Effective Ways to Purify the Air in Your Home

Many homeowners in the San Antonio, TX area aren’t aware of just how polluted the air is in their homes. If you don’t make an effort to purify your indoor air, it can become full of contaminants like bacteria, mold spores, dust mites, dander, pollen, and many others. When you breathe that pollution every day, you can start to experience discomfort, respiratory problems, and even cardiovascular issues. Plus, if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or any other respiratory condition, the effects can be even worse. Purchasing an air purifier is the most effective solution. They utilize HEPA filters, charcoal, negative ions, or UV light to cleanse your indoor atmosphere. In addition, there are several simple and effective things you can do to improve the quality of the air in your household. Adding Air Filters to Your Home Adding one or more air filters to your home is one effective way that you can purify your indoor air. Your household HVAC system is already equipped with air filters, and they play a major role in keeping contaminants out of your air. However, those filters typically aren’t enough on their own to keep the air consistently clean and healthy. There are several...

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What Can Cause a Furnace Pressure Switch to Fail?

The pressure switch in a gas furnace is an important safety mechanism that ensures the furnace is drafting correctly. If the furnace doesn’t draft properly, it leads to dangerous combustion fumes being trapped inside the combustion chamber and heat exchanger instead of being vented outside. This can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home. The fumes can also cause a delay before the furnace ignites, producing a small explosion or starving the flames of oxygen so that they escape or “roll out” of the combustion chamber. The pressure switch on your furnace can fail due to various issues. The pressure switch itself can sometimes wear out and fail to activate, but more commonly, it will stop working due to some other problem with the furnace. If the pressure switch ever fails, it will prevent the furnace from being able to start. Let’s now take a closer look at how the pressure switch works and what can cause it to fail. How a Furnace Pressure Switch Works A pressure switch is like any other switch; it makes a connection to allow electricity to flow across it. The pressure switch is activated or closed by the furnace’s inducer fan, which then...

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How Much Oil Does a Furnace Use?

How Much Heating Oil Will My Furnace Use This Winter? As a homeowner, it’s necessary that you prepare your budget for the added costs of winter heating. Before you can figure out an estimate of how much it’s going to cost you to supply your furnace with fuel, you first need to know how much oil your furnace will burn over the entire winter season. There’s No Short Answer There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. How much oil your furnace uses will depend on a variety of factors related to you and your home. Two of the most weighed factors include the size of your home and how long you run your furnace. How Big Is Your Home? It’s not hard to understand that a one-bedroom home is going to take less oil to stay warm than a four-bedroom home. The larger your space is, the more oil your furnace is going to need to burn to stay warm. When determining how much oil you’ll need to buy, it can be helpful to look at the specific size of your oil tank. How Often Do You Run Your Furnace? How often your furnace stays running will play a big...

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Is Refrigerant Used in Heat Pumps?

Heat pumps are becoming more common in our area for a few reasons. First, they’re efficient, and second, they can be used as both air conditioners and heaters. If you get one installed at your place in San Antonio, you’ll be able to use it every month of the year, if necessary. Heat pumps can do such a great job at keeping homes comfortable because they rely on a substance called refrigerant. What Exactly Is Refrigerant? Refrigerant is a substance that can be found in various forms. In appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and heat pumps, it can be either in a gas or a liquid form. As it transitions between those two states of matter, it can absorb or give off heat. Over a hundred years ago, scientists and engineers first figured out how to use refrigerant to cool areas. It took awhile for this idea to become a practical one, and obviously, the industry has come a long way since the early days. Now, we can use refrigerant safely and effectively. The Heating Process There are two basic types of heat pumps, and they are air-source pumps and ground-source pumps. Air-source heat pumps get their heat from...

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Signs Your AC Motor Needs Replacement

During summer, you need your AC unit in good condition to provide adequate cooling for a comfortable home environment. The AC motor is an essential component of your cooling system. When it isn’t working efficiently, it can significantly affect the whole system’s performance and warrant replacement. Here are a few signs of AC motor trouble to help you make a more informed decision about your next steps. Weak or No Airflow From the Vents Weak airflow is often the first indication that the motor is having a hard time pushing sufficient air through the ducts to reach the desired temperature conditions for your house. This can result from various factors such as dust and debris buildup on the motor or a problem with the electrical connection. If there isn’t any air coming from the vents, it’s likely caused by an AC motor that has failed completely. However, other issues can lead to airflow problems, so it’s important to reach out to a professional to inspect the system. Unusually High Energy Bills When your AC motor is struggling, it must work harder to do the same job. In addition to increasing wear and tear, this also results in higher energy bills....

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What’s a Good Schedule for Servicing Your Air Conditioner?

Although it’s easy to forget about your air conditioner when it’s working properly, the worst mistake you can make is to forget about your air conditioner when it’s working properly. Ignoring your air conditioner will lead to eventual breakdowns that will leave your San Antonio home feeling more like an oven. Fortunately, maintaining your air conditioner is neither hard nor time-consuming as long as you follow this guide from the pros at . Why Maintain Your Air Conditioner? Your air conditioner is not a static piece of equipment. In fact, because of the harsh conditions that it’s exposed to and the amount of work it does, your air conditioner is constantly undergoing minor changes. Over time, these minor changes can cause noticeable differences that can reduce your system’s performance. However, if you properly maintain your air conditioner with the help of , you’ll be able to limit the effects of these small changes so that your air conditioner continues to work well, year after year. Plus, good maintenance can help reduce your energy costs by ensuring that your air conditioner operates as efficiently as possible. Monthly Maintenance You’ll need to perform some maintenance on your air conditioner every month. Fortunately,...

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Why Does Your Home Feel Humid When Your AC Is Running?

The air conditioning system in your San Antonio home is intended for your comfort. It should not only cool your house but also reduce indoor humidity. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Your AC can cause many problems if you don’t know how to maintain it properly, and one of the most common issues is high humidity levels. You might wonder why your house is so humid despite the AC. There are a few reasons for this to happen, and it’s essential to understand them. At , we help determine home humidity levels and advise homeowners on what to do about them. What follows here are four reasons why your home might feel humid even though your AC is running. 1. Very High Outdoor Humidity Levels It becomes harder to keep the indoor humidity low when the humidity outside is very high. At times like that, an air conditioner struggles with cooling and dehumidification. You will likely realize that this was the cause of your problem after the outdoor temperature and humidity level go back down and the indoor humidity level returns to normal. Try to reduce the cooling load of your air conditioner by installing blinds or draperies...

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Your Landlord Can’t Withhold Air Conditioning Indefinitely

On a hot summer day in San Antonio, there are few things more enjoyable than sitting in a room cooled by an air conditioning system. In some cases, having access to such a system can prevent significant issues for small children, the elderly, or those who have breathing or other types of health problems. If the cooling system in your rented apartment or house is not working properly, your landlord is obligated by Texas law to remedy the issue in a timely manner. Similar laws exist in most states with extreme heat where air conditioning is a public health consideration. How Long Does a Landlord Have to Repair Your Rental Home’s Air Conditioner? In most cases, your landlord has 10 days to get your rental property’s cooling system back into working order. To expedite the process, he or she can call the folks at in San Antonio. Our trained technicians will be able to repair or replace cooling system components in a timely and affordable manner. The owner of the property that you occupy may also want to consider signing up for a maintenance plan to prevent significant cooling system problems from occurring again down the road. The Timeline May...

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A Guide on How to Clean Your Window AC Unit

Your window air conditioner is an important appliance that helps to keep your home cool and comfortable during the hot summer months. However, if your AC unit is not properly maintained, it can become dirty, which can affect its ability to operate at the highest level of efficiency. Thankfully, it’s not difficult to clean your unit. Here are some tips on how to clean your window AC unit clean and get it in great shape. Tools and materials that you needed Before you start cleaning your window AC unit, you will need to gather a few tools and materials. These include: Screwdriver Vacuum cleaner with hose attachments Soft cloths or brushes Water hose with a spray nozzle Cleaning solution (mild detergent and water) Protective gloves and safety goggles AC Window Cleaning Steps After you have gathered the necessary tools and materials for cleaning your window AC unit, there are a few steps to follow to disassemble, clean, and reassemble your AC unit. 1. Turn Off Your AC Unit and Unplug It From the Power Outlet The first step in cleaning your window AC unit is to turn off the power and unplug it from its power outlet. This will prevent...

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5 Benefits of Smart Thermostats

These days, there are many different ways that you can modernize your home with innovative technology. In that vein, one of the most beneficial decisions that you can make is to install a smart thermostat. These advanced thermostats typically come equipped with special acute sensors and Wi-Fi, and they’re relatively inexpensive. In addition to saving you money, having one in your household can truly revolutionize your home comfort. 1. Saving Money on Energy Bills The primary reason that most homeowners purchase smart thermostats is to conserve energy and reduce their monthly bills. With one of these advanced thermostats, you’ll no longer need to worry about leaving the air conditioner or heater running for longer than you actually need it. You can program your preferred comfort temperature, and your HVAC system will only circulate enough air to maintain that temperature. Plus, there are most likely chunks of time each day when you don’t need the AC or heater cranked up, such as when you’re at work or in bed. You can program the smart thermostat to automatically shut down for those hours, which can potentially save quite a bit of costly energy. If you’re someone with a tendency to leave your...

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