Rosenberg Plumbing & Air Blog - San Antonio, TX

Air Quality Control: Take Charge This Spring

March 27, 2015

Springtime brings pollen and dust into your home. You cannot anticipate how much dust and dirt will make it into your house, but you can take steps to stop it. The suggestions in this article are intended to change the way you prepare for the warm season ahead. The HVAC System Your air conditioning system must be serviced before the spring. Your technician will handle repairs, replace your air filters and check your ducts. You can call a duct cleaning service to ensure the cleanliness of the system, and you can clean your own vents to keep the dust out of the house. Caring for the HVAC system with these four steps alone makes quite a difference. Your Attic And Crawl Space You may not go into your attic or crawl space very much, but you must check these spaces before the spring. The attic can harbor dust and pollen that leaks in through the roof. You can clean this pollen on your own, but you need to ask a roofer to check the roof for problems. A roofer that inspects your roof can do small repairs on the spot to prevent dust and pollen from getting in. Your...

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We Think It’s Time to Upgrade Your Thermostat

March 20, 2015

Digital setback thermostats enable you to program your home to change heating and cooling patterns throughout the day. While this sounds like a high-tech and complicated device, a digital setback thermostat is actually very easy to install, program and manage. There are also several great benefits associated with the use of these new digital devices. Easy to Install and Use What is better than finding out your new gadget is super simple to install? When you purchase a new digital setback thermostat, you can easily self-install it by reading the manual. If you are still unsure about the ease of installation, it is always possible to find a professional installer to handle it for you. These digital thermostats are also very easy to program and use. The manual can easily walk you through everything you need to know, or your hired professional can walk you through it. Being digital, you will simply need to push a few buttons and then sit back and enjoy your new control. Save Energy and Money By using a digital setback thermostat, you will be choosing exactly when your heating and cooling changes occur. This precise control allows you to save even more energy...

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Keep Track of Your Gas Pressure

March 13, 2015

Often times a lot of things go unnoticed when we don’t really check on things as we should do to neglect. Your heating system is extremely important in giving your home a certain temperature that’s comfortable. It’s imperative you do regular checks to make sure the gas pressure is just right for your heating system. Not sure why you should take this extra step? Here are some reasons below: Check your water levels Before even checking the gas pressure itself. You should see the water levels in the feed tank. Learn how to adjust the levels and see the accuracy of the reading. Add more water as needed to get it to the right marking. This is a preliminary maintenance task you should become familiar with as you begin to test your unit for proper functionality. Most water pressure units are in the basement. Find out from your water provider where to look to do your own self-check. Raise the Temperatures This is another good way of checking the gas pressures because you can hear the sounds of the pipes as it responds to the change in temperature. Just raise the temperature a few degrees more and let the...

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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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