumn nights. New models allow homeowners to control the parameters of the cooling, heating and ventilating in each room of the house, scheduling their systems or operating them remotely through an Internet connection.

Whether your HVAC system is brand new or it has a few years of activity behind, it should be regularly maintained by a professional HVAC expert. The manufacturer of your unit usually specifies how frequent maintenance should be, but for a unit to work efficiently, twice a year is generally the ideal frequency for check-ups.

Autumn HVAC Check-Up

The best time to do preventive check-ups of your HVAC system isSpring and Autumn. That’s because the unit will perform two entirely different tasks in between. After running intensively for the whole summer, it’s wisest to get a team to look at your exterior and interior units, the duct system, the pipes, etc. Making sure everything works properly for the winter is part of preventive maintenance, and it prolongs the life-span of any system you have.

Preventing Bigger Issues

Identifying potential problems or issues in their incipient phase can save you a lot of time, money and comfort in the long-term. This type of approach allows you to spot cracks, leaks, weakened connections, damaging factors and other things that would become worse if ignored.

Cleaning Up Summer’s Dirt

It is also a good opportunity to clean the system, the filters and ducts, as well as groom the area around the exterior unit. All of these steps will ensure a smooth start for the winter.

Changing the Thermostat Settings

For many users, setting up the thermostat is an annoying task. Use the autumn check-up as a chance of asking the maintenance team to do it for you. This way, you will make sure everything is indeed programmed the way you want. If you have any doubts on how to program and schedule your thermostat, ask your HVAC expert for help.

Schedule Future Maintenance and Getting Good Deals

An advantage of getting your HVAC unit checked preventively is becoming a loyal customer of your HVAC service company. A lot of companies offer discounts if you schedule your maintenance with them regularly. Saving a few bucks on the service, on top of the money you would spend on more serious problems, is not to be ignored. Also, you can talk to the experts about how you can choose a more effective energy plan, saving even more.

Now that summer has ended, the information above should convince you to pick up the phone and call your HVAC service team for an autumn check-up. That way, you can prolong your system’s life and fix any potential issues before they cause costly problems. Give us a call 24/7 (314) 471-7625!

HVAC Maintenance Tips For Pet Owners

September 17, 2019 by Thomas Hoffmann Leave a Comment

If you stay on top of all of these tasks, you should keep your HVAC system running smoothly and avoid any adverse outcomes that might come along with mismanagement.

While our furry friends undoubtedly add an incredible amount of joy to our lives, they can also create a few challenges. One of them involves your HVAC system, which can suffer when animals are in the home. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways for you to mitigate these effects and keep your system running as smoothly as possible.

Don’t Fall Behind on Grooming

The primary way a pet can impact your home is through shedding. All of that hair tends to do two things. First, it crops up around air vents, which decreases your flow and makes your HVAC system work harder for the same output. Second, that hair can rise into the air surrounding you, which may lead to worsened allergy symptoms. You can mitigate both of these issues through washing and brushing your pets often. Keeping a clean, well-vacuumed home helps too.

Replace Your Air Filters

Your HVAC system has the ability to keep your home’s air clean. It does so with a filter, which removes various harmful constituents. Unfortunately, having a pet can overload this piece of protective equipment with hair and lessen its effectiveness. You can avoid this problem with frequent filter replacements. The rule of thumb is every two or three months, but your needs might vary.

Consider a HEPA Filter

If you continue to have allergy issues despite replacing your air filters frequently, you may want to look into improving your hardware. One way to do so is with HEPA filters, which are much more powerful than their conventional counterparts. Choosing to take this route will undoubtedly lead to cleaner air in your home.

Fence Off Your Outdoor Unit

If you’re not familiar with HVAC terminology, your outdoor unit is a combination of a condenser and compressor. What it does is suck air in from outside and treat it before it enters your home. Pets sometimes interact with this machinery, with a typical example being urinating on it. Not only can doing so hurt your system, but more importantly, it might harm your pet. Both of these outcomes will be frustrating and painful. You can significantly lessen the chance of them happening by putting a fence around your outdoor unit.

Call in an Expert For Regular Maintenance

Lastly, you can keep your HVAC system and home in working order by having an expert come by for regular maintenance. Doing so will ensure that everything is working correctly or, in some cases, alert you when something isn’t. Either way, you’ll be glad to have an HVAC professional at your disposal.

Having pets around the house leads to more responsibilities. Among them are ones that relate to HVAC functionality, which include proper grooming, replacing filters, getting a HEPA filter, fencing off your condenser, and getting regular maintenance from a professional. If you stay on top of all of those tasks, you should keep your HVAC system running smoothly and avoid any adverse outcomes that might come along with mismanagement.

How to Prepare Your HVAC System For Cold Weather

December 20, 2018 by Thomas Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Here are some practical steps you can take to ensure your HVAC system is running this winter.

Cold weather is here in St. Louis, and all of our day to day lives change as a result. One thing you want to remain constant, though, is the functionality of your HVAC system. This is especially true given that the temperatures are dropping and you don’t want to be left out in the cold due to a malfunction. Here are some practical steps you can take.

Change Your Filter

While this recommendation isn’t specific to snowfall, it is one of the crucial pieces of maintenance that you should consider adhering to. The reason is that the dirt and debris that gets caught in your filter is among the most common reasons HVAC systems break down prematurely. The rule of thumb regarding replacing filters is to do so every ninety days (this may be different depending on the size of your filter), which matches up perfectly with the change of the seasons. Still, you may want to check your filter monthly to make sure everything looks right.

Check the System Before Cold Weather Comes

Anyone that lives in Missouri knows that the winter gets very cold. That being said, the summer is often so hot that people don’t use their furnace for many months. The trap they fall into is that they do not realize their system needs maintenance until winter comes. This mistake can be a disaster, as you might be without heat for days before you get your system fixed. Be sure to test your furnace before cold weather comes if you want to avoid this pitfall.

Conduct a Basic Inspection

While you’re not an HVAC expert, you can likely detect obvious issues with your system. To do so, go to your furnace and do a visual inspection. Remove any objects that are too close to it if needed. Next, turn it on and listen for abnormal noises. If you hear something that sounds problematic, it likely is. Give your HVAC technician a call.

Program Your Thermostat

You likely don’t want your heat pumping all day while you’re at work. Additionally, you probably want your system to be on through the night and morning. Whatever your preference is, make sure your thermostat reflects that. You can make that happen by programming it to heat your home once it hits a specific temperature. Additionally, smarter systems can stop and start based on what time of day it is.

Call for Regular Maintenance

Lastly, the change in seasons is an excellent time to catch up on regular maintenance. What you can do is hire a local company and have them come out to your home. They will make sure that your system is running smoothly and there are no hazards you need to watch out for. Once you have that check done, you will have peace of mind throughout the season.

Though winter is a wonderful time, it can be much less enjoyable for those with HVAC problems. Fortunately, taking some basic preparation steps can save you from that discomfort and frustration. Of course, if your system ends up breaking down despite your best efforts, you can always give Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating a call. CALL NOW 24/7: (314) 471-7625

Why HVAC Maintenance and Repair Should Be Done by a Professional

July 18, 2018 by Thomas Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Having your cooling system regularly inspected and serviced is vital to your systems performance and reliability.

The Internet has made experts out of just about anyone with the will and resolve to do something themselves, but just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean you are the best one for the job.

Before you put on your HVAC technician hat and get busy, there are some things that you should think about before you get in too deep. If you think you can play HVAC expert, you may want to think again. These are just a few reasons why you should leave HVAC maintenance and repair to a professional.

1. You won’t catch subtle clues

If you are the one maintaining your HVAC system, you might know how to clean out the furnace or to change the air filter, but what you won’t necessarily know is how to look for early signs of trouble. The main advantage that you have when you allow an HVAC technician to perform regular maintenance is having them spot signs of trouble before those problems become serious.

If you don’t know what noises to look for or what clues indicate wear and tear issues, then you are going to end up making an expensive repair call.

2. You aren’t an expert

Sure, you can watch a YouTube video and figure almost anything out these days, but that doesn’t make you the right person for the job. Performing maintenance on your HVAC system might seem like a no-brainer, but it actually takes a lot of know-how and learned expertise.

If you do something wrong, then you are going to end up causing unnecessary damage and have to pay more to fix your HVAC system than you would have saved attempting to maintain it yourself. When it comes to the heating and cooling of your home, you are better off paying someone who knows what they are doing.

3. You don’t know how to spot something covered under warranty

Another advantage that a professional HVAC contractor will have over you is that they have been in the industry long enough to know when a repair is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.

If you aren’t aware of common breakdown problems or things that are covered by the manufacturer of your HVAC system, then you might be unwittingly making your warranty null and void, or you might pay for parts that you don’t need to pay for.

4. You will use precious time

When you are performing regular maintenance on your HVAC system, you might be pigeonholed into thinking that it means focusing on one thing when you really need to examine the bigger picture. Someone who is trained in HVAC repair and maintenance will know exactly what to do, what to examine, and to identify any vulnerabilities that can end up costing you a whole lot or leaving you staring at your HVAC unit for hours.

St. Louis HVAC Repair

While it’s always a relief when you can fix things yourself, there are times when doing it yourself will end up costing you a lot more. For HVAC systems, there is no reason to risk missing a sign or doing something wrong. Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC today at (314) 471-7625 or fill out our online contact form.

We know that keeping your home cool and comfortable in the summer months is very important. In the St. Louis area, air conditioning is a necessity. Having your cooling system regularly inspected and serviced is vital to your systems performance and reliability.