Rosenberg Plumbing & Air Blog

Is It Better to Have a Dehumidifier or Air Purifier in San Antonio?

May 16, 2025

Living in San Antonio means dealing with plenty of humidity, changing air quality, and long, hot stretches. When making indoor air healthier, you might wonder whether a dehumidifier or an air purifier makes more sense for your home. Both offer big benefits, but they solve different problems. At , we can help you figure out your space needs to stay comfortable and safe. How a Dehumidifier Improves Your Home When summer humidity rolls in, the air inside your home can feel heavy and sticky even if your thermostat reads a comfortable temperature. A dehumidifier helps pull extra moisture out of the air, making every room feel cooler and more comfortable without lowering the temperature. High humidity can make a 78-degree room feel closer to 85, forcing your air conditioner to work harder than it should. By removing that moisture, a dehumidifier lets your AC run fewer cycles and still maintain comfort. You might notice fewer problems with musty smells, condensation on windows, and that unpleasant clammy feeling that makes it hard to sleep at night. High indoor humidity also encourages mold growth, especially in dark spaces like closets, crawl spaces, and behind furniture. Adding a dehumidifier to your system creates...

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How Do I Stop My Garbage Disposal From Making Loud Grinding Sounds?

May 9, 2025

Garbage disposals are a modern kitchen convenience that San Antonio, TX, residents have come to rely on for easy and fast cleanups. Plumbed into your sink drain, its internal mechanism grinds food waste into bits, eliminating rotting food and making cleanup after meals easy. But when your disposal begins to sound weird, you can be sure something has gone wrong. The consequences of ignoring these auditory warnings are clogged drains and a kitchen that isn’t running all that smoothly. This guide breaks down common garbage disposal noises, their causes and how to know it’s time to act. What Unusual Garbage Disposal Noises Might Mean Many different factors may cause unusual sounds and could necessitate different solutions. Before attempting a fix for your garbage disposal, listen carefully to the sounds so you know what might be causing them. And if you are unsure, just call us for a professional plumber. Loud Grinding Sounds Loud and harsh grinding sounds are a definite sign of trouble for your garbage disposal. Grinding may indicate a blockage inside the disposal. There might be silverware that has slipped down the drain, animal bones, fruit pits, or other foreign objects that cannot pass through the grinding chamber. Another...

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What Causes Water Hardness?

May 2, 2025

It’s common for homes in the San Antonio, TX area to experience hard water. Hard water exists when there are high concentrations of calcium and magnesium present in the water coming into your house. This isn’t necessarily bad for your health, as minerals play a role in normal bodily functions. However, it can be dangerous for certain people with kidney problems or sensitive skin. Also, hard water can lead to issues with your plumbing system and appliances that utilize water, like your dishwasher and washing machine. There are steps you can take to improve the quality of the water in your home if you’re concerned with the impact of hard water. What Causes Water Hardness? Water naturally moves through the rock and soil that’s in the ground prior to it becoming part of your home’s water source. It’s common for things like limescale and gypsum to have high levels of hard minerals in them. Both limescale and gypsum are common in San Antonio, making hard water a concern for many. Water is hard if hard mineral grains per gallon (gpg) are seven or higher. A gpg measurement of 10.5 or more equates to very hard water. Why Is Hard Water...

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When Your HVAC Stinks: Smells You Shouldn’t Ignore

April 17, 2025

When your HVAC system kicks on, you don’t expect to catch a whiff of something strange. Whether it’s a musty smell, something burning, or a scent you can’t quite place, any odor from your vents can be annoying at best and a warning sign at worst. Some odors mean your system needs a quick clean while others could point to something more serious. Knowing what’s normal and what isn’t helps you respond quickly before small problems grow. Musty Smells That Linger When you walk into your house and catch a damp or musty smell, your nose might be picking up something from inside your HVAC system. This often points to moisture where it doesn’t belong. If water collects in the drain pan or sits inside ductwork without a way to dry out, it becomes a perfect place for mold or mildew to grow. Your system pulls air from your home, moves it through the equipment, and then sends it back through the vents. If that air passes by moisture or mold spores, the smell travels with it. You might only notice it when the system kicks on or runs constantly during summer or winter. Getting rid of that musty smell...

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Should You Choose a Heat Pump Over an AC?

April 9, 2025

Air conditioning systems and heat pumps offer different approaches to maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home. While traditional AC units focus solely on cooling, heat pumps provide both heating and cooling capabilities in a single system. Understanding how these technologies differ can help you make better decisions about your home’s climate control. The distinction between heat pumps and AC units goes beyond functionality. Their energy consumption, installation requirements, maintenance needs, and overall price vary significantly. There are also factors like local climates, home designs, and personal preferences. However, a heat pump can be a more efficient and cost-effective option compared to traditional air conditioning in many situations. How Heat Pumps Work Heat pumps operate on a principle that’s simple to the point of being ingenious. A heat pump moves heat rather than producing it. Unlike typical heating units that use fuel to create warmth, heat pumps transfer heat from one place to another while using just a bit of electricity. During summer, a heat pump pulls heat from inside your home and ships it outdoors, cooling your living space. Notably, this isn’t radically different from how your home’s AC works. In the cold of winter, the process reverses. The...

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Can You Really Use Baking Soda and Vinegar to Unclog a Drain?

April 2, 2025

A clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing issues you may experience in your San Antonio, TX home. When it happens, you’ll probably look for ways to solve the problem yourself. That will undoubtedly lead to discovering a common DIY solution to a clogged drain: using baking soda and vinegar. However, you may wonder whether such a simple trick can actually open up a clogged drain. Here’s how the unclogging process allegedly works, whether or not it does, and when to call a professional local plumber. How to Unclog a Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar Although different sources have slightly differing approaches to the baking soda and vinegar trick, most share some basic similarities. Most often, the first suggested step in the process is to pour a pot of boiling water down your drain. Next, you pour one cup of baking soda down the drain. After a minute or two, prepare a two-cup mixture of half water and half vinegar. Then, pour the mixture down the drain and immediately cover it with a drain plug. Most proponents of this drain-clearing approach advise letting the solution work for at least 10 minutes. However, the longer you wait, the...

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What Is The Most Economical Type Of Commercial HVAC System?

March 18, 2025

Running a business means watching your bottom line, and heating and cooling costs can eat into your profits faster than you think. The HVAC system you choose plays a big role in keeping your building comfortable without draining your budget. Picking the most economical HVAC system is about finding that balance between upfront costs, efficiency, and long-term savings. At in San Antonio, TX, we help business owners find heating and cooling solutions that work for their buildings—and their wallets. Upfront Costs vs. Long-Term Savings When you start looking at heating and cooling systems for your building, the first thing you notice is the price tag. Some systems look more affordable right away, while others might make you wince a little when you see the estimate. It’s easy to lean toward the cheapest option, but heating and cooling equipment is one of those things where the lowest price upfront doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best deal. A budget unit might heat and cool your space for now, but older technology can guzzle energy. You’ll feel it every month when you open your power bill. Systems with higher efficiency ratings often cost more to install, but they run smarter. They don’t...

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Which Type Of Toilet Is Best?

March 11, 2025

You probably don’t think about your toilet until you need a new one. Then, suddenly, you realize there are way more choices than you expected. Round bowl or elongated? One-piece or two-piece? Standard height or comfort height? And what’s the deal with dual flush anyway? A toilet might seem simple, but picking the right one can make a big difference in your daily routine. At in Antonio, TX, we’ve helped many homeowners find the right toilet for their bathrooms, ensuring comfort, efficiency, and quality. Choosing the best toilet now can save you from headaches (and clogs) later. The Difference Between One-Piece and Two-Piece Toilets When you start looking for a new toilet, one of the first choices you’ll need to make is whether you want a one-piece or a two-piece model. At first glance, they might look pretty similar, but there are some big differences that can affect your bathroom experience every day. A one-piece toilet is exactly what it sounds like — the tank and bowl are all one connected unit. It has a smooth look and is easier to clean because there are no little gaps where dirt and grime like to hide. You know that seam on...

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Is It Worth Switching to a Tankless Water Heater?

March 4, 2025

If your existing water heater is on its last leg, you’re likely thinking about replacing it. When you first start looking at different options, there are two different styles of water heaters that you can purchase: the traditional tank water heater and the newer tankless hot water heater. We’re going to discuss the latter in detail and help you make a better-informed decision about whether or not it’s the right purchase for your home. How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work? Most people are familiar with how a traditional tank-style water heater works. It heats water in a storage tank until you need it. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, operates much differently. Instead of storing water in a tank, a tankless water heater will only heat water as it flows through the hot water line. For example, let’s say that you turn on the hot side of your kitchen faucet. As water moves through the hot water lines in your home, it will go through the tankless water heater. The water heater will heat the water as it flows to your kitchen faucet. Tankless water heaters can run on electricity, natural gas, or even propane, depending on...

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Do You Need A Sump Pump?

February 15, 2025

If you plan to finish your basement or use it for storage, the last thing you want to worry about is flooding. Water that seeps into the basement during heavy rainfall can be devastating. Not only can you lose your belongings to water damage, but it can seriously affect your home’s foundation and structural integrity. Having us install a sump pump can eliminate these worries. What Is a Sump Pump? A sump pump is a device that removes water from your basement and sends it outside. It carries it far enough away from your home so that it won’t be able to cause any damage to your foundation. The typical sump pump sits in a pit, or basin, just below the level of your basement floor. It has valves that detect rising water levels and increasing water pressure. When the water level reaches a specific point, the sump pump automatically turns on. It carries the excess water out of your basement through a drainage line to a specific area outside. This drainage area is far from your foundation, so it won’t cause damage. How a Sump Pump Works Sump pumps are equipped with a float switch. When the pump detects...

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