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The Most Common Home Heating Equipment Problems

September 15, 2021

While Houston may not be known for its cold winters, it certainly gets cold enough that a furnace or other heating equipment is essential to keeping you and your family warm. It is a terrible feeling to need the warmth only to have your furnace malfunction or not turn on at all. This can be a particularly common issue in an area where furnaces go unused for long periods and then are suddenly needed. With this in mind, let us consider the most common issues you are likely to experience with your furnace. Wear and Tear Due to Inadequate Maintenance Wear and tear is a catchall term that encompasses many of the subsequent problems listed, but it is an important consideration because it can be reduced with seasonal maintenance. The biggest mistake we see homeowners mistake is not scheduling an inspection and maintenance of their furnace in autumn. Such service is very affordable, and during the process, we will identify and correct the small issues before they become large and expensive problems. Many homeowners opt for a break-fix approach instead, but this strategy generally results in more out-of-pocket expenses. Malfunctioning Thermostat Although not really a furnace problem per se, malfunctioning...

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7 End of Summer Maintenance Tips

August 18, 2021

As the summer winds down, it’s time to give your cooling system some well-deserved TLC. Summers in Sugar Land, TX, are hard on your air conditioner, with scorching temperatures and high humidity levels. Your air conditioner has spent the last few months working hard to overcome these conditions and keep your home cool and comfortable. Before it’s retired for fall, your AC could use some maintenance. The experts at put together a list of end-of-summer maintenance tips for your AC. Follow these steps, and your system will be ready and raring to go for next summer! 1. Check Your Thermostat and Replace the Batteries This may come as a surprise, but your AC maintenance routine will start inside your house. Although it’s often overlooked as part of a home’s cooling system, the thermostat plays an integral part in your AC’s performance. If the thermostat isn’t working properly, it can’t communicate with your AC or heater. When this happens, your system may not be able to reach a comfortable temperature, or it may not turn on at all. Take a look at your thermostat to confirm that the programmed temperature matches the room temperature. While you’re here, swap out the old...

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11 Ways to Reduce Air Conditioner Noise

July 19, 2021

Having an AC that is not functioning optimally during summer is what every Texas resident would like to avoid. Loud noises are a sign that your AC is malfunctioning. A noisy AC may annoy you and also be a source of distraction. Fortunately, regardless of whether the noise is a loud screeching, a low humming, or a periodic banging, you can reduce the noise. Here are 11 ways you can quiet your noisy air conditioner. 1. Tighten Any Loose Screws If your AC suddenly started to produce a loud noise, check to see if there are any loose screws. At times, the screws holding your condenser may loosen up and cause the other parts of the AC or the condenser itself to shake or to rattle. This results in a loud whining noise, which is why maintenance is vital. During maintenance, the experts can point out such things and fix them before they cause any serious damage. 2. Check the Condenser and the Compressor The AC compressor refers to the part that circulates your refrigerant, and the condenser is the part that releases or collects the heat. These two parts are the main culprits of loud noises produced by your...

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How Does Central Air Conditioning Work?

June 21, 2021

In order to choose the right central AC system, we believe that our clients must understand how their ACs work. A central system uses a simple layout to bring cool air into your interior spaces. By localizing the mechanical components of your air conditioner to one place, we can dictate where cool air is sucked in and where best to direct it when cooling an entire building. From one central point, air is cooled and can then be sent throughout your building space via vents and exhausts. It’s all customizable. Through a strategic layout of ducts and vents, we can direct cooled air at the intensity and rate you prefer. Though the central system you install is placed where it’s unseen, a thermostat gives you control of that system remotely. We install those too. To get the best service, we encourage you to start with learning about the anatomy of AC and how it achieves your ideal settings. Following is an overview of the fundamental science that makes central AC possible. The Art of Removing Heat The air conditioning system you have, though eventually pushing out cool air, doesn’t work by making the air cool directly. Air conditioning works by...

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Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell?

May 24, 2021

Air conditioning units are essential and convenient appliances in our homes. They cool down the air on sweltering days and facilitate fresh air in our living spaces. However, your air conditioner might occasionally blow cold air followed by foul odors that smell like rotten eggs or dirty socks. The best solution is to determine the source of the bad smell and address the issue to prevent it from happening again. Below are several culprits of a smelly AC unit and what you can do to get rid of it. 1. Clogged Drain Lines Air conditioners need proper drainage to operate well and efficiently. If your AC drain line gets clogged, it might fail to drain, leaving water sitting inside the unit. You’ll notice this issue if the cooling system produces a foul smell and becomes less effective. If your unit continues to work through the sitting water and the blockage, it might get damaged. Solving this AC problem is pretty simple. First, turn off the unit and call your AC service to inspect it. The professional will remove the debris blocking the system and drain the sitting water to restore normal operation. Regular AC care and maintenance can prevent your...

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Should I Upgrade My Thermostat?

April 6, 2021

Many homes in Houston, TX, still have old thermostats. If you use a dial-style or analog thermostat, you’re missing out on a lot of convenient and money-saving features that new thermostats have to offer. When it comes to installing a new thermostat, you have two options. The first is a programmable thermostat. These have touchscreens and can save your temperature settings. Smart thermostats also have these features, but they offer even more. Smart thermostats connect to your home’s Wi-Fi and include an app for your phone. This allows you to use your smartphone to communicate with the thermostat when you’re away from home or if you’re at home and on bed rest. Consider these 10 reasons to upgrade your thermostat today. 1. Precision Control of Your Home’s Temperature Analog thermostats don’t offer precise temperature control. When you set one of these thermostats, it’s difficult to tell whether you’ve set the temperature at 70 or 72 degrees. With a programmable or smart thermostat, the digital interface allows you to tap on an up or down arrow to set the exact temperature you want. You can do this at different times of the day and days of the week. All programmable thermostats...

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How to Clean an Air Conditioner Filter

March 8, 2021

Air conditioner filters are often the most overlooked components in an HVAC system, yet they play a huge role in keeping debris, dust, and dirt away from your Houston home. As they improve the quality of the air you breathe, they can also get clogged with the same particles they trap from the surrounding. When the filters get blocked, the air conditioner is forced to work harder as it pumps the air through them. This not only incurs more energy costs but also shortens the lifespan of your system. Luckily, you can easily avoid these high utility costs while increasing the efficiency of your air conditioner by having the filters removed, assessed, cleaned or replaced every two to three months. Learning how to clean your air conditioner filters is a fundamental part of a regular maintenance schedule. How you do it plays a huge role in determining whether your HVAC system will function efficiently. That said, here’s how to clean your air conditioner filters: The Basics Before you learn how to clean the filters, it is important to remember that not every air conditioner filter can be cleaned. If the filters in your system have a cardboard frame or come...

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How To Test Indoor Air Quality For Mold

February 5, 2021

Indoor air quality plays a significant role in the health of people living or working within a specific residential or commercial building. Some experts argue that the quality of air in your home can be up to five times more polluted than the outdoors. As such, addressing the issue of air pollution within your walls has never been more important. Testing the quality of air in your Houston, Texas home is one of the easiest methods of guaranteeing your loved ones a safe living environment. Depending on the substance of concern, ways of testing air quality in your living quarters vary significantly. Some homeowners simply install an indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor —an appliance that constantly checks for pollutants in your home. IAQ monitors are extremely handy in ensuring that the allergen and asthma triggers in your house are properly eliminated. They are, however, not known by many people. Mold Testing Despite the greatness of IAQs, they fall short of detecting some substances. Some of the most common types of air quality concerns people contend with include the presence of mold, radon, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Mold is a common house pollutant that affects most homes found in damp...

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Will air purifiers help with mold?

January 21, 2021

You may not think about mold in your Houston home until you come across a small colony in your basement or under a sink, but this type of airborne particle requires prudent attention. Mold is not necessarily a sign that your house is not clean. In fact, mold spores are found in almost every environment. The spores can enter through cracks and gaps around windows and doors, and even through your heating and cooling system. Fortunately, installing an air purifier reduces the amount of mold inside your residence and lessens the chance of the spores finding a place to grow colonies. Types of Mold Found in Homes Black mold is the most common type of mold that corrects for homeowners in Houston and the surrounding areas. The scientific name is stachybtrys chartarum, and the mold has a dark green or black appearance. You will find black mold in areas that are constantly wet, such as under a leaking sink or on a wall with water damage. Black mold is linked to several health problems, such as allergies, breathing issues, and even lung damage. Other types of mold that we commonly find in Houston properties are: Penicillin, a bluish-green mold that...

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How Heat Pumps Heat Your Home in the Wintertime

December 18, 2020

Living in Houston, TX, or the surrounding area means that you’ll deal with some wild weather. Winter nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing, so you’ll need a heating system. The long, hot and humid summers mean that you also need an energy-efficient air conditioning system. With a heat pump, you get both. In moderate climates like Houston’s, heat pumps do particularly well at heating your home efficiently. Knowing how a heat pump is able to keep your Houston home warm during the winter months of the year could help you make an informed decision about which heating system to choose. Types of Heat Pumps There are three types of heat pumps: air-, water- and ground-source. An air-source heat pump transfers heat energy between the outdoor air and your home. A water-source heat pump uses a body of surface water, such as a pond, to transfer heat energy into and out of your home. Ground-source heat pumps, which are also called geothermal heat pumps, transfer heat between your home and a series of pipes that are buried at least 6 feet below the surface of the soil. Air-source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump used in the...

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