Late last month, Anton’s own Pierre Simonpietri, was a guest on the KTRS 550 “Growing Green” segment, which airs on the St. Louis station on Sundays from 2-3pm. Pierre, an Energy Consultant for Anton’s was asked to join the show to discuss building science and how the many systems in your home work together to affect energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Who better to discuss this topic than a technician from the first air conditioning company in St. Louis to become certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) to perform home energy audits?

Think of your home as a thermal envelope which works to protect the inside of your home from the outside elements. While it is important to reduce the effects of outdoor elements, it is important to understand that a home that is too tightly sealed traps airborne particles, reducing the quality of the air in your home. This can cause your family to develop respiratory issues and may cause illness. On the other hand, it is important to understand that a home that is not well insulated allows for air from your HVAC system to escape from the home, and vice versa, costing you more in energy expenses than is necessary. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, upgrading your home to be more energy efficient can ultimately save you 5-30% on your energy bill¹.

As a BPI certified contractor, our energy consultants can come to your St Louis home to evaluate its overall energy efficiency. With our home energy audits, a certified auditor will evaluate your home from the inside out to check for leaks, including windows, insulation, and duct work. Your furnace and water heater are also causes of wasted energy, as they become less efficient over time. Next, a blower door test is performed. With this test, all windows and doors are closed and a fan is used to depressurize the home and push all of the indoor air out. This allows outside air to rush in through any possible leaks, which are easily visible to the auditor with the use of an infrared camera. Once the audit is complete, an assessment will be offered, showing the homeowner where improvements can be made.

Anton’s Air Conditioning and Heating is your premiere home energy auditor! Call today to schedule a home energy audit in St Louis, and listen to the audio clip above to learn more about home energy efficiency. Great job, Pierre!

Sources:

¹U.S. Department of Energy; http://energy.gov/home-weatherization

SEER

Known as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, this important factor will affect not only your monthly utility bills, but also the environment at large. You may not realize how much energy is required to operate your AC system. The SEER rates how much energy is used to power your air conditioning. The less energy that is used in operation, the higher the SEER that a system will have. In 2006 the U.S. government mandated that new equipment have a 13 SEER or greater¹.

Size/Cooling Capacity

Did you know that air conditioners are available in various sizes? This is where it is important to consult a specialist, to help you choose one that is appropriate for the size of your home. If you choose a system that is too small, chances are that it will not be capable of properly cooling your home. This is because the size of the system is directly related to its cooling capacity, which is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU). The greater the BTU, the greater the cooling capacity.

Other important considerations may include the noise level of the system during operation, as well as the types of filter and refrigerant that it uses. When combined, these many factors affect your level of home comfort. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, Anton’s Air Conditioning & Heating believes that Carrier air conditioners are of a high and reliable quality. Carrier’s Infinity® Series air conditioners offers quiet operation, environmentally friendly Puron® refrigerant, and achieves a remarkable high 21 SEER². Check out our current rebates and specials, and then call us today for air conditioning installation services in the greater St. Louis area.

Sources:

¹EnergySavers; http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12440

²Carrier; http://www.residential.carrier.com/products/acheatpumps/ac/infinity.shtml

Known as the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Rating Value), filters are tested to determine their ability to remove certain particles from the air. Air purifier filters are rated on a MERV scale of 1 to 16. The higher the MERV, the more efficient your system, and the more particles your filter can capture. For residential purposes, ASHRAE has designated a minimum efficiency of 6 MERV². HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters have MERV ratings between 17 and 20, but have different filtering media which may not necessarily make them the best option. According to the EPA, “Filters that have a MERV between 7 and 13 are likely to be nearly as effective as true HEPA filters.”² A Ballwin indoor air quality specialist can explain your options.

As the MERV rating increases, the smaller the particles it is capable of capturing. For example, filters with lower MERV ratings are still rather efficient at capturing larger particles such as pollen, dust, and pet dander. Those with health issues such as asthma may want to look into a more efficient filter. It is important to understand that the MERV simply evaluates the efficiency of the filter and does not signify the quality of the system itself. Anton’s Air Conditioning & Heating in St. Louis can help you evaluate your needs and choose a system that is right for your family.

Sources:

¹ABC News; http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesSeasonal/spring-2012-worst-allergies/story?id=15930328#.T4Mex9V2N6N
²Environmental Protection Agency; http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html#16

What exactly is a geothermal system? Geothermal systems use the air from below Earth’s surface, which remains at a near constant temperature of 54 degrees³, to heat and cool your home without significant use of electricity. With this type of system, a loop of pipes are buried underground and filled with a fluid to allow for easy heat transfer. In the winter, air is heated below Earth’s surface and transferred to the above ground heat pump where it is heated further and circulated throughout the home. In the summer, this process is reversed and warm air is pumped from the house, back into the ground.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are ideal for saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of using less electricity to operate, the use of such a system results in significant savings on utilities. In addition to reduced monthly energy costs, you can also take advantage of a 30% tax credit as well as any rebates which may be offered by the manufacturer and your electricity/gas company. Feel free to consult with an Anton’s Air Conditioning & Heating specialist regarding this energy efficient option. Call today for more information!

Sources:

¹Energy Star; http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/HeatingCoolingGuide%20FINAL_9-4-09.pdf?3067-d670

²Federal Trade Commission; http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea05.shtm

³U.S. Department of Energy; http://energy.gov/videos/energy-101-geothermal-heat-pumps

As the masters of home comfort, it is typical for HVAC companies to offer indoor comfort and air quality services to residents across the greater St. Louis area. With these services, an HVAC specialist will come to your home to assess your indoor air quality and offer suggestions on how to improve it. With millions of particles in the air, it isn’t unlikely for the air in your home to be two to five times dirtier than the air outside¹. When this air becomes trapped in your home, it is continuously recirculated and inhaled by you and your loved ones.

You may choose to have an air cleaner or purifier installed to filter out airborne pollutants and recirculate clean air. These products use a filter (which may even be washable, depending on the make and model) to eliminate allergens, bacteria, and other airborne molecules. Whole home units function as part of the central heating and cooling system in your home to circulate clean air back through the vents, while portable units are typically used to target smaller spaces. Your technician can help you evaluate your product options and advise you on the best choice for your needs. Call Anton’s Air Conditioning and Heating today to inquire about our indoor air quality products and services.

Source:

¹http://www.residential.carrier.com/knowledge/guides/airquality.shtml

It is recommended that you have maintenance on your heating and air conditioning unit twice per year—once before the heating season, and once before the cooling season (typically in fall and spring). Anton’s Air Conditioning and Heating offers maintenance services to help make sure that your system operates optimally throughout the year. With these services, a certified technician will come to your home and inspect your unit and address anything that has the potential to be a problem in the future.

During the inspection, the technician will check the airflow, electrical controls, change dirty filters, check for leaks, assess refrigerant levels, and clean all necessary components. Not only is maintenance important in preventing a need for air conditioning and furnace repair in St. Louis, but also in ensuring that it runs efficiently. Efficiently powered systems mean lower utility bills for you, which is always a benefit to strive for. Call Anton’s HVAC today at 314-499-8400 to learn about our maintenance programs or to schedule maintenance on your equipment.

Craig: That’s right, and we have been collecting stories from your listeners about people they know that could use some assistance. These stories have been submitted to our website at antonshvac.com. Every Wednesday through December 14th, we are going to pick a story as our winner and deliver their tree and gift card.

Guys: Thats great, and what story do you have this week?

Craig: This is a married couple, both 30, are disabled and raising a 4 yr old daughter, Chloe. The husband works part time, but his income and his wife’s disability payment fall short of covering their expenses. The family relies on food pantries and occasional help paying for utilities. The fathers work hours were recently cut and his efforts to find additional work have not been successful. The couple make every effort to make sure Chloe is provided for, including spending $ 380.00 recently to replace a window in their two bedroom apartment and fixing a broken front door.

The parents would appreciate a bike for Chloe for Christmas and a gift certificate for groceries.

Guys: Well with your help they can enjoy a new Christmas Tree and purchase some groceries.

That’s really fantastic of you and your team, to take the time and effort to help out this holiday season. Especially as busy as you guys are.

Craig: We’re glad to help out. We have also chosen to donate 1% of our revenue through the end of the year to St. Jude Childrens Hospital.

They perform so many miracles there, and can always use some help through donations.

Guys: Don’t forget, if you know someone who could use a little help this season submit your story to antonshvac.com and be chosen by Anton’s next week.

Craig, thanks again for your generosity, and folks remember when you call Anton’s Air Conditioning and Heating not only do you receive a top notch, knowledgeable staff, but you are also helping many others. So call Antons today at 314-272-4267, visit their website at antonshvac.com or like them on Facebook.

We are going to need your help !! Please submit a short description or story of someone you know that could really use some holiday cheer this year. Submit your story along with the contact info for the person or family you are recommending to HolidayBlessing@antonshvac.com .

We will announce the first winners story ( not name ) on the air on 590 KFNS am radio at noon on November 17th. The following winners stories will be read on 590 KFNS at NOON every Wednesday until December 14th, that will conclude our contest.

God Bless !!

Nexstar Network – Employee Recruitment from Seraphim Communications on Vimeo.

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