Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - AC Repair & Replacement St. Louis

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - AC Repair & Replacement St. Louis

HVAC Maintenance

How to Prepare Your HVAC System For Cold Weather

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

Unpleasant Smell Coming from Your AC – How to Find the Source

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If you are hoping that the bad smell will just go away on its own, the chances of that are not good.

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When you turn your heat on in the winter, you probably noticed a smell that came through your air ducts. It isn’t always that unusual for it to do the same when you turn on your AC system. But if you have consistent and ongoing stinky air coming through your system, then that can signal a problem and one that needs to be addressed – not just for the health of your air-conditioning unit, but for your family as well.

If you are noticing that the air coming through the vents is a bit musty or generally “stinky,” many things can be causing the smell. Here are some possible reasons.

You Need to Have Your Ducts Cleaned

Over time, dust and debris can build up in your vents and cause mold growth. If it has been a while since you have had your ductwork cleaned, then it is important that you do so. It isn’t just a matter of smell.

The types of things that can get into your ductwork will not only irritate those with allergies, they can cause unhealthy conditions due to mold spores and other toxins that are continually circulated through your house.

The best part is that if you have your ductwork professionally cleaned, then you will increase the efficiency of your air conditioner and expand its longevity over the long term.

Check that an Animal Hasn’t Gotten Trapped

It is possible for rodents to make their way into your home through many cracks and crevices. One of those possible entries is through the ductwork. If an animal has gotten caught in your ductwork, then it will begin to decay and smell awful. It’s not just about animal pests, either – even insects can make nests and die in the vent system. If you can’t locate the source of the smell, then it is a good idea to have an HVAC professional to take a look.

There Might Be Clogs or Leaks in the System

If the ductwork has a crack or clog in it, then air isn’t going straight from the air conditioner to your home – it is actually leaking elsewhere. If you notice a musty smell, you might have a crack in the ductwork that is not only leaking cold air, but it might be pulling from other smelly parts of your basement where the ductwork runs. It is a really good idea to have an HVAC professional take a look to make sure that things are running where you want them to.

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating

If you have an unpleasant smell coming into your home from your air-conditioning unit, don’t discount it. If you are hoping that it will just go away on its own, the chances of that are not good. To make sure that you eliminate the smell and get back to breathing fresh air, call an HVAC professional to get things back on track and to get your home smelling good again.

St. Louis HVAC

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC is one of the few heating and air conditioning companies in St. Louis that has a master technician and mechanical engineer as an owner. This fact, combined with our more than 30 years of experience gives us an advantage over our competition. We will service all types and repair all brands of heaters and furnaces. If you need a new system, trust us to help you determine which one will best fit your needs.

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Spring is the Best Time to Have Your Ductwork Cleaned

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As spring approaches, you will want to make a fresh start and get your ductwork cleaned.

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All around the nation many homeowners are waking up to sunshine and birds chirping. Spring is not here just yet, but it is right around the corner. If you are considering when it might be the best time to have your ductwork cleaned, springtime is the perfect time to air things out by opening up windows and cleaning out your vents. All those months that you shut your windows up during the winter can lead to debris and dirt getting stuck in your HVAC system and recirculating throughout your house. As spring approaches, you will want to make a fresh start and get that ductwork cleaned.

What’s Lurking in Your Air Ducts?

During the winter months, all the toxins, allergens, and dust and debris in your environment have been continually sucked into your HVAC system and circulating throughout your home. Even worse, those particles that couldn’t make it through the system have gotten lodged inside and may be wreaking havoc on your HVAC system. When spring and summer come along and you need to shut the windows again to run the air-conditioning, you will want to make sure that your ductwork is clean and that air is flowing as efficiently as possible.

How it’s Affecting Your HVAC System

The airflow in your home is not only essential to your comfort, but it also plays an important role in the longevity of your HVAC systems. If your furnace or air conditioner has to work harder to push air through the system, then that is putting more wear and tear on them and making them work harder than they need to. The only way to make sure that everything is running smoothly is by having a St. Louis professional HVAC company come and clean your ductwork to loosen that trapped dirt and debris.

What About the Air Filters?

It is also important to change your filters before the warm air comes around. Your HVAC air filters are the first line of defense to ensure that the system is working as efficiently and as effectively as possible. If you aren’t changing them frequently, then you are not only reducing the air quality of your home, you are making your furnace and air conditioner work overtime to keep your home comfortable.

St. Louis HVAC Maintenance

Spring cleaning isn’t just about opening up windows, cleaning floors, and airing out the dirt and debris that got trapped during those long winter months. It should be a time when you hire a professional HVAC company to dust out your ductwork and ensure that your system is in good shape.

Not only do you need to make sure that you change the filters, you want to ensure that you have gotten rid of all the pollutants that can get trapped in your system and cause a whole mess of problems for both your HVAC units and your family’s health. The best way to air things out is to have your ducts professionally cleaned, so when you open the windows wide to let in some fresh air, only that fresh air is circulating through your system.

Contact Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 or fill out our online contact form to keep your system trouble free year round.

How Pets Can Have an Impact on Your HVAC System

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To keep everything running smoothly, follow these tricks so that their hair and dander don’t wreak havoc on your energy costs.

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Pets are a great addition to a home, and for many homeowners they are not just a pet, but a member of the family. Although their hair can be a little irritating, it is a small price to pay for man’s best friend. However, sometimes that hair is a little more than an inconvenience to your HVAC system.

Hair and animal dander that get trapped in the filter and continually circulate in your home can be building up in your ductwork and making your HVAC work overtime. That will not only put a dent in your home’s energy efficiency, but it will also put more wear and tear on your make your whole system.

There are ways that you can combat the effect that your animals have on your heating and cooling systems. These are some of the best ways to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently in your home.

Replace the Air Filters Regularly

The first and best line of defense to trap dander and animal hair is going to be your HVAC filters. If they get all clogged with dust, dirt, and dander, then less air will be able to flow through them, which will decrease your HVAC’s ability to do its job. If you keep the filters clean, then air will continue to circulate without taxing your heating and cooling systems as much.

Vacuum Often

To make sure that hair, allergens, and dander aren’t continually circulating through the air, vacuum and clean your home regularly. If the hair isn’t lying around, it won’t get kicked up into the air and trapped in your ductwork.

Bathe your Pets Frequently

To keep your home as hair-free as possible, make sure to regularly bathe and to brush your pets outdoors. That will not only limit the amount of hair that falls out, but it will also stop most of the dirt that is being tracked into your home from making its way indoors.

Get your Ductwork Professionally Cleaned

The small price that it costs to have your ductwork cleaned is well worth it to stop dirt and grime from building up and decreasing the energy flow of your HVAC system. It can also help to extend the life of your HVAC appliances. Regular maintenance checks from an experienced HVAC technician, can keep your system running optimally.

If you have animals in your home they might be the loves of your life, but your HVAC system might not love them so much. To keep everything running smoothly, follow these tricks so that their hair and dander don’t wreak havoc on your energy costs.

Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC

When it comes to your homes heating and cooling system, you want to rely on experts to keep it working properly. Contact Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 or fill out our online contact form to keep your system trouble free year round.

Some Myths about Heating and Cooling Systems

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Believing in the more common myths can end up costing you in the long run.

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Heating and cooling might not seem like rocket science, but it is complex and can leave many consumers researching which option is best for their home or office. The first place that someone who is considering all the new technology usually goes is straight to the internet. Although it’s a good resource for information, there are times when articles can be more like advertising than a truly informative source.

There are a lot of myths floating around the internet about HVAC systems. Although sometimes these aren’t really harmful, believing in the more common myths can end up costing you in the long run. Here are the most common misconceptions that you need to know to keep things running smoothly, inexpensively and efficiently.

Myth one: varying the temperature when you are away won’t lower your energy costs

It does behoove you to turn down the air-conditioning when you are going to be gone for the day, or even when you are heading to bed. The small amount of energy consumption might not seem like a lot, but it can really add up over the course of a year. To reduce your energy bills, varying the temperature by using a programmable thermostat can end up with you seeing some significant savings.

Myth two: the cost of maintaining your HVAC regularly isn’t worth it

To ensure that your HVAC system works properly and that you can increase its energy efficiency, staying on a maintenance schedule is the best thing to do. Things like lubricating the system to decrease wear and tear and repairing belts ahead of time (instead of having to make an emergency call) will always end up costing you less and extending the life of your system.

Myth three: energy-efficient systems will always reduce your energy bill

Energy-efficient options are not always specifically designed to save you money; they are designed to be more eco-friendly. The key to reducing your energy costs is tied to getting the right size and type of system for your house so that it isn’t running overtime to try to keep up. A St. Louis HVAC professional can help fit the right HVAC system to your house to decrease your energy costs, instead of you just relying on appliances that are rated for high efficiency.

Myth four: if you turn the thermostat up to high, your house will heat more quickly

The number of degrees that you turn your thermostat up does not have any bearing on how quickly it can heat your home. If you want the house to heat up to 72, turning it to 90 won’t get it there any faster. You will just end up having to adjust the temperature back down once it is heated, so why create the extra step?

If you are looking for the best ways to cut costs or the best eco-friendly and efficient HVAC system for your Missouri home, have your house evaluated by a St. Louis HVAC professional, make sure to keep up with scheduled maintenance, and think about who you are getting advice from before you accept it as truth.

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC

With over 30 years of experience, and with a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and provide maintenance for your home’s HVAC system.

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