Spring was a little slow to show itself in Southeast Texas this year. You may have spent spring break huddled in front of your fireplace, but summer will return! Eventually. Have You Checked Your HVAC? Perhaps you haven’t turned on your air conditioning (A/C) unit in a few months, but it’s possibly the most important [...]
In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. -Mark Twain He may have been in Texas when Mark Twain counted 136 different kinds of weather within 24 hours! Now that spring has arrived, we will anticipate two kinds of weather just around the corner: hot and hotter. Reasons [...]
The Stone-Age did not end because we ran out of stones; we transitioned to better solutions. The same opportunity lies before us with energy efficiency . . . -Steven Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy Energy efficiency is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Most of us care about the planet and our legacy, but [...]
Tankless, on-demand water heaters’ maintenance requirements are based on the same differentials as conventional, storage tanks. Maintenance depends on your water heater’s age, water hardness, and use. We’ve reviewed the many benefits of electric tankless water heaters vs. gas, but what are some common problems of tankless units? Before you buy, you need to know. [...]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says: “An ideal refrigerant would be nontoxic, nonflammable, completely stable...environmentally benign...and abundantly available or easy to manufacture.” And goes on to say, “The likelihood of developing an ‘ideal’ refrigerant is low.” If You’re Losing Freon . . . “The first leak you find is usually not the only leak,” continues [...]
There are differences between a furnace and a heat pump, but only a furnace uses some kind of heat exchanger. A heat pump offers an alternative source of heat to areas of the country that don’t really need the full power of a furnace; heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space [...]
How You Can Be Sure About HVAC Load Calculations Load calculations are used by HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) professionals to determine what size heating/cooling unit will efficiently serve your home. If it’s too big, you’re wasting energy; if it’s too small, you’re uncomfortably hot or cold. So, your HVAC contractor crunches the numbers to [...]
You should check out Energy.gov’s infographic, How an Air Conditioner Works for the best visual of components that make the A/C magic happen. And make no mistake; it’s like magic, turning humid, warm air into clean, cool air that is safe for your home and family. Common A/C Problems We can’t live without air conditioning. [...]
You’ve seen our blogs mention “whole-house wellness” because we offer HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) service and we also offer plumbing services. Clean air, clean water . . . a wellness lifestyle for your home and family is our family’s goal! Evaporator coils are one of two major components of an A/C system. HVAC systems [...]
For us, winter-to-spring isn’t such a big leap, weather-wise, but there’s something about spring that inspires us to clean closets, cabinets, and “freshen up” our homesteads following the waiting period that is winter. Spring maintenance and cleaning are simply what we do. Filters are First Spring maintenance for your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system [...]
Winter will continue to make a few attempts at the cold weather here in Southeast Texas, but for the most part, we begin thinking of summer right after spring break. Which leads us to think about our HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) unit. Most home- and property-owners schedule an HVAC maintenance “tune-up” in spring and [...]
There are so many reasons to upgrade your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) that we don’t have the time – or energy – to list them here. Speaking of energy, an HVAC upgrade will save energy and lower heating and cooling costs, too. “Jeff Wilson replaced his HVAC system for the same reason most homeowners [...]
Noises don’t bother some people; others have an aggravating sensitivity to noise. According to science, you might be a genius if noise really bothers you! Your ice maker makes a loud sound when ice cubes are released, your aquarium filter hums and all of us appreciate the music of Houston traffic during rush hour (7:00 [...]
Perhaps 2017 is the year to do those property renovations you’ve been considering. You’ll want the best value possible for your project, and as you make your budget for your remodeling project, should you include a new HVAC unit to increase energy savings now or keep Old Faithful for a few more years? Review Your [...]
Okay, the pets are boarded, the plants will be watered, the mail and newspaper are on hold . What are you forgetting? The house! You should prepare your home for safety and energy efficiency while you’re away. 1. Electronics/Appliances These are your true energy efficiency hogs. Even when turned off, your electronics continue to drain [...]
Short cycling is an HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) term describing a continuous on/off process. You air conditioning/heating unit turns on for about 1 minute. Then it turns itself off, resulting in an incomplete cycle. Most people realize a problem when they hear the unit kicking on and off frequently or notice their home’s air [...]
Ensuring your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) equipment is clean and well-maintained is a very good way to save money, but you can also save on utility bills with your HVAC fan settings. Fan Choices: On, Off, and Auto You’d think that deciding whether or not to run your HVAC fan 24/7 or as-needed would [...]
It’s more than a feeling. Some areas of your home are truly draftier or warmer than other areas, and you suspect that you’re heating and cooling your backyard. When homeowners sense there is energy loss in their home, they need to verify they have problem areas by calling their HVAC professionals. All of us recognize [...]
If you don’t take care of your heating and cooling equipment, it will cost you money. You may think it’s just something your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) professionals tell you to get you on a maintenance service contract, but it’s true. You’ll pay more on your monthly energy bills, and an HVAC (heating, ventilation, [...]
IAQ is “indoor air quality.” The air quality inside buildings and homes is something that is a fairly recent concern for our global population. Understanding the common causes of poor indoor air quality and controlling air pollutants can lower your risks of health problems. Some of the health effects of poor indoor air include: Asthma [...]
