Steps to Dog Proof Your HVAC System

September 25, 2019

How to Dog-Proof Your HVAC System 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...

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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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Why You Need to Change Your Air Filter

July 1, 2019

Changing an air filter is one of the simplest maintenance tasks that you can complete. However, it is also one of the most important. Leaving a dirty air filter in place can cause significant damage to your system. Estimates vary on how frequently you ought to do this, and it does depend somewhat on the quality of the filters you use. Ideally, you would change an air conditioner’s air filter every 30 days. Even if you have a relatively dust-free environment and a good filter in place, you should still change it at least every 90 days. How Do You Know That an Air Filter Is Dirty? Generally speaking, the filter will get darker as it collects dust, pollen and other material from the air. If you can’t see any light passing through the filter itself, it is a good idea to make a change. Check the air conditioner’s air filter once every week or two to make sure that it is in passable condition. If for any reason you find this inconvenient, you can arrange routine maintenance that includes this service by engaging the conscientious professionals at in San Antonio. What Happens If You Don’t Change a Dirty Filter?...

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3 Important Reasons to Replace Your Air Conditioner

June 15, 2019

So your air conditioner has broken down or simply isn’t running as well as it used to. You’re now faced with that age-old question: is it worth it to repair your air conditioner or should you just buy a new one? Hopefully, this informative guide will help you decide. Here are three reasons you might want to contact in San Antonio, TX, to assist you when you need to replace your air conditioner. 1. The AC Is More Than 10 Years Old Air conditioners generally have a life-span of about fifteen years, assuming you maintain it regularly and keep it in good shape. If your air conditioner is more than ten years old, then it is very likely reaching the end of its useful life, even if you do repair it. In this case, it’s probably more cost-effective just to replace your current AC system by getting a new one. This makes more sense for the long term. 2. Your Air Conditioner Still Uses R-22 R-22 is a refrigerant that is being phased out of use due to new laws aiming to protect Earth’s ozone layer. Modern air conditioner models almost all use R410A, which is not only more environmentally...

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Which Air Conditioning System Is Right for You?

June 1, 2019

Gone are the days of simple air conditioners that only blow out cool air. Air conditioning technology has come a long way to suit all sorts of specific needs. No matter what your dilemma is, there’s likely an air conditioning device to make things easier and more affordable for you. Allergy Sufferers One of the latest developments in the heating and air conditioning world is the UV air sanitizer service. This device works with the heating or air conditioner’s air filter to remove airborne bacteria. If you have allergies, then this system would be a good fit for you. Also, if you have pets in the home, the UV air sanitizer eliminates pet dander that can be floating around. Issues with Excess Moisture Depending on the area that your home is in, you may experience issues that come along with too much humidity. When there’s too much moisture in the air in your house, problems such as mold or pests can flourish. If this is your problem, then a dehumidifier would be a great option to look into for your heating and air conditioning needs. The technicians at in San Antonio, TX, specialize in the installation, repair, and maintenance of...

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3 Easy Ways to Controlling Static Electricity at Home

May 22, 2019

It can be a little shocking, literally, when static electricity starts to build up at your home. In addition to giving you small jolts when you touch certain items or other people, static can also cause clothes to stick together and hair to stick straight up. Fortunately, there are some ways in which this issue can be addressed. 1. Add Moisture Dry air and static electricity can sometimes go hand in hand. To improve things at home, consider putting in a whole-home humidifier. Many modern units are relatively efficient and quiet to run. They can be purchased to be an independent appliance or hooked up to your existing HVAC system. At , we work with many clients in the Greater San Antonio area who are interested in improving comfort conditions at home, and we always individualize our recommendations based on our assessments. 2. Add House Plants While a whole-home humidifier should be able to handle things, some people in smaller places may want to take a different approach. In this case, we’d recommend adding plants to your home. Plants release a lot of moisture, so they can do the same job as a humidifier but just on a smaller scale....

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Knowing When It Is Time for AC Tune-Ups

May 2, 2019

Air conditioning tune-ups come with a myriad of benefits, and everyone with an AC system, be it a central unit, heat pump, or mini-split, is encouraged to get a tune-up at least every spring. The following are just a few signs, which homeowners themselves can look out for, that the time has come for a tune-up. A Rise in Electricity Bills Unusually high utility bills are perhaps the main warning sign, and these can have a variety of causes. For example, dirty filters and clogged vents may be forcing the AC system to work harder. A leak in the vents could also be responsible. Short-Cycling and Less-Than-Stellar Performance Homeowners may want to ask themselves if it seems like their AC is taking longer than before to meet the temperature on the thermostat. This could be the result of a failing fan motor. If the AC is short-cycling (constantly turning on and off), it could signify low refrigerant levels or dirty evaporator coils. Uneven cooling is another issue that could spell the need for a tune-up. Strange Noises and Unpleasant Odors There are some noises the AC should not make. A banging noise suggests a loose or broken component, especially a...

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