If you live in Houston, TX, you know the real meaning of heat and humidity. There are few other places in the world you’ll find as stifling, sticky, and sweaty as Houston! At the same time, it’s shocking how cold the winters can get because of that same humidity. There’s no winning! That’s why you need a reliable HVAC. HVAC quotes are necessary before you commit to a contract, but when is the best time to get a central AC estimate in Houston? Learn all about it in this helpful guide. The “Off Season” Of course you know that the Texans, the Rockets, and the Astros all have their respective off seasons. But did you know that there’s an off season for HVAC replacement as well? The best time of year to get your HVAC quote is at the beginning of the off season. In the HVAC world, that’s between summer and winter (and vice versa), so fall or spring. HVAC companies are all busy in the middle of the summer, as you can imagine, especially in Houston. And during the winter they’re just as busy installing and repairing heaters; you know how deep into your bones that Houston winter...
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Houston has a warm climate, which means that homes in Houston are more likely to run their air conditioner throughout the year. Constant operation makes it more likely that an air conditioner will break down. This can leave you stranded in the middle of the summer, with no way to make your home comfortable again. Knowing the reasons to call the professionals for Houston air conditioning repair makes it much easier for you to know how to keep your AC unit running smoothly throughout the summer months. 5 Reasons to Schedule Houston Air Conditioning Repair The following five reasons are the most common problems that can affect your air conditioner. Being able to narrow down the problem your unit is suffering from can help speed up the repair process. Let your contractor know what you’ve noticed about your air conditioner’s performance when you contact them. 1. Increased Energy Bills You should always call a professional to take a look at your air conditioner if you notice that its performance has suffered. The clearest way to measure the performance of your air conditioner is through your utility bills. A well-functioning air conditioner works at its highest efficiency. As your air conditioner ages,...
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The average person spends around 1 percent of their home’s purchase price on maintenance each year. Without proper maintenance, it is only a matter of time before the vital systems in your home breakdown. Instead of dealing with the cost and aggravation this can cause, you need to take things like air conditioning maintenance in Houston seriously. During the hot summer months, Houston homeowners will use their HVAC on a daily basis. This continuous use can lead to a unit getting overworked. The only way to keep your unit reliable throughout the summer months is by having it professionally maintained. While professionals will need to handle the bulk of the maintenance your unit needs, there are some things you can handle on your own. Cleaning your HVAC unit thoroughly can make it run more efficiently and may help to reduce repair issues as well. The following are some of the things you need to focus on when trying to clean your HVAC unit. Check and Change the Air Filter Indoor air quality is something you should be concerned with as a homeowner. Breathing in too much dust or other allergens can cause a number of respiratory problems. The first line...
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Making sure that your home is safe and warm during the cold winter months is very important. When you are looking for a heating source for your home, two of the most popular options are furnaces and heat pumps. While many people use these terms interchangeably, there are actually many differences between the two heating options. Source of Hot Air The main difference between a furnace and a heat pump is how they create hot air for your home. A furnace will typically use natural gas or electricity as the fuel source to generate hot air. With a heat pump, the pumps will actually take warmth out of the outside air. This is similar in process to how an air conditioner creates cool air for your home. This process actually makes them more efficient and environmentally friendly than furnaces as they do not rely on natural resources as much to create heat. Ability to Work in All Environments Another difference between heat pumps and furnaces is that they are designed for different environments. If you live in a warmer climate where it does not generally get too far below freezing, a heat pump could be a far more efficient option....
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When the Christmas music comes on the radio, it is a sign that winter is coming. While it is an exciting time of year for Santa, it also means that the temperatures are starting to drop. Perhaps there is already some snow on the ground. Maybe it is already frigid outside. This means that the heating system gets booted up and some families might notice that it doesn’t work as well as last year. It could be time to replace that heating system. With this goal in mind, can families recycle their old heating systems? Recycling the Old Heating System: It’s Possible Sometimes, people can recycle parts of their old heating system. The short answer is that some bits and pieces of the heating system are likely recyclable while other parts are not. Some pieces that can be recycled include: The packaging that the heating system came in Some of the gears and motors that propel the heat into the home Some of the metal framing that is used to give the system its structure Compressors that are used to produce heat Some of the brass fittings that hold the system together The coils that generate the electric current that...
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Most homeowners know how often they should replace a lot of things in their home. They may, however, be confused when it comes to their furnace. Most of them wait until their furnaces can no longer work at all. This is not right. With regular maintenance services, your furnace can stay I good working condition for 15 to 20 years. This, however, does not mean that the same applies to all furnaces. Some of them may have a shorter lifespan especially if you do not perform regular maintenance services. Age If your furnace is 15 years old, it is time to start thinking about a replacement. Newer models are very efficient. They may help you to save up to 20% on energy bills. You do not need to wait for your old furnace to break down before purchasing a new one. It may cause you a disappointment when you least expect it. Frequent Repairs If your furnace is not yet that old but you are spending too much money on repairs, it may be time to replace it. You should also consider our energy bills If they have increased, it may mean that your furnace is losing its efficiency. Needing...
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It’s sweltering hot outside and you would like to crank up the AC, but are afraid it will cost too much. Here are three simple ways to make your air conditioning unit more energy efficient – and save you big bucks! 1. Install a Programmable Thermostat There is no need to keep your home chilly when no one is there, and according to the Department of Energy, if you raise the temperature by 10 degrees while you are at work, the savings could equal 15% of your total energy costs for the entire year! If there are long stretches of time when no one is in your home, program the thermostat to raise the temperature during this period. It can also be programmed to crank up the air an hour or so before you get home so you will be comfortably cool when you step through the door. One of the nice things about programmable thermostats is the ability to set it and forget it. That way the temperature inside of your home will always be exactly what you want when your family is home. 2. Clean Those Coils! Everyone knows the importance of changing the filters on your HVAC...
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The short answer is yes, AC will lower humidity. That’s a big element of why AC keeps you comfortable at home. Yet to get the right humidity control, there’s a little more to know. Cooled Air Holds Less Moisture Removing moisture from the cooled air is a key aspect of a well-functioning home air conditioning system. Cold refrigerants run through your air conditioner’s metal coils. As the system pulls air over the coils, it also pulls out the moisture, by condensing it from the air onto the coils. Your AC unit’s workload is impressive. Typically, it removes a few pints of water from the air per hour. Not All AC Units Dehumidify Air Equally Now, here’s a fact that might surprise you. The higher an AC unit’s energy efficiency (rated as a “SEER,” or seasonal energy efficiency rating), the lower its basic rate of condensing water. Thus, we stock advanced models engineered to help counter humidity as well as cool your home. Home comfort is a combination of both factors: temperature, and moisture removal. Some air conditioners fail to dehumidify the air efficiently because they’re bigger than necessary. Large units will go on and off a lot, compromising the moisture...
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One of the best things that Houston homeowners can do to make sure that their heating and cooling units stay healthy is to conduct regular HVAC maintenance. You need to keep in mind that your HVAC system is the heart and soul of your home’s comfort. You can be in a quite predicament if your system isn’t functioning properly. The best time to conduct this maintenance is in fall for your heating equipment and spring for your air conditioning unit. Proper maintenance of your HVAC system is a worthwhile investment that you shouldn’t ignore. Here are the top four benefits of having your HVAC system maintenance done. 1. Cut Your Energy Bills The US Department of Energy reports that heating and cooling accounts for more than 48 percent of your overall home’s energy bill. This is the primary reason why you need to make sure that your system is operating properly and optimally. Typically, your system will consume a lot of energy if it is overworking to achieve the desired results. Keeping your HVAC system in top-condition through proper maintenance will cut down your energy usage and make you save a lot of money on your monthly energy bills. 2....
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We all understand how hot the summer can be in Houston. It can get really, really hot and this is the time most of us turn down the thermostat and send our air conditioning systems into an overwork mode to keep us fresh and our homes comfortable. This may seem like a great idea until the time your AC unit freezes up. Keep in mind that a frozen air conditioner can ruin a hot summer day very fast. But what can make your AC unit freeze up? Here are some of the common causes of this problem. Low Refrigerant Levels Your system might be low on refrigerant if it has frozen up. This means that you either have a refrigerant leak somewhere, or your refrigerant charge is turned off. When your unit is low on refrigerant, the pressure drops in the system and the temperature also drops along with it. This will lead to a scenario whereby the evaporator coil gets too cold and freezes up. If you notice that your system is low on refrigerant, be sure to have an expert diagnose it for any leaks before you refill your container with the refrigerant. Dirty Air Filters If your...
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