HVAC Tips for the Holidays

December 10, 2019

As the weather gets colder, you will rely on your HVAC system to keep your home comfortable and warm. This is especially true during the holiday season. If you are like most people, it is your busiest time of the year. From going shopping to attending holiday parties, it is easy to neglect basic tasks such as HVAC maintenance. Here are 5 HVAC tips for the holidays. 1. Schedule HVAC Maintenance Your heating system must be properly maintained if you want to prevent unexpected breakdowns. Schedule a maintenance service with at least once a year. A routine maintenance service can extend the life of your system. It can boost your system’s efficiency and decrease your energy bills. 2. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector A carbon monoxide leak can be hazardous to your health, so be sure to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Be sure to replace the batteries as needed. 3. Prevent HVAC System Fires Did you know that many HVAC system fires occur during the holiday season? The primary cause of these fires is a dirty HVAC system. Debris can build up in your system. It’s a good idea to have it cleaned by a skilled...

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3 Ways to Clean Your Heating System

November 18, 2019

If your heating system works by circulating heated air, you could be circulating dust particles around your home. Some housekeeping will help your heating system to operate cleanly and efficiently throughout the heating season. 1. Cleaning Air Registers and Air Ducts A heated air system works by circulating heated air throughout your home. The air is brought into the furnace from inside the home, heated and then returned through the duct system. Before cleaning, be sure to turn off the power to the furnace. Each room should have a heat vent or register. Remove each one and wash it with soap and warm water. Use your vacuum cleaner with extension and vacuum the ductwork below each vent. Make sure the vacuum brush is securely attached so that you do not lose it down the ductwork. If the ductwork feels a little greasy, clean that off with a rag. Each floor of your house should have a return vent. They are usually on a wall. Remove and clean them the same way you did the floor vents. Every five years or so, you may want to have your duct system professionally cleaned. 2. Cleaning of Blower Wheel A dirty blower wheel...

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How to Cut Heating Costs This Winter

November 8, 2019

As winter approaches and you start to use your packaged unit, heat pump, furnace, or mini-split more often, you might be wondering how you can save on your energy bills. The following are some elementary tips you can consider. Program the Thermostat Using a programmable thermostat will lower energy usage while you’re sleeping or at work. However, the energy savings may not amount to much if you overuse the heater during the rest of the day, so you might consider lowering the temperature. You can still remain comfortable while letting the heater run for a shorter time. If you don’t own a programmable thermostat, have an expert come over to explain its benefits. Smart thermostats, in particular, give you remote access so that you can turn your heater on, say, just before getting back home. Have the Heating Unit Maintained Heating systems need regular maintenance to deliver efficient performance. A yearly tune-up from a professional company is recommended. offers maintenance services for you here in San Antonio, TX. With Comfort Club Membership, you’ll receive a number of benefits with your tune-up, including discounts and a one-year warranty for parts and labor. A tune-up can cover filter replacement and duct cleaning,...

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The Basics of Residential Airflow

October 12, 2019

Airflow plays a pivotal role in our homes. It helps normalizes temperatures throughout a residence or the various zones within it. Proper airflow can also make a house energy efficient. It removes moisture from a home, which is good for our houses and our health, and it eliminates pollutants and contaminants. Read on to learn more about airflow. Natural Ventilation and Air Pressure All homes have some degree of natural ventilation, such as cracks and gaps. Older homes tend to have more, and newer homes tend to be more well-sealed. Natural ventilation occurs because air naturally moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Passive Ventilation Many HVAC systems in San Antonio utilize passive ventilation, which takes advantage of the natural movement of air. A vent in the attic that allows attic air to normalize with the outside air is an example of this. Mechanical Ventilation There is also mechanical ventilation in many homes. An example would be an exhaust fan that draws old air out and thus forces more fresh air into the home. Many homes use supply-only ventilation, but exhaust-only ventilation has become a prevalent alternative over the years. Air Distribution There is also the...

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Understanding Balanced Ventilation

October 2, 2019

is proud to serve San Antonio and the neighboring communities. Evaluating and optimizing home ventilation is an important part of what we do. After all, the EPA warns that poor indoor air quality is among the most serious health risks Americans face. Balanced ventilation is an approach to ensure that the air inside a house is never more polluted than the air outside it. Airflow Within a Home You have two primary types of ventilation within a home: natural and mechanical. When you open a window to let in fresh air, that is an example of natural ventilation. Modern houses are well-sealed, so they tend to get little natural ventilation when the heating or cooling systems are running. Mechanical ventilation is achieved through intakes, ductwork, and exhausts. Traditional Ventilation The traditional ventilation used in homes is supply ventilation. Air enters the house through a passive duct, which means the intake occurs as it is needed. In a central system, conditioned air is moved through the home using ductwork. A passive duct replenishes the air as the pressure drops. Balanced Ventilation Balanced ventilation is a newer approach, and the traditional ventilation discussed above is sometimes called unbalanced ventilation. In a balanced...

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Steps to Dog Proof Your HVAC System

September 25, 2019

Dog-proofing your HVAC system is as much about your dog’s safety as it is about your home’s heating and cooling. Taking a few preventative measures can achieve both goals. At , we advise all our dog-owning customers in San Antonio, Texas, to take the following easy steps to dog-proof their home’s HVAC system. 1. Protect Wiring Dogs are notorious for gnawing on anything that looks like it could be fun to chew. Unfortunately, wires can fall under this category. That’s why it is important to take your HVAC system’s wires off the menu by encasing them in some sort of protective material. An effective way of doing this is to use metal conduit tubing for wrapping wires. You’ll be keeping your HVAC system operational while making sure your dog stays away from the dangerous electrical current. 2. Install an Indoor Fence Depending on how well you’ve trained your dog, it may or may not feel the need to mark its territory inside your home by urinating on its surroundings. Grates and other HVAC system parts can be corroded by your dog’s territory-marking habit. The best way to avoid this is to keep your HVAC system off-limits to your furry friend....

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3 Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality

September 12, 2019

How to Know Your Home Has Poor Indoor Air Quality in San Antonio is aware that it’s difficult to properly ventilate your home, especially in the winter. Different types of pollutants can build up in the air in your house, causing a variety of health issues. Keeping indoor air as clean as possible is important. There are a few signs that you can look for that indicate you have an air quality issue in your home. 1. Health Changes Poor air quality could cause your health to deteriorate. If you’ve been sneezing or coughing more often than normal, the air in your home might be the cause. Particulates, including bacteria, viruses, dust mites, and pollen, can impact your lungs, spread disease, and affect your health. Chemical vapors from paints or cleaning products can also circulate around a house if it’s not properly filtered and ventilated. 2. Moisture Buildup Having high humidity in your home can lead to a variety of air quality issues. Excess humidity can allow mold to grow, and the spores can become airborne and create problems. If you see condensation on the inside of your windows, you might need to consider getting a dehumidifier for your house....

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Thermostat Reading the Wrong Temperature?

August 20, 2019

Your home’s thermostat says 70 degrees on a sweltering San Antonio afternoon, but you know that cannot be right. You lower your AC temp, but your system is not kicking in. Or, even worse, your system just continues to run. Chances are that your thermostat is not working properly or reading the wrong temperature. Consider the following common causes of thermostat issues. Check the Settings on Your Thermostat If you have a programmable thermostat, it is easy to forget that you may have temporarily changed the settings. The first step is to make sure that the thermostat is set to the correct mode. Check the Batteries If the thermostat’s batteries are dead, it will not work properly. Batteries that are low on power could also cause the thermostat to not work as intended. Thermostat May Need to Be Recalibrated Your thermostat could be reporting an incorrect temperature because it needs to be recalibrated. The process for recalibration will vary depending on the type of thermostat you own. This could be a job for your heating and cooling professional to handle. Temperature Sensor May Have Gone Bad The temperature sensor inside the thermostat may be malfunctioning. Sometimes, it is as simple...

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Why You Should Inspect the HVAC System Separately Before Buying a New Home

August 7, 2019

It’s important that you inspect a potential new home before you buy it. Doing this eliminates the probability that you will not be hit with any surprises down the road. In addition to a general inspection of the property, it may be worth scheduling an appointment to inspect the HVAC system more thoroughly. Learn About the HVAC Components Themselves During an HVAC inspection, you can learn more about the age of the furnace or air conditioner, if it has a warranty, and how often you should service it. You can also discover possible signs of damage or any indication that a duct may need to be cleaned in the near future. A professional from in San Antonio can perform inspections and maintenance checks of heating and cooling components as well as inspect a home’s ducts. The Seller May Remedy Problems Before the Sale Closes The current owner may be willing to remedy any issues that you discover with the home’s HVAC components. For instance, if the water heater is leaking, one could ask that it be replaced before the sale closes. If the furnace needs a new air filter or a new part, the seller might be willing to take...

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Comparing Old and New Air Conditioners

July 17, 2019

If you are looking to save money on cooling costs during the summer months, it may be worth putting in a new air conditioner. Let’s take a look at some of the potential benefits of doing so and how you know it is time to make a change in air conditioners. Old Air Conditioners Can Cost More to Maintain Even the best air conditioners will start to break or become less efficient over time. At in San Antonio, we can conduct routine inspections as well as make any necessary repairs. Our inspections are thorough, and you will get a full report detailing any problems or issues that may need to be corrected. This can be useful when determining whether your current unit needs to be upgraded. If you decide that it’s time to get a new air conditioner, we can install it for you. An Old Air Conditioner Can Be Loud Over time, it can be difficult to keep parts lubricated and free from debris. Therefore, your air conditioner may make a lot of noise when it comes on or when it shuts off. It is also not uncommon for older units to be louder than newer ones while they...

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