Hoff Home Comfort Blog

Keep Moisture In Check With Whole House Dehumidification

Henry Hoff — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:37 +0000

With summer on the way, humidity levels are on the rise. This can spell trouble for Midwest homeowners. In addition to the discomfort of high humidity, too much moisture in the air can lead to other issues in your home. Keep moisture in check this summer with whole-house dehumidification.

Air conditioners will lower your indoor temperatures while removing some moisture from the air. However, when it’s especially muggy outside, sometimes they’re unable to remove enough moisture to avoid that clammy, uncomfortable feeling. Most experts agree that the ideal indoor humidity level is somewhere between 35 and 55 percent, and a whole-house dehumidifier can help maintain that level year-round.

Signs You Need Dehumidification

You’ve been experiencing an uncomfortable, clammy feeling that makes it difficult to sleep or relax.
Your walls, floors and other hard surfaces feel moist or sticky.
You have moisture stains on walls and ceilings.
Your house smells musty.
Visible mildew is growing in your home.
Condensation forms on your water pipes.
You find yourself overusing your air conditioner to make your home feel more comfortable.

Whole-House vs. Portable Dehumidifiers

Some homeowners opt for portable dehumidifiers, which may seem like the more economical option, but a whole-house system offers several benefits over portable models.

The major drawback to portable dehumidifiers is their limited range. Each one can only effectively dehumidify a single room, which means it will take several to keep moisture in check throughout your home. They also operate out in the open, and some homeowners find them unsightly. They also require regular maintenance.

A whole-house dehumidifier is installed as part of your heating and cooling system, and it works with your HVAC to deliver conditioned, dehumidified air throughout your home. It can also work independently of your HVAC, so you can still control humidity even if you don’t need to heat or cool your home. A whole-house dehumidifier operates out of sight, and require very little maintenance once it has been installed.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of a whole-house dehumidification system, contact Hoff Heating & A/C. We’ve been serving St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding region since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about keeping moisture in check and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hoff Heating & A/C, Inc services St. Charles County and the surrounding region, including portions of Warren, Lincoln and St. Louis counties. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Humidification image via Shutterstock

Lucrative Lifetime Costs For Geothermal Systems

Henry Hoff — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:00:30 +0000

Geothermal heat pump systems are among the most energy-efficient, dependable and durable of all heating and cooling systems. Although the installation costs are higher than those associated with air-source heat pumps and other conventional HVAC systems, the lifetime costs are lower because these systems last many years and cost 30 to 60 percent less to operate annually.

Geothermal heat pumps tap into stable underground temperatures to exchange heat. In the summer, the piping below the surface extracts heat in the ground to warm your home. In the summer, the system takes the heat from your home, depositing it in the ground. Since the temperatures hover between 50 and 55 degrees a few feet underground, the heat pump doesn’t have to work as hard to produce heat in the winter, unlike an air-source heat pump, making it an ideal way for heating.

Lifetime costs of the geothermal systems are also lower because these systems do not have an outside compressor, reducing maintenance requirements. Aside from the outdoor pipes, the rest of the equipment associated with a geothermal system is inside, protecting it from the environment.

The higher costs associated with these systems comes from their installation. Depending on the kind that suits your yard, heavy equipment is needed for drilling or trenching. The least costly installation is horizontal, where the pipes are laid approximately five feet deep. Vertical installations involve using drilling equipment to go deep underground for the pipes. Vertical installations are an option for small yards or when the landscaping can’t be disturbed. Other types of installation involve laying the pipes in a pond or lake on your property.

Lifetime costs of geothermal systems can be decreased by taking advantage of local, state and federal tax credits to offset the costs. Currently, people installing qualifying geothermal heat pumps can obtain a 30 percent tax credit through 2016 for the entire cost of purchasing and installing one of these systems, with no cap on the credit.

If you’d like to learn more about lowering lifetime costs of heating and cooling with geothermal heating and cooling, contact Hoff Heating & A/C, Inc. We’ve been providing HVAC services in St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding region since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about lifetime costs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hoff Heating & A/C, Inc services St. Charles County and the surrounding region, including portions of Warren, Lincoln and St. Louis counties. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

If You Skipped Springtime A/C Maintenance, Your Summer May Be Hotter Than You Think

Henry Hoff — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:10 +0000

Did you know that your cooling system cannot function properly without regular springtime A/C maintenance? Yearly maintenance improves the performance of your air conditioner (or heat pump) and also extends the life of your equipment. In addition to these performance benefits, a well-maintained air conditioner or heat pump will save money on energy bills, because the system will operate at a higher efficiency. If you have never scheduled air conditioner maintenance in before, there’s no time like the present. Set up your maintenance appointment as soon as possible.

A professional HVAC contractor will perform many adjustments to your cooling system that will provide benefits to both your air conditioner and home. A contractor will perform some of the following tasks each year:

Adjust all fans, belts and other components for maximum efficiency
Replace all broken or worn air conditioner components
Clean all air filters, coils and other components of the system
Clean the drain lines
Replace any missing coolant or lubricants
Adjust the timing of the motor and other components
Repair any leaks in the A/C or nearby ductwork

In addition to this scheduled service, there are a few maintenance steps you can perform on your own for even greater A/C efficiency, including:

Regularly change air filters, as often as monthly during the high cooling season
Clear away dirt and debris from around the condensing unit outside
Remove any blocks from the air vents, such as furniture
Close off areas of the home not regularly in use

If you would like to learn more about how to improve the efficiency of the HVAC equipment in your home this summer, contact Hoff Heating & A/C. We provide expert service to St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding area and can give your air conditioner the springtime A/C maintenance it needs to function properly through the hottest months of the year.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about springtime A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC repair man image via Shutterstock

HVAC Service Agreements Mean Year Round Efficiency For Your Systems

Henry Hoff — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:28 +0000

Your home’s HVAC system is a vital and expensive collection of equipment that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Keeping your heating and cooling system in good working order with an HVAC service agreement provides many benefits including year-round HVAC efficiency.

Expert Service and Peace Of Mind

Professional technicians will perform your HVAC service so you can rest easy knowing your unit is being maintained properly. This trusted service will give you the peace of mind that your HVAC unit is running as efficiently and safely as possible. Furthermore, the HVAC agreement helps to catch any potential problems before they become an unexpected expense.

Money Saving

There are several ways an HVAC service agreement saves you money: price protection, discounts on HVAC repair parts, and lower utility bills. Price protection ensures the predetermined agreement price will not rise during the agreement’s effective dates. The service agreement also provides you a discount on all repair parts. As if that wasn’t enough money-saving benefits, a HVAC service agreement keeps your equipment running efficiently, and this means less wasteful energy usage and lower utility bills.

Priority Service

Signing a HVAC service agreement means you will receive priority service in emergency situations over other costumers not on a service plan. This will come in handy when an unexpected problem occurs with your furnace, heat pump or air conditioner during peak seasons when HVAC companies are generally over-booked.

Once you have an agreement in place, the HVAC technician will perform a thorough examination your heating and cooling equipment. This includes checking the electrical connections, voltage, condensation drain, system controls, refrigerant levels, blower components, gas pressure, burner combustion, heat exchanger and fuel connections. He will also add lubricant, as needed, to all moving parts to reduce friction.

For more information about our HVAC service agreement and how it can benefit your home, contact the experts at Hoff Heating & A/C Inc. Since 1983, we have provided quality and affordable service to the St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC service agreements and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

5 Easy Ways You Can Alleviate Allergies By Improving Indoor Air Quality

Henry Hoff — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:36 +0000

The cold Missouri winters paired with hot, humid summers create the perfect allergy-causing conditions. Unless you live in a controlled environment and never step foot outdoors, the quality of air indoors can trigger your allergies as badly as standing next to the culprit itself. By improving the air quality in your home, you can alleviate allergies and create a safe refuge.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Routinely clean your home. With time, allergy-causing particles of dirt, pollen, dust, mold, pet hair and pet dander can accumulate. If you suffer from allergies, it doesn’t take much of any of these items to trigger a sneezing fit or watery eyes. To alleviate allergies, regularly (once or twice a week) clean your home by dusting all the surfaces with a damp rag, change your bed linens, pick up any clutter, vacuum carpeted surfaces and mop un-carpeted floors.
Change your air filters regularly. With time, the particles that air filters trap will build up to the point that the filter no longer works effectively. Alleviate allergies by changing out the air filters in your home according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Seal leaky ducts. In addition to reducing the efficiency of your home’s heating system, leaky ducts can unevenly circulate air throughout your home and place a burden on your HVAC equipment. Uneven air distribution can cause some areas of the home to be more humid, stuffy or dusty than others.
Keep your home dry. Humidity can lead to hazardous and allergy-triggering mildew growth. Make sure the seals around your doors and windows are in good condition. Then invest in a dehumidifier to further alleviate allergies.
Schedule an annual maintenance service before the weather gets too warm or too cool. It’s better to learn about problems with your appliances and HVAC systems before your allergies become unbearable.

Learn more tips about how to alleviate allergies.

For more expert advice about how to improve the quality of air in your home and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us at Hoff Heating & A/C today. We’ve been serving St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding region since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about alleviating allergies and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air Quality image via Shutterstock

Maximizing Your HVAC Investment: The 5 Best Places To Put Your Money

Henry Hoff — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:20 +0000

Making an HVAC investment is a big commitment. The systems you choose to heat and cool your home will greatly influence how much you pay on utility bills in the coming years, how comfortable your home feels, and how healthy your air is. Before you make a significant HVAC purchase, consider the following five places to put your money that will maximize your investment.

Efficiency: An efficient system is necessary if you want to keep your utility bills low for the next decade or so. You can maximize system efficiency by choosing Energy Star qualified equipment that has been sized correctly and installed by a knowledgeable professional.
Reliability: You want to trust your system to last for many years with only annual maintenance and minimal repairs. The best way to ensure reliability is to choose a system with a warranty from a trustworthy brand.
Quiet Operation: Your comfort depends on being kept at the ideal temperature without being able to hear your HVAC investment working away. Look for a system that boasts technology that helps it run as quietly as possible.
Advanced Features: Basic air conditioners and furnaces will work fine, but you should take advantage of advanced features to enhance the system’s functions and make it less expensive to operate. Examples of features include a variable-speed blower motor to keep the house a more consistent temperature and a two-speed compressor, which reduces wear on the system and decreases electricity use when heating and cooling demands are moderate.
Air Cleaner Attachment: Heating and cooling systems come with a filter, but you can ensure even cleaner indoor air if you attach an air cleaner to your HVAC investment. Then, you can rest assured that the system is continually working to rid your air of harmful pollutants.

These are the best ways to maximize your HVAC investment and get a greater return in the form of energy savings and improved comfort. For more information about buying an affordable, dependable HVAC system, please contact Hoff Heating & A/C, Inc. We serve St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding region.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC investments and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

A HEPA Filtration System Combats These Specific Problems, And Gets Real-Time Results

Henry Hoff — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:13 +0000

While many of us celebrate the end of winter and the advent of spring, others dread the season because blooming trees and flowers spell more pollen in the air, irritating allergies. With a HEPA filtration system, however, that suffering should end quickly. HEPA filters are the most efficient way to trap particles as small as .3 microns. The human eye can see particles up to 25 microns when the light is good. Human hair is approximately 10 microns in diameter. You’d have to divide that hair into 33 parts to reach the smallest particle that these filters remove.

A HEPA filtration system is the gold standard for clean air. These filters remove dust, mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and bacteria.

The acronym, HEPA, stands for high efficiency particulate arresting (filter). The filters were developed by the Atomic Energy Commission for use in Los Alamos, N.M., where the atomic bomb was developed during World War II. Since then, the filters have been made available for public and private institutional use and residential applications.

Anyone who suffers from any kind of respiratory or allergy problem benefits from having filtered air because the contaminant levels are lower. Over time, with proper maintenance, the particulate load in the home drops substantially, easing the symptoms of chronic distress.

The best way to remove minute particles from interior air is with a whole-house HEPA filtration system. These systems are add-on equipment for blowers. The density of these filters can slow the passage of air through the HVAC blowers, so manufacturers designed ways to employ HEPA filters to scour incoming air before it goes into the blower, adjusting the volume mechanically. If air going into the filter does so too slowly, it interferes with the proper operation of heating and cooling equipment. Whole-house HEPA filters provide a convenient and highly effective way to use these filters to improve indoor air quality.

Hoff Heating & A/C, Inc. carries a line of whole-house HEPA filtration systems for your home. We’ve been providing comfort services in St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding area since 1983. If you would like to learn more about cleaning your indoor air, please contact us.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HEPA filtration systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air Filter image via Shutterstock

How Hoff Heating & A/C’s Preventive Maintenance Plans Benefit Homeowners In St. Charles and St. Louis Counties

Henry Hoff — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:38 +0000

The seasonal weather in the Midwest can vary from mild to extreme, and our HVAC systems are put to the test in every season of the year. The best way to make certain that your heating and air conditioning devices function properly when you need them most is to invest in one of Hoff Heating & A/C’s preventive maintenance plans. We offer two two exceptional, yet affordable, plans designed to bring comfort to both your home and your wallet – the Gold Plan and the Silver Plan.

The Silver Plan entitles homeowners to heating & cooling visits from one of our NATE Certified technicians. Our experts will service your system so you can be sure to enjoy maximum comfort and energy savings from your HVAC system. This budget plan also includes:

Full inspection, cleaning, and check of all connections
Priority Service when you need assistance
10 percent discount on parts and repairs
5 YEAR Repair Guarantee

The Gold Plan offers premier protection for your equipment. In addition to both a spring and fall service check, as a Gold member you’ll also receive an Indoor Air Quality inspection. The additional inspection allows particular detail to items such as humidity, fresh air, filtration & dust issues, as well as a quick operational check of your heating or cooling equipment in use at the time of service. Additional benefits of this preventive maintenance plan include:

Comprehensive inspection and cleaning of devices
24/7 priority service
15 percent parts and repair discount
No service charge for emergency service during business hours
Pay regular rates during overtime hours for services
5 YEAR Repair Guarantee

These comprehensive preventive maintenance plans will give you the peace of mind you deserve concerning the performance and longevity of your entire HVAC system. Well-maintained equipment tends to use less energy and require less unexpected repairs. Enrollment also ensures that your air conditioning and cooling equipment will never miss another service check, because we keep track of the scheduling for you.

To take advantage of these value-laden preventive maintenance plans, contact Hoff Heating & A/C today. We have proudly served St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding area since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about preventive maintenance plans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

A Programmable Thermostat Buyer’s Guide To Getting Your Money’s Worth

Henry Hoff — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:56 +0000

A programmable thermostat can be your best friend when it comes to energy savings, but making the wrong operating decisions can just as easily turn it into your worst enemy. When you pick a thermostat that you can program, make sure you choose the right kind, install it in a prime location, and understand how its settings work.

Types: A wide variety of thermostats are available today, but they can be broken down into two basic categories: manual and programmable. Programmable thermostats offer a number of advantages over manual models.

Manual Thermostats are often found in older homes. They have simple settings and limited energy-saving capabilities, though you can save energy by diligently adjusting the temperature settings around the same times every day.
Programmable Thermostats are a more modern option with a wide range of setting options. When properly set, they adjust your household temperature throughout the day and can save you as much as 33 percent on heating and 25 percent on cooling costs.

Locations: Placing a thermostat in the wrong location can cause it to misinterpret the temperature inside your house, which leads to inefficient heating and cooling. These guidelines apply to both programmable and non-programmable thermostats:

Good Locations: Thermostats work best in the middle of an interior wall, such as a large room or hallway, away from drafts and heat sources.
Places to Avoid: Keep your thermostat away from doors, windows, heat-producing appliances, heating vents and registers. Do not install it on an exterior wall or in an infrequently-used room.

Settings: Programmable thermostats offer great flexibility when it comes to settings, so be sure to set yours to maximize your savings and comfort.If you’d like to know more about how you can save money with a programmable thermostat, contact Hoff Heating & A/C, Inc. We’ve been serving St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding area since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Thermostat image via Shutterstock

A Dual-Fuel System Optimizes Heating And Offers Cooling, Too

Henry Hoff — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:58 +0000

When you’re looking for a more efficient way to heat and cool your home, consider a dual fuel heat pump. These appliances capture the heat from your indoor air and take it outside in the summer and extract heat from the outdoor air and bring it inside in the winter. When temperatures drop to the 30s or lower, temperatures at which heat pumps begin to lose their high efficiency, the dual-fuel system will switch to a fuel-burning appliance.

Winter temperatures in our area are often over 30 degrees during the day, which means that the heat pump utilizes the naturally occurring heat in the air during milder weather and switches over to fuel heating only when gets cold for extended periods. A well-maintained heat pump operating at its prime efficiency can create heat four times more efficiently than the highest-rated gas furnace to help you lower your wintertime heating costs.

The dual fuel heat pumps work with gas, propane, oil and even wood or coal for boiler systems. The sensors inside the appliance know when to stop trying to extract warmth from the air and switch over to the secondary heating method. In the St. Louis area, you save money by not burning fossil fuels exclusively through the heating season, and instead just using it when temperatures are exceptionally cold.

In the summer, the heat pump provides cool air, just like a central air conditioner. Air conditioners and pumps carry ratings that describe their efficiency. The federal standard for minimum efficiency for both types is 13 SEER, which stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. In addition, heat pumps carry ratings for heating, and the lowest winter rating is 7.7 HSPF, which is short for heating season performance factor. Higher ratings indicate better efficiency for both SEER and HSPF.

If you’d like to learn more about dual-fuel heat pumps, contact Hoff Heating & A/C, Inc.We have been providing HVAC services for St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the surrounding area since 1983 and carry a full line of energy-saving heat pumps suitable in this region.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about dual fuel heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.