September 20, 2020

Do You Still Need to Maintain Your AC in the Fall?

After the scorching summer months, the arrival of fall could feel like a relief. The new season brings with it something else: reduced utility bills since the air conditioner won’t run excessively. However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect your air conditioning unit. Fall might even be the right time to get service performed. Taking a Small Step With an Outdoor Unit Fall can bring winds and rain, and those falling leaves and twigs might get caught up in the breeze. The same might be the case with other outdoor debris. Homeowners will want to avoid seeing their air conditioning unit clogged with dirt, leaves, and more. Placing a cover on an outside air conditioning unit provides a layer of protection. Be sure to tie the cover tight, as the wind could blow a loose one away. Dealing With the Dirty Filter Dirt and debris aren’t only found outside. Dirt, dust, and dander fly around the home. Thankfully, the air conditioner has a filter capable of catching debris. In time, the filter ends up so dirty it can’t do its job effectively. Changing the filter must become a top priority. Otherwise, performance problems and air quality issues may follow. Time...

View Article

Continue Reading

August 11, 2020

AC Won’t Cool? Here’s Why

You rely on your AC to supply a steady stream of cold air to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. During warmer spring and summer months, you’ll most likely be running your air conditioner a lot. When your unit fails to cool your home, you can be left feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Read on to learn about common reasons why your AC may not be effectively cooling your home. Clogged Air Filters Your air filters trap substances like dirt, dust and pollen and prevent them from recirculating through your air ducts. If you’ve neglected to change your air filters regularly, less air will be able to pass through your system. When this happens, your unit has to work extra hard to cool your home. Clogged air filters can also cause the evaporator coils to freeze, which could block any cool air from going into your home. Check for dirty air filters often, and replace them at least once every three months to reduce wear and tear on your AC unit. Low Refrigerant Levels The refrigerant in your air conditioning system absorbs excess heat from your home and cools it off. If you notice ice buildup on the refrigerant lines...

View Article

Continue Reading

July 15, 2020

Can Air Conditioning Cause Sinus Problems?

There’s nothing quite like a luxurious home with air conditioning. However, there has been some speculation about whether your AC can potentially lead to health issues like sinus or respiratory issues. Here’s a breakdown of whether air conditioning can cause sinus problems. Dry Air Air conditioning leads to dry air, which is known to irritate the sinuses. When humidity levels drop, water droplets in the air disappear, and you could experience trouble breathing. If you have preexisting health conditions such as allergies or asthma, this dry air is an even harsher factor. You should consider getting a humidifier to restore the humidity levels within your home. Humidifiers are a great way to complement the cool air produced by your AC. Cold Temperatures Air conditioning reduces the heat in your home by producing cool air to make you more comfortable. Some people want their homes maintained at an extremely cold temperature. If you keep your home extremely cold, your nose could become red and irritated due to the cold and lack of humidity in the air. If these symptoms occur, you could experience sinus problems or respiratory infections. AC While Sleeping Sleeping comprises a significant portion of your day. Although you...

View Article

Continue Reading

June 16, 2020

Does The Outside Temperature Affect My AC?

When the temperatures rise, it can be so nice to cool off indoors. Having an air conditioner can make such a difference in terms of not only comfort but your overall health and well-being. Since the AC is such a useful appliance in the summer, you may be wondering how your air conditioner is affected when the temperatures really soar. Below, we’ll explain how your air conditioner works and why it has to work harder when it’s hot outside. The Inner Workings of Your AC Your air conditioner cycles air from the inside to the outside of your home. In your outside AC unit, you have a compressor. As its name suggests, it compresses a refrigerant, thereby increasing its temperature. A fan then blows outside air across the coils that hold the refrigerant. This transfers heat from the refrigerant to the outside air. Next, the refrigerant travels to the inside of your house. At this point, another fan blows inside air across another set of coils, transferring the heat inside your home into the refrigerant. The refrigerant then goes outside to the compressor once again, where heat is released. How Heat Affects the Process Why does the exterior temperature matter?...

View Article

Continue Reading

April 16, 2020

Problems Caused by an Oversized Air Conditioner

People often say that bigger is better. However, when it comes to air conditioners, bigger can be a problem. If you’ve got an oversized AC in your home or are thinking of buying one, then you’re bound to face a variety of problems, a few of which are listed below. High Energy Bills Your energy bills will be noticeably higher with an oversized AC, principally because an oversized AC cools very rapidly then shuts off. After it shuts off, your house will heat up once again, and the cycle will continue. This stop-start pattern is very inefficient and is like driving in heavy traffic, which burns more energy than driving long distances without frequent stops. High Humidity Your AC needs to be running in order to remove humidity from the air. If it’s constantly shutting down due to cooling too rapidly, then the unit won’t ever have enough time to deal with the humidity, which requires cycles of at least 20-30 minutes. Over time, this failure to remove the humidity from your home can result in the appearance of mold. Shortened Lifespan The frequent stop-starts are hard on your air conditioner, especially the compressor. Like most motors and engines, your...

View Article

Continue Reading

January 7, 2020

Indoor Air Quality Tips For Homes With Pets

Many of us have family members that are pets. While you love your pet, there are times when the fur or feathers of our best animal friends wreak havoc with the air quality in our home. For some people this may be simply an annoying aspect of pet ownership and one that they are willing to put up with. For family members with a pet allergy, the problem may develop into something more serious. You’re Allergic to the Dander and Not your Dog or Cat What is pet dander? Dander is best described as tiny bits of skin that cling to fur and feathers. These microscopic particles float in the air of your home. For people with allergies, this can result in stuffy noses, runny eyes, and other respiratory symptoms. Filter the Air in your Home to Remove Pet Dander While you can vacuum and wipe down surfaces, the real task is to cleanse the air. To achieve this, it’s best to have an air purification system installed to improve air quality. The installation of a HEPA filter can filter out pet dander and remove existing pet odors too. Adding a HEPA filter to your HVAC system creates healthier air...

View Article

Continue Reading

December 18, 2019

Heating System Tips for the Holidays

When entertaining during the holiday season, you want your home to be comfortable for guests. At , we specialize in providing HVAC services to keep homes in Madison and St. Clair counties comfortable and energy-efficient. We recommend the following tips to help you save money and keep warm during the holiday season. Turn Down the Thermostat If you plan to do lots of cooking this holiday season, your oven and stovetop will generate additional heat. Turn down the thermostat to avoid overheating your home. If you will be hosting guests, your friends’ and family members’ physical presence will also generate extra heat. By lowering your thermostat, you will not only avoid excess heat and stuffiness, but your energy bill will also be a little lower. Schedule Your Inspection Before Temperatures Drop You should ideally have your HVAC system inspected once a year. If you haven’t already had your inspection, the holiday season is ideal. By allowing one of our technicians to evaluate your system, you can avoid unnecessarily high heating bills and untimely breakdowns. Change Your Air Filter to Keep Air Quality High Your furnace’s air filter removes dirt, allergens, and other impurities from the air that circulate in your...

View Article

Continue Reading

November 12, 2019

Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

On a cold winter day, the last thing you want to deal with is a furnace that doesn’t produce hot air. This issue could require just a minor fix, or it could be something more major that a professional will need to repair. Here are some reasons your furnace could be blowing cold air. The Filter Needs Replacing Dirty and clogged filters can cause severe problems, such as a cracked heat exchanger. Thankfully, a fail-safe mechanism could shut off the heat exchanger before any cracks occur. Once the part is turned off, the furnace won’t blow hot air. For filter replacements, part repairs, and other solutions, can assist residents of Madison and St. Clair. Changes to the Thermostat The weather outside is freezing, but someone changed the thermostat setting to “cool” or “fan.” Accidents do happen. Changing the setting to “on” could lead to the fan spinning and circulating air, but the heat-generating burners are off. Now, you’re only getting cool air. Check the thermostat and see if the settings are right. The Gas Line Isn’t Running A furnace connects to your gas line. Ignited gas creates the flames that heat the air. Is the gas company performing repairs and...

View Article

Continue Reading

October 17, 2019

What is Balanced Ventilation?

If your home in Granite City, IL, is tightly sealed against the elements, the air inside could be 10 times as polluted as the air outside. It’s a tough problem because tightly sealing the home is important for reducing energy costs. On the other hand, ventilation is important to filter the air. HVAC systems that are entirely reliant on either supply ventilation or exhaust ventilation are limited in their ability to clean the air, and they may cause pressure imbalances. This is where balanced ventilation comes in. What is Balanced Ventilation? To avoid the problems of in-home pressure changes, a balanced ventilation system brings outdoor air in at the same rate that it removes indoor air. If it is set up and has had the proper maintenance, a balanced ventilation system neither increases nor reduces the pressure inside the home. The ventilation in the home is thus not dependent on natural ventilation to clean the air. Separating Temperature and Ventilation Controls One thing that throws a ventilation system off balance is using the same ventilation ducts for ventilation as are used for cooling and heating. In order for there to be pressure balance throughout the home at the same time...

View Article

Continue Reading

September 15, 2019

What Are Swamp Coolers?

understands that not every home can use a traditional air conditioner to keep temperatures down during summer. A swamp cooler is a great option for homes without a central air conditioning system. They are inexpensive, energy-efficient, and don’t have any harmful refrigerants in them. They work especially well in dry climates and can keep indoor temperatures reasonable. Many homes are suitable for swamp coolers, especially in desert climates. How Swamp Coolers Work Swamp coolers use evaporative cooling to reduce the temperature in your home’s air. This is the same concept as putting a wet shirt on while running on a hot day to try to stay cool. Swamp coolers work by passing air through a wet filter. In the past, wet towels would be put up in front of fans or doorways where air was passing through. These were early versions of swamp coolers. When the hot dry air comes in contact with the wet surface, it cools down. Through this process, large amounts of heat can be extracted from the air in a room. Areas with low humidity are great candidates for swamp coolers. In humid environments, the air that passes through the wet filter is already wet and...

View Article

Continue Reading