Heating & Cooling
Oakville, MO
Ready Your Home’s HVAC System for the Winter
You want to be nice and warm inside your home this winter season, and your home’s HVAC system can either contribute to or take away from your comfort. Bart Inman Air specializes in heating and cooling in Oakville, MO, and we also focus on providing our customers with tips on getting the most from their heater and air conditioner. Here are several tips to ready your heater and home for the coldest months of the year.
Clean Your Air Vents and Air Filters
Schedule a professional cleaning for your air filters and air vents. Even if your heater works, you do not want dust, allergens and debris blowing from dirty air filters through equally dirty air vents. Besides improving your indoor air quality, another reason to regularly clean your air filters and vents is so your heater does not work harder than necessary to blow air through compromised vents. The easier your heater can work, the more efficiently it operates.
Insulate Your Attic
If you don’t have insulation in your attic, this upcoming winter is the perfect time to change that. With proper insulation, you keep heat from escaping through small openings in your home. That way, your heater doesn’t cycle on more often than necessary to maintain your desired temperature. You lower your utility bills while increasing your overall comfort.
On a related note, check your home’s windows and doors for gaps where heated air can escape. Add weatherstripping to any problematic areas you notice. Depending on the age of your windows and doors, you may be better off installing new, energy-efficient replacements that resolve gaps and add to your home’s overall beauty.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Consider switching to a programmable thermostat if you don’t already have one. By upgrading, it’s easy to keep your home comfortable without adjusting your thermostat several times throughout the day. You can set a specific temperature for morning, noon and night according to your desires. Further, if you leave the house and forget to turn your heater off, you can easily do so from your phone with a programmable thermostat app. Depending on your schedule, you can set your thermostat to warm up your house on your way back from work or an outing, so it’s the perfect temperature when you arrive.
Cover Your Exterior AC Unit
While your air conditioning unit is out of commission this winter, consider covering your exterior unit. That way, you protect it from debris, the ravages of winter weather and small animals that may try taking up residence in the unit.
Have a Professional Inspect Your Heater
You don’t want your heater fizzling out on you during a cold snap. That’s why we recommend having one of our technicians inspect and tune-up your heater. Besides optimum performance, another reason we recommend regular professional inspections is so you know about minor HVAC issues that may become major problems (with a major price tag) if left unaddressed. Having an early warning gives you time to save up money and decide how to proceed with repairs on your own timeline.
Bring out the best in your heater this and every other winter with help from Bart Inman Air. Schedule a tune-up with one of our representatives today.
Tips for Buying a New HVAC System
Lately, your current HVAC system breaks down more than it works. It’s time for something new, but because this is your first time buying an HVAC system, you aren’t sure what to look for. Bart Inman Air offers professional heating and cooling Oakville MO, and we’d love to give you some insights on what to look for in a new air conditioner and heater.
Size
Rather than go by your unit’s current size, have a professional HVAC technician determine if you currently have the right system size for your home. One reason you need a new system now could be that you have an improperly sized system, which is common in older homes. With a well-sized system, your unit does not cycle on and off more than necessary, which shortens your unit’s overall life expectancy. Determine which size you need so you can narrow your options.
SEER Rating
Depending on your unit’s age, it may not be the most advanced model. Consider your new model’s SEER, EER, HSPF and AFUE ratings so you know what you should expect in terms of energy efficiency. Usually, the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit’s operation. Not only does an efficient system save you money, but it also saves the environment.
Indoor Air Quality
Today’s HVAC units can improve your property’s indoor air quality. Even if you or your family do not have allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues, improved air quality adds to your overall comfort. Inquire about high-efficiency air filtration systems and humidifiers when checking out new HVAC systems. You could get a discount on these components when your contractor installs your new air conditioner and furnace.
Programmable Thermostat
Besides the unit itself, think about its thermostat. If you don’t already have one, getting a programmable thermostat can add to your comfort and savings. You can change your settings while away from home with your smartphone, relieving the hassle of forgetting to turn your unit off or adjust the temperature when you leave home. You can schedule a programmable thermostat to change temperatures at your usual bedtime and when you wake up, better ensuring an optimum temperature without manually adjusting the thermostat.
Reliability
Think beyond your current HVAC needs. When your new system requires inevitable repairs, you don’t want them to cost a small fortune. Look for a unit with top reliability and a reputation for affordable repairs and maintenance. This may require spending a bit more than you’d like, but that investment can pay off in the long run via system longevity and dependability. Choosing a less-expensive model saves money up front, but could come back to haunt you with expensive, constant repairs.
Installation
Imagine finding the perfect HVAC replacement that checks all the boxes, but an unscrupulous contractor handles the installation. The right contractor brings out the best in your new unit, adding to your satisfaction. Take your time with finding the right contractor, one with a proper license, insurance, references and reviews.
Ready to start your search for a new heater and air conditioner? Contact a Bart Inman Air representative today.
Air Conditioner Repairs That You Can Handle Yourself
It is great that you attempt to maintain your air conditioner to improve its life expectancy. That said, it is essential that you know which repairs and maintenance tasks you can handle on your own and which require a professional technician who specializes in heating and cooling in Oakville MO. Here at Bart Inman Air, we want to break down air conditioner maintenance and repairs that require little technique or experience.
Checking the Thermostat
If you ever encounter an issue with your air conditioner, check the thermostat before you do anything else. Maybe someone in your house changed the settings, or perhaps you set the thermostat to “heat” rather than “cool.” A quick examination could be all you need.
Changing the Air Filter
Over time, air filters become clogged with dust, dirt and allergens, which compromise their overall functionality. Clogged filters also tend to trip circuit breakers and unevenly cool rooms. You can check and change your air filters yourself every few months to ensure that your unit does not work harder than necessary to force air out of your vents and keep your home at the desired temperature. If you want to save money on filters, consider switching to a reusable filter.
Resetting the Circuit Breaker
A tripped breaker may be the reason that your compressor or fan does not function. Check your circuit breaker to determine whether an overloaded air conditioner caused your issue. You can reset the breaker to see if that remedies the issue, but if the breaker trips again, your best bet is to have an HVAC technician examine your unit and the breaker.
Opening the Vents
Do you occasionally close the vents to rooms that you do not use much to save energy? Doing so may cause problems with your air conditioner. Pressure may build up and damage your unit, potentially even force it to shut off earlier than it should, which may be an issue that you encounter. Keep all the vents in your home open so that air flows unencumbered.
Cleaning the Condenser
Maybe your home’s temperature does not match the thermostat setting. If not, you could have debris and dirt clogging the condenser outside. This part needs adequate space to release heat. When it becomes blocked, it cannot do its job. Go outside and remove branches and leaves around your unit. Also, trim bushes around your exterior air conditioning unit so that it can “breathe.”
Checking Your Ducts
If you feel comfortable doing so, go up into your attic to check your ducts for proper airflow. If you feel little air, you may have clogged ducts, which requires a professional cleaning. That, or perhaps you unintentionally closed a register. Either way, we recommend scheduling regular professional duct cleanings.
If the above tips do not resolve your issue, bring in the pros. For routine air conditioner maintenance and repairs, the technicians of Bart Inman Air are only a phone call away. Contact a representative by calling 314-293-2600. If you prefer, you can also submit a Contact Us form here on our site.
Common Practices That Cause HVAC System Wear and Tear
As long as your HVAC system works, you may not give it much thought. That said, neglecting to understand what causes issues with heating and cooling in Oakville, MO, may cost you in more ways than one. The experienced pros of Bart Inman Air offer professional HVAC services in St. Louis, MO, but we also want to help you bring out the best in your system. Here are ways you may cause unintentional wear and tear on your air conditioning and furnace unit.
Neglecting To Change the Furnace Filter
One common reason for furnace repairs is forgetting to change the filter. Your furnace’s filter traps dust, pollen and various pollutants and particles that may otherwise blow through your ducts and vents. When you forget to clean your filters, you not only compromise your indoor air quality, but you also impede your filter’s effectiveness in keeping you and your family warm. If you have higher-than-normal utility bills, the issue may be a dirty filter rather than a malfunctioning water heater or heat pumps.
Skipping Annual Tune-Ups
Just because your air conditioner or furnace works does not mean you have nothing to worry about. Scheduling regular maintenance with a heating and cooling service provider before the warmest and coldest months of the year helps you avoid emergency furnace and AC repair. Annual tune-ups bring minor issues to your attention that you can repair now rather than later. Besides avoiding unnecessary repairs, annual tune-ups also help you get as much use from your HVAC unit as possible. Save yourself thousands of dollars in the long run by investing in spring and fall tune-ups from trusted HVAC technicians in the St. Louis area.
Forgetting to Clean Your Vents
While tidying up around the house or doing intense spring cleaning, prioritize cleaning your vents. Much like air filters, your vents may become clogged with dust, pet dander, grime and other debris blowing through your ducts. With sufficient built-up, air flowing through your ducts may become blocked by dirty vents. Make a habit of occasionally removing all the vent covers in your home and cleaning them with a solution of a few drops of dish soap and warm water. While the vents dry, use a vacuum attachment to clean your vent openings.
Not Upgrading to a Programmable Thermostat
Using your HVAC unit as efficiently as possible helps it last as long as possible. If you do not already have one, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. That way, you can program specific temperature settings into your thermostat according to your lifestyle. For instance, you can create a program to shut off the unit when you leave for work and set the thermostat so your unit turns on while you commute home, ensuring you come back to a comfortable home. If you ever forget to adjust the thermostat before leaving your home, you can use the thermostat app on your phone to modify the temperature from wherever you are.
Do your part to make sure your furnace and air conditioner last for years to come. For more upkeep tips, reach out to us here at Bart Inman Air; we serve the St. Louis area including St. Charles County. Submit a Contact Us form today.