Can I Service My AC Myself?

April 2, 2024

When that intense South Texas heat kicks into high gear, the absolute worst is having your air conditioner die or act up. While most people choose to call a professional when there is a major issue, smaller issues can be a gray area. If you are handy, you may consider a DIY fix. Read on to learn when you can safely work on an issue yourself and when you should be sure to involve a trained technician. Regular AC Maintenance Tasks You Can Do Yourself Keeping your air conditioning system in top shape is key to ensuring efficient, reliable cooling all summer long. While most maintenance and repair tasks require a professional technician, there are a few simpler tasks that homeowners can tackle themselves between tune-ups. Filter Swaps One of the easiest yet most crucial maintenance jobs is regularly replacing your air filter. A clogged filter restricts airflow, straining the system and driving up energy costs. Check your filter every 1-3 months, depending on usage. If the filter is no longer translucent, it’s time to change it. While it may seem counterintuitive, be sure not to upgrade your filter to a higher SEER level without talking to your HVAC professional...

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Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning

March 13, 2024

Your home’s air ducts have an important job. This part of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system distributes warm or cool air throughout your home. Your ductwork circulates air that helps to reduce humidity and pollutants in your home so you’ll enjoy fresher, cleaner air. If you notice a decline in your home’s indoor air quality, it may be time to schedule an air duct cleaning service with in San Antonio. Explore the Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning Clean air ducts are important for maintaining your indoor air quality. Indoor and outdoor air contains particles like dust, dander, and pollen. As your HVAC system runs, the unit draws air into the ducts to recirculate through your home. This air contains pollutants such as dust, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you have pets in your home, your indoor air also contains pet hair and dander. These pollutants can accumulate in your ductwork. As your HVAC system blows heated or cooled air into your living space, the contaminants in your ductwork also enter your home. When your ducts become dirty, you may notice visible buildup inside the ducts or around the vents. If you or...

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The Importance of Product Warranties

November 20, 2020

After adding a new HVAC system to your house, you won’t want to deal with unexpected repairs. Unfortunately, product defects outside the installing HVAC contractor’s control might happen. Neither you nor the contractor is at fault in these circumstances. Such problems can’t be foreseen. Since that’s the case, it makes sense that the manufacturer should cover repair costs through a product warranty. All manufacturers of quality heating and cooling products offer such a safeguard to anyone who purchases one of their units. Product warranties play a helpful role in protecting homeowners from unnecessary expenses. Some households might find their budgets limited, and paying for unexpected repairs could hurt their savings accounts. If you’re interested in upgrading your HVAC system, you should look carefully at the warranty offered by the manufacturer. It could cover the costs of some significant mechanical issues. What a Warranty Actually Does A warranty reflects a contractual guarantee indicating manufacturer-backed quality assurances. Essentially, the manufacturer suggests there’s nothing wrong with the design, construction or performance of the product purchased. For example, upon installing a new furnace inside the home, you should not expect faulty wiring, broken burners or other unforeseen defects to undermine its performance. Ultimately, the...

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How Does a Thermostat Work?

February 10, 2020

The thermostat inside your home works just like the hypothalamus inside your brain. Basically, it gives you the ability to regulate indoor conditions. When your place is hot and stuffy during the dog days of summer or frigid and uncomfortable amid the cold winter months, you can set the right temperature with ease by adjusting the thermostat accordingly. How Does the Device Work? Controlling your home’s temperature is easy when your thermostat is working right. After you choose a temperature that feels good to you, the device will trigger the climate control system to circulate more warmth or more cool air. To keep up the desired indoor conditions, the unit will maintain the accurate temperature by simply turning off and on at regular intervals throughout the day. Finding the Right Device The various thermostats on the market today fall under these categories: manual, programmable and smart. The latter option tends to be the most expensive. Manual thermostats are the most cost-effective. Regardless of which type you have or want to use, you will benefit from turning to the experts at . We spend a lot of our time taking care of the residents of San Antonio. We work hard to...

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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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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 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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Expectations for Your HVAC Repair Appointment

March 8, 2019

Dealing with a heating or cooling system that needs major repairs or replacement can be stressful. Trying to find a reliable and professional company to handle the job can add stress to this situation. Fortunately, most HVAC companies are experienced and wholly committed to providing superb customer service and expert work. understands your concerns, and we always follow the same processes of superior service for every job we undertake. You can expect the same services every time. Certified and Licensed Technicians When you’re researching a professional heating and cooling company, you’ll want to know about certification and training. HVAC certification means that the technicians are qualified to install, repair, and maintain heating and cooling systems in their state and have passed exams. There are three main types of certifications: the North American Technical Excellence (NATE) certification, the HVAC Excellence certification, and the EPA federal certification to handle refrigerants. is fully certified and licensed as well as bonded and insured in the state of Texas, and we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. On Time and Courteous Any heating and cooling company that’s reputable will be sincere about gaining and retaining satisfied customers. This means that HVAC professionals...

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Tips for Finding Air Leaks in Your Home

February 22, 2019

Cracks and other openings in the doors and windows can cause air leaks in your San Antonio home. When this situation happens, you have to find a way of sealing the openings to avoid losing heat and inflating your energy bills. If you live in an older home, there’s a good chance you’re losing already heated or cooled air. Air leaks are almost expected in older homes, they’re so common. Typically coming from underneath doors and around windows, air leaks are drafty areas where your home isn’t protected from the elements of the outdoors. This creates more work for your HVAC system, along with worsening the air quality within your home. In this handy guide, we let you know how you can inspect your home for air leaks, and what you can do about them once you’ve found them. Why Finding Air Leaks Is So Important You might think a little leak around your windows is no big deal, and in the short term, it isn’t. Over time, however, those small amounts of energy loss add up to substantial amounts of wasted natural fuel and money. The more leaks your home has, the worse the problem will be and the...

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HVAC and AC Are Not the Same Systems

February 12, 2019

There are a few differences between an HVAC and air conditioning unit. Many homeowners are confused by these two systems and how they operate. While they are different, many people do not know what separates them. Many home builders and contractors will use “HVAC” and “AC” interchangeably. There is a difference in the way that both units operate and function in your home. The acronyms may confuse people, but they are two different systems for heating and cooling. A professional HVAC company will be happy to help you find the right kind of unit for your living space. What Is an HVAC System? The term HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The HVAC is responsible for cooling and heating your home or business. Its ventilation ducts allow the moisture to drain from the system. An HVAC system has a few components. The furnace, air conditioner, and vents all work together in an HVAC unit. While most HVAC units do include air conditioning, it is not uncommon to find an HVAC system without this component. What Is an AC System? Air conditioning, or AC, is just used to cool down the air in your home. The term “AC” is...

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