When to Call In Your AC Repairman

The sizzling heat of a Texas summer can be unbearable, even more so when you’re in Houston. Under such heat, it’s important to keep the air conditioner running. The problem with that is that with constant use, your AC unit can slow down, or break down altogether. You can avoid sudden disasters like in the middle of July, by knowing the right time to call on licensed technicians to check your AC unit.

Before Problems Happen

Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Regular maintenance can crowd your quarterly budget, but major repairs could be more costly. Call an AC professional for unit checkups at least once a year. An AC expert should be able to do the necessary maintenance work, such as cleaning the unit’s coils and filters, and inspecting the ductwork. Annual unit checkups should help catch potential problems that may cause you big headaches later on.

Knowing When Your Air Conditioner Needs Professional Care

With the Texas heat beating down on the city of Houston, air conditioning is a life saver. However, it can malfunction or break down just when you need your room to cool. Knowing when to call the repairman is an important part of maintaining your AC unit. Here are some AC problems that might need professional attention.

Faulty Installation

A common problem that crops up more times than it should is incorrect installation. If not properly placed, a central air conditioner can have leaky ducts and weak airflow. This is the same for a window AC unit. If faced with this problem, only a technician should be able to reinstall the unit properly. It will cost your more for the extra work of correcting an error, but it will be better in the long run.

Save On Your Air Conditioning Bill with Proper Maintenance

It can be uncomfortably hot in Houston. The tropical heat brings both humidity and high temperatures, a combination that can dispirit and dehydrate anyone. In such temperature, a well-functioning AC unit is a godsend, though there is a price for this cooling comfort. You can expect high electricity bills with continued usage.

There are a few ways to shave off a few dollars from your power bill. You can keep energy down by making sure your unit operates at its highest and most efficient level. You can ensure this by maintaining your AC unit regularly; the less maintained it is, the weaker its performance which results in higher energy use. Focus on maintaining these parts:

• Filters – Clean air filters to ensure normal airflow and that only clean, filtered air gets in.

When dirty air reaches the evaporator coil, it can reduce its ability to absorb heat. Make sure your filters are cleaned or replaced on a monthly basis.

• Coils – The two coils that are the heart of an AC unit, the evaporator and condenser coils, can collect dirt, depending on their location. Make sure that there are no obstructions around these parts to ensure their smooth operation.
• Fins – The aluminum fins on both coils can get bent and block airflow. Regularly check to see if they are intact and not dented.

These are the three main parts you can look out for; if your AC still does not seem to cool the room, call an AC professional to check on your unit. He will recommend the proper repair to keep your AC working at full efficiency once again. 

How A Water Heater is installed

Water heaters are indispensable items in every household today, and installing them requires a delicate process which is better handled by a professional. Here is the step-by-step installation process.

Step 1. While working with an electrician, the plumber disconnects the old water heater’s pipes and wiring. The water at the main is shut off, and remaining water is drained from the old tank. He then cuts through the existing incoming and outgoing water lines using a pipe cutter to make way for the new heater.

How Much Does a Water Heater Repair Cost?

Acquiring a brand new water heater isn’t cheap, so is the cost of maintaining or repairing it. But what if one day the heater breaks down after years of service and the repairs cost more than having it entirely replaced? Let’s take a look at some numbers.

A nationwide research by the home improvement site ImproveNet.com put the average cost of water heater repairs from $237 to $513, with the mean being $437. The maximum cost peaked at $1,000 while the minimum recorded a meager $52. Most of the time, the final cost of repairs depend on the appliance’s type, the scope of its problem, and whether additional repairs are needed to get it up and running again.

How a Refrigerator Works

It doesn’t matter how far refrigeration has advanced these days, all refrigerators universally work by utilizing identical technologies that have been tried-and-tested through the years. Here’s a short explanation of how a refrigerator works.

Refrigeration is a process run by five major components: the fluid refrigerant, a compressor, condenser coils, evaporator coils, and an expansion device. The fluid refrigerant is the so-called blood of the appliance as all cooling begins with it; which is controlled by the compressor and the coils.

Facts you should know about Home Insulation

Unless you want your AC unit or heater to spend more and more energy, causing your power bill to keep increasing until you can barely fit it into your budget, you’ll need to have insulation in your walls and attic. Doing so prevents the warm or cooled air from escaping out of your house, making it much easier to reach the temperature you’ve set in your thermostat.

R-Value

The first thing you should know about getting home insulation is its R-value. Basically, this measures the resistance of your chosen insulation type to thermal resistance or heat conduction. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation is. You should know though, that the Department of Energy measures this value differently based on where your home is located.

Types

Two of the most common types of insulation are blown-in and fiberglass. Blown-in insulation contains loose-fill particles of fire-retardant insulating material. A compressor then blows these particles into your attic. This is an efficient way to get insulating material into the nooks and crannies of your attic, making for an even distribution, even if your attic has a particularly irregular shape.

Fiberglass insulation, on the other hand, comes in rolls or strips of varying lengths. This type of insulation is excellent for your floor joists, wall studs, and even your ceiling rafters. A paper backing, which can be stapled onto studs or beams, is attached to the insulating material.