Royal Heating & Air

Thursday, April 13, 2017

3 Things You Shouldn't Do With Your Thermostat

Heating and cooling your home makes up nearly 50 percent of your yearly utility bills. If you're looking to save a little bit on your bills, that would be the best place to start. Unfortunately, there are a few things regarding our thermostat that we do that could be wasting energy (and causing our utility bills to increase). Luckily, the best heating and cooling company at the Lake of the Ozarks has three tips to keep in mind when dealing with your thermostat.

1. Heat Or Cool Your Home Too Fast

If you get home from work and your home is at 79 degrees, but you want it at 75 degrees, so you set it at 72 degrees to cool your home more quickly, you should think twice. You may think this helps your air conditioner work faster, however, it doesn't. It just makes your AC unit run longer to reach 72 degrees. This could actually result in your utility bills increasing, as the AC unit is running inefficiently.

2. Leaving The Thermostat At The Same Setting

If you set your thermostat at a specific temperature and never touch it, you could be wasting as much as $180 per year according to Energy Star. Instead, it's recommended to change the temperature setting whenever you leave your home for 8 hours or more. However, it's important not to change it dramatically, as this would cause your HVAC system to have to work harder to heat or cool your home once you return. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult to remember to set your thermostat every time you leave. That's where a programmable thermostat can be handy. They can be programmed so it automatically makes the adjustments for you. There are even smart thermostats that can be controlled from your smartphone.

3. Changing Your Thermostat Too Much

A study conducted by GasNetworks found that people who micromanaged their thermostats use more energy than those that leave them alone for long periods of time. That's because constantly changing the set temperature on the thermostat causes the AC unit and the furnace to stop and start back up too much, which causes them to run inefficiently. If you have your thermostat set at 78 in the summer. Your AC unit will run until it reaches that point then shuts off. However, you realize you're still too hot, so you lower the thermostat a couple degrees. The AC unit must now immediately turn back on. Your AC unit and furnace should be running for longer, steadier times to save you money. It's similar to your car's MPG. You'll get better mileage on the highway rather than on streets with lots of stoplights.

If you remember these three things, it could help you save a little bit of money on your utility bills. If you need help with your HVAC system at the Lake of the Ozarks, Royal Heating & Air can help. Contact us at 573-480-4313.

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

Monday, April 10, 2017

Spring Cleaning With Royal Heating & Air

Now that spring is in full swing, you are probably getting some spring cleaning accomplished. One thing you should make sure is on your list is your HVAC system. From cleaning the air vents to replacing the filters, Lake of the Ozarks' best heating and cooling company offers several things you should add to your spring cleaning list to ensure your HVAC system is ready for summer.

1. Replace the air filters. It's important to check the air filters once a month and replace as necessary. Your air filters clean the air that flows through your home by removing bacteria and other harmful particles. However, they will get dirty and filled with dust. When this happens, your HVAC system has to work hard to heat or cool the air in your home.

2. Clean the air vents. Air vents get dusty and dirty, which causes the HVAC system to work harder to push air through them. Regularly cleaning them is important not only for the functionality of your unit, but also for the health of your family. In addition, clean vents can help improve the quality of your indoor air.

3. Clean the air ducts. Just like the air vents and air filters, air ducts get dirty too. Air travels throughout your home through air ducts and the passageways to and from your HVAC system can get dusty. This causes your unit to work harder to intake and deliver cool or heated air throughout your home.

4. Inspect and if necessary, recaulk windows and doors. Take a look around your house and ensure that no air is escaping through the windows and doors. You may need to replace weatherstripping on the doors and recaulk around door frames and windows. This can help keep cool air in and warm air out this upcoming summer.

5. Get your HVAC system serviced. At Royal Heating & Air, we recommend to get your HVAC system serviced twice a year - once in the spring and once in the fall. We'll make sure that your unit is ready for the upcoming summer season. In addition, we'll make sure that your system is operating efficiently and not overworking or wasting energy.

If you need help getting your spring cleaning list checked off, call Royal Heating & Air at 573-480-4313. We can help you take care of all your heating and cooling at the Lake of the Ozarks. Make sure you're home is nice and cool this summer and call the King of Comfort!

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

Thursday, April 6, 2017

What You Need To Know About Zoned HVAC Systems

Imagine if all the lights in your home were wired to a single light switch. You would have them turned off while you're asleep or away, but when you were home, every single light would be on in the house. That would be a huge waste of energy and the light bulbs would wear out and need to be replaced quickly. This is exactly how many homes are heated and cooled. Every room, whether they're being used or not, is heated or cooled equally. That of course, is unless your home is zoned. Royal Heating & Air takes a look at everything you need to know about zoned HVAC systems.

What Is Zoning?

Zoned HVAC systems allow the home to be divided into two or more separate zones. They allow the homeowner more control over the heating and cooling system and provide individual control of temperatures in each zone. For an example, you can keep the temperature lower in the kitchen and higher in the bedrooms. Typically, the home is divided into zones that have similar heating and cooling needs. Zoning doesn't affect the efficiency of an HVAC system, however, it does make the most efficient use of the system. On average, zoned systems could save homeowners up to 30 percent off their heating and cooling expenses.

Benefits Of Zoned HVAC

In addition to lower energy costs, there are a couple other benefits homeowners can enjoy when they have their HVAC system zoned.

Enhanced Comfort

When a home only has one thermostat, the temperatures in different rooms cannot be controlled separately. Often, a multi-level home has temperatures that not only vary from room to room, but also from level to level. There are many factors that affect a home's indoor temperature, such as shading, wind chill, high or cathedral ceilings, appliances and cooking. Zoning can help solve these problems by allowing each zone's thermostat to individually demand heating or cooling. The overall comfort of your home can be improved with zone thermostats reacting to individual changes in each room.

Modern Convenience

Zoned systems offer the convenience of modern living. They can be set in one room without having to walk to another area of the house to change the temperature. In addition, you can also have a wall-mounted thermostat or a convenient remote for temperature control, fan speed control and even humidity control.

When Does Zoning Benefit A Home?

Many homes can benefit from installing an HVAC zoning system, but some homes that feature certain architectural features often see the biggest benefits. Some of these features include:

- High or cathedral ceilings

- Above garage room

- Many large windows

- Basement or attic living spaces

- Multi-level homes

For all your heating and cooling needs at the Lake of the Ozarks, contact the "King of Comfort" at 573-480-4313. Royal Heating & Air can help you with everything from preventative maintenance to complete HVAC system installations.

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Benefits Of A Spring Tune-Up

Although we had a mild winter here at the Lake of the Ozarks, the cold weather we did experience will still cause wear on your HVAC system. Not only did your heating component undergo months of regular use to keep your home warm, the exterior unit of your HVAC system was subjected to the winter weather. Make sure your HVAC system gets a tune up from Lake of the Ozarks' best heating and cooling company before the hot summer season. When you get your HVAC system tuned up this spring, here are a few benefits you can enjoy.

Lower Energy Bill

It's important to keep your HVAC system maintained to ensure it's running efficiently. For example, a dirty air filter can cause your HVAC system to work harder, which is more expensive to operate. If your HVAC system has to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature, it could be more likely to break down. A professional heating and cooling company at the Lake of the Ozarks can make sure your HVAC system is running efficiently, which could help lower your utility bills.

Ensure Accuracy of Thermostat

When you have a Lake of the Ozarks HVAC repair company tune up your HVAC system, they will inspect all the components of your system. The thermostat is your guide to controlling the temperature in your home. One aspect of the tune-up is ensuring your thermostat is giving the correct reading. When you set it to 75 degrees, you want to be sure your home will be at that temperature.

Correct Refrigerant Levels

If your system has low refrigerant levels, it may be a sign that there is a leak. Similarly to a dirty air filter, low refrigerant levels could cause your HVAC system to work harder, which leads to less efficiency. When your system has the correct level of refrigerant, it keeps the coils from icing up and the compressor from overheating. Both the coil and the compressor are important aspects of your system. A professional HVAC repair company at the Lake of the Ozarks can ensure your home stays comfortable no matter the season.

The King of Comfort

Royal Heating & Air is a full-service, locally owned and operated HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks. We can provide you with affordable, dependable and trustworthy service on everything from preventative maintenance to complete HVAC system installations at the Lake of the Ozarks. While we are a dealer for Bryant heating and cooling, we service all makes and models. If you need to have your HVAC system serviced this spring, contact the best heating and cooling at the Lake of the Ozarks at 573-480-4313.

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Could Your Home Benefit From Custom Ducts?

Air ducts are the hidden factor that keeps your home at a comfortable level. While your focus may lean towards your furnace or AC unit when you start to feel uncomfortable, your air ducts need just as much attention. Your Lake of the Ozarks heating and cooling company takes a look at how your home could benefit from installing custom air ducts.

Custom Sizes

When you have custom ductwork installed into your home, the technician will take into account your home's layout and size. Royal Heating & Air can design a system that's perfectly sized to give you all the heating and cooling need without putting the added strain on your HVAC system.

Better Performance

Custom ductwork can improve the performance of your HVAC system because it's specifically designed for your home. With custom sheet metal fabrication, you can enjoy direct, maximum airflow. They can also reduce temperature fluctuations and help maintain the same comfort levels in every room of your home. When Royal Heating & Air installs custom ductwork in your home, it can reduce air leaks and heat transfers so your home stays cool when you need it most.

More Efficient

Improperly sized ducts can lead to poor energy efficiency in your home. If you don't have custom ductwork in your home, you could have ducts that are improperly sized for your heating and cooling system. This leads to your AC unit and furnace working too hard to heat or cool your home. While regular maintenance could extend the life of your system, the extra strain from the poorly sized ductwork could affect the efficiency no matter how timely you are with the maintenance.

Peace Of Mind

One of the best things about having custom ductwork installed in your home is the peace of mind you will get knowing your home is well-maintained. While you may not be able to see your air ducts on a daily basis, when you have a professional Lake of the Ozarks HVAC company install custom ductwork in your home, you'll know that it's the right fit for your home.

Custom ductwork is a smart investment that can offer homeowners several great benefits. If you are unsure about the condition of your current ductwork, call Royal Heating & Air at 573-480-4313. Our expert HVAC technicians at the Lake of the Ozarks can take a look and give you a FREE estimate. Start seeing the benefits of custom sheet metal fabrication today!

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Why Is My Air Conditioner Loud?

Air conditioners make noises because they're large machines with lots of moving parts that work hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. However, if your AC begins to make some unusual noises and becomes loud, it could be the sign of a serious issue. The best heating and cooling company at the Lake of the Ozarks offers a few common AC sounds and what could be causing them.

Common AC Noises

It's normal for an AC unit to make noise when running, and often times, older units are louder than newer units because they have improved over the years to reduce noise. If you own an older unit that's quite noisy, it's not necessarily a sign that it's about to quit on you. However, if you feel the noise is too loud, a professional HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks can advise you about the options you can take to help reduce the noise. It's also best to have regular maintenance inspections done on your unit to help keep the noise issues in check.

There are some noises, though, that require more immediate action. If you have a noise that concerns you, power off your central AC unit to prevent further damage from occurring and contact your Lake of the Ozarks HVAC repair company. A few sounds to be aware of are:

- Rattling - If you hear a rattling noise coming from an exterior AC unit, it could be caused by something that fell into the vents, such as leaves, sticks, or other outdoor debris. Another cause could also be a loose component like a bolt, screw or fastener. However, the sound could be coming from the compressor. As the motor in the compressor begins to age, it may get louder and begin to make noise.

- Grinding - If you hear a grinding noise, it could be one of the fan motors. The noise could be a sign that something might be going wrong with the fan motor, such as a worn bearing.

- Popping - If you hear popping noises in your ductwork when the air turns on and off, it could be an issue with your ductwork rather than the AC unit. As ductwork ages, it also requires maintenance to make sure there are no issues so your AC unit can continue to work effectively and efficiently to cool your home.

- Hissing - Hissing, or whistling, noises could also be caused by the ductwork. However, a hissing noise from the AC unit itself could indicate a refrigerant leak. If this is the case, it is best to contact an HVAC professional at the Lake of the Ozarks.

How To Prevent Noises

The first step in proper AC maintenance is to regularly check the AC filter and change as necessary. Filters can become clogged with dust, pet hair or even cigarette smoke, so it's important to check it once a month and change it when appears to be clogged or dirty, even if it's before the recommended date from the manufacturer's instructions.

Another way to prevent noises from occurring is to have your AC unit regularly inspected. Annual service checks by an HVAC specialist can help maintain your AC unit and keep minor issues from turning into major problems.

If you begin to hear loud, strange noises from your AC unit, it's best to contact a professional HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks. AC units are complicated pieces of machinery that require a trained HVAC specialist to safely inspect and repair it. To schedule an appointment with Royal Heating & Air, call us at 573-480-4313. We'll make sure your AC unit is ready to keep you and your family cool when you need it most!

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313