Rosenberg Plumbing & Air Blog - San Antonio, TX

Does Your Heater Need a Tune-Up?

March 6, 2015

Signs Your Heating Unit Needs A Tune-Up A heating system is crucial for anyone that lives in a region, where the weather can get extremely cold. During the winter months, it’s not unusual for the weather to get below zero in certain areas, causing the need for a heating unit. Even in areas where it’s sunny most of the year, you may still need a heating unit, for the cold weather. A heating unit needs to be tuned up, in order to maintain it throughout the years. If you have a heating unit that you use all the time, then it will need a tune-up, more than heating units that are used rarely. Look for signs that your system needs a tune-up, such as pungent smells. If you’re getting a smell from the unit, then a professional needs to take a look at it. Loud noises are also something you may hear in the unit, but it’s not normal. If you hear loud noises coming from your unit, then something is wrong with it, and it needs some maintenance. Although dust may normally be in a home, a lot of dust can mean that there is a problem...

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Feel the Heat This Winter with a New Radiant System

February 27, 2015

Why Upgrade to a Radiant Heating System? Welcome to the technology of radiant home heating systems. The system is the most efficient way to heat your home and reducing energy bills. Radiant home heating systems operate quietly under the floors, in the ceilings and the walls. The thermal radiation distributes heat evenly throughout the house. Your feet will be delighted to walk on hardwood, stone, concrete and tile floors every day. The noise from the vents and fans blow hot air loaded with dust, pet dander and allergens throughout the home. The heat from the radiators, will rise to the ceiling, and your feet and the floors are still cold. How does a Radiant Heating System work? The house has direct heat flowing through the ceiling, the floors and the walls, utilizing water and electricity. The hot water method involves the installation of the piping with snap-in grids, or using panels with grooves, under the sub floor in the rooms of the house. The flexible piping can be anchored to aluminum strips and laid under the floors. The hot water heater or boiler circulates the water through the tubes. The electrical method is often used for the kitchens and...

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Is Your Heater Working Overtime?

February 20, 2015

Heaters have become a probably the most important appliance in a house. It supplies the house with all of the heat that is needed for comfortable living. This appliance, when working properly, can allow all of the residents of a house a sense of comfort and security from the harsh cold of winter nights. When a heater is malfunctioning it can test the patience of a homeowner and can affect the whole family. It is important for a heating unit to be working properly in order for it to operate as efficiently as possible. An inefficient heater can not only cost the homeowner hundreds of dollars extra a year in heating bills, but it can also be dangerous. How Do Determine Whether I Need Heater Maintenance? Many homeowners wonder if they need a new heater or not in their homes. They may have not paid much attention to the heater, and they seem to think that as long as it is producing heat then everything is fine. This is simply not the case. In fact, there are many heating units that are in operation today that are not only inefficient but also dangerous, and these units are still in use today....

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Cold? You Could Really Use a Heat Pump

February 13, 2015

In heating ventilation and air conditioner systems (HVAC), the heat pump serves an important role. In homes with heating and cooling systems, the heat pump flows air from warmer places to colder places. It releases heat into living spaces from the outside environment. How Does a Heat Pump Work? A heat pump draws heat from the cooler external air or from the ground and is three or four times more efficient in energy use than electrical resistance heaters. It moves heat instead of generating it, giving you more energy efficiency and savings. Heat pumps are great for moderate climates and are an excellent supplement to furnaces and other heating systems in cooler climates. Heat pumps can both heat and cool your home. In the winter the heat pump pulls heat out of the air or ground to heat your home and in the summer, they can be reversed to cool your home or building, and works about the same as an air conditioner. One advantage to using a heat pump is that heating, cooling and ventilation is all done with one system. Heat pumps are fuel efficient because it takes less energy to transfer heat than it does to burn...

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Is a New Furnace The Right Choice?

February 6, 2015

Many people think that a new furnace would be nice, but they feel they really cannot afford it. The fact is, however, that a new furnace is not just a luxury. It could actually save you hundreds of dollars on heating costs, eventually paying for itself. A furnace is not made to last forever, so if you have an old furnace in your home, read on. There are many warning signs that an old furnace is just not preforming like it used to. Some typical problems are: A house that once was warm is now cold. You find yourself turning up the thermostat to get the same level of comfort that the home used to have at a different temperature. You find that your utility bills skyrocket during the winters each year What are the benefits of a new furnace?There are many warning signs of a bad furnace, but the biggest is when repair costs mount. If the unit is broken down more than it is working, then it is a problem. A new unit is that an individual can write them off of their taxes. They also can help to lower heating bills to a more manageable level. When choosing...

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If It’s an Emergency, Call the Plumbers Today!

January 30, 2015

Whether one is considering home or commercial establishments, it is important to have an HVAC emergency plan in place when a major breakdown occurs in heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning. Emergency HVAC Services Services in times of emergency will work best if there is a preparedness plan in place. In cases of power outages, home or commercial generators can be installed to serve as backup during those occasions. Detailed planning for storage of such system, sizing so as to match the utility load required, and placement need to be ascertained. If the HVAC system is reaching the end of its useful life, choice between non-emergent service or emergent service is solely up to the customer in many instances. Furthermore, establishing a customer relationship with an HVAC contractor in non-emergent times may reap customer benefit in small savings during emergent times. Prevention Maintenance a Must Several steps can be taken both commercially and residentially to ensure proper working order of HVAC systems. Neglecting maintenance in a heating system can result in up to 25 percent loss in efficiency. Heat pumps benefit from annual maintenance done annually by professionals. Checking and replacing belts or filters if necessary, lubricating moving parts will help ensure...

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Get the Purified Air You Deserve

January 23, 2015

Many people don’t realize that the air inside their homes has much more dirt and pollutants than the air outside because houses can be a source for many different contaminants. Molds, mildew, dust mites, pets and more produce particles that, when combined with the generally closed environment of a home, make for what can be a toxic atmosphere. Types of Air Purifiers Several different methods exist for cleaning the atmosphere of contaminants. The most common types of air purifiers include regular filter units that are often simply called air cleaners, HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) cleaners, ionizing purifiers, ozone generators and adsorbents. Each removes impurities from the air in a different manner. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has stated that air purifiers may help control the levels of airborne particles, but that there are limitations as to what each type may be able to do. Most air cleaners are unable to remove unwanted gases, while heavier particles often fall to the ground when indoors, thus keeping them outside of the purifier’s reach. Air purifiers can be used, however, to improve certain aspects of indoor air. How Air Purifiers Work Filter models, usually part of a furnace or overall...

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Read This Before Your Next Furnace Purchase

January 16, 2015

When it comes to installing a heating system in a home, bigger is not always better and smaller will not save on energy costs. It is essential to choose a furnace system that is proportionately sized to the home. More power will not keep your home warmer. It will have the opposite effect. Let’s discuss why. Oversize Systems A furnace system that is oversized will tend to have short cycles, as the furnace will release heat for a much larger area. The small area will heat up and cool off quicker and trigger the furnace on more often. This will result in quick temperature fluctuations and increase the amount of energy used. The constant on and off will cause the heat exchanger to work overtime and result in furnace failure at the worst possible time. A furnace system that is sized appropriately will stay on for longer periods of time and warm the home gradually rather than quickly. The temperature is then maintained over a longer time span without the furnace turning on and off in quick succession. Undersize Systems A furnace system that is not large enough to properly heat the home will leave the plumbing vulnerable to...

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Is it Time to Change Your Heater?

January 9, 2015

The worst time to find out that your heating system is no longer working is when you need it the most. The best way to avoid being stuck without a functioning heating system is to be properly prepared and know the warning signs of needing a new heating unit. How Do I Know If My Heater Needs To Be Replaced? There are several signs to look for when deciding if a home’s heater needs to be replaced. If the heating unit is over 10 years of age and requiring more frequent repairs to continue working, the unit should be replaced. Another sign that your home’s heating unit may need to be replaced is if your home does not stay a constant temperature. Differing temperatures can be from room to room throughout the home, or the temperature of a particular room rising and falling. A heating unit that is functioning properly will heat evenly throughout the home. Soaring energy costs is another sign that your heating unit needs to be replaced. As a unit has to work harder to produce the proper amount of heat, it will use more energy causing bills to rise. What Are The Benefits Of A New...

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Understanding Your Home’s Heating System

December 5, 2014

What is Auxiliary Heat Auxiliary heat is a heating system that works when the temperature inside a home or building drops lower than two or three degrees from what the temperature is set. Or when someone decides they are cold, and turns the thermostat up more than three degrees. Auxiliary heat is a component of heat pump systems. Heat pumps have two units, one of which is outside a home, and the other, which is the auxiliary heating system, is inside. On cold mornings, especially when the temperature gets below 32 degrees, the outdoor heat pump is very cold and would take a long time to heat up the air inside the house. The auxiliary system will kick in on these mornings to heat the home more quickly from the warmer inside unit. What is the Purpose of Auxiliary Heat The purpose of auxiliary heat is to warm up the home as quickly as possible and bring it to the desired temperature set on the thermostat. Waiting for the heat to come in from the cold heat pump on the outside of the home would take a very long time. One of the advantages of living in modern society is...

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