Easco Air Conditioning and Heating Archives - Page 2 of 7

When To Schedule for Heater Repairs

When Is Professional Heater Repair Needed?

Before too long, people will be fully reliant on their heaters to keep the home comfortable during the winter. As soon as the daytime temperatures drop off, the heater will run full-time to heat the home. For too many people, the heater will start to have problems that prevent it from doing its job. Spotting the signs that heater repairs are needed can help homeowners keep their monthly utility and repair bills low. Here are three signs it is time to call for professional heater repairs.

Energy Bills are High

If there is one thing that homeowners have in common, it is their disdain for high energy bills. Whether heat pumps or furnaces heat the home, it always seems that the bills are too high.

While rising energy costs are a problem, energy bills that have gotten out of hand may be a sign that something is wrong. The heater uses more energy than any other system in the home, so when problems occur, they will likely manifest in the bills.

A lack of heater maintenance can cause high energy bills. This can lead to an overworked system that has difficulty heating the home. Heater maintenance may be all that is needed to improve airflow and fix minor problems that are robbing efficiency.

If the unit is more than 10 years old, some loss of efficiency is to be expected and likely can’t be regained. Once the unit is about 20 years old, it will be very inefficient, and replacing the heater is likely the recommended path.

Unusual Sounds or Smells are Present

A heater should operate quietly and without offensive odors. A burnt odor may occur upon startup every year, but this is likely nothing to be alarmed about and will go away in a day or two.

If other odors or sounds are perceived while the heater is running, it is likely a sign of a problem. Foul or unusual odors coming from the unit can indicate:

Mold or mildew growth
Electrical problems
Cracked heat exchangers
Poor gas combustion
Refrigerant leaks

Any of these problems are serious and require immediate attention from a qualified technician to ensure the safe operation of the heater. Common sounds that indicate problems with the heater are:

Screeching
Grinding
Thumping
Buzzing

For noises that are out of the ordinary, a technician should be called. Any of these could indicate the need for repairs, and a proactive response can limit further damage.

Insufficient Heating Around the Home

When the heater runs, the entire home should heat up to the same temperature. Something is wrong when the heater struggles to reach the setpoint or there are hot and cold spots around the home.

When homeowners invest in heating system maintenance, they can avoid the discomfort caused by these situations. If they struggle to get comfortable, heater repairs can help make the home warm again.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating preemptively handles most heater problems with a complete heater maintenance program. Their teams are always available and quickly solve any problems. Call today for heater service in Conroe, TX.

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How to Save Money With a New Air Conditioner

Save Money With a New Air Conditioner

Purchasing a new air conditioner to save money may seem counterintuitive, but household bills are negatively impacted when old units are no longer energy efficient. Avoiding second-hand systems is important to save money on potential AC repair costs. AC installation can be done in as little as 40 minutes, depending on the unit.

Monthly Bills

All air conditioning units will eventually break. Many homeowners don’t realize that many broken AC units will continue to produce cool air. Just not as much. This means the air conditioner works twice as hard to produce less cool air throughout the home. When this happens, the energy bills can slowly increase over time.

Newer air conditioners can save 40% on cooling costs. Energy Star models are known for following strict guidelines by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are recommended by most HVAC technicians in the area. They have a higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and use approximately 10% less energy than other new units.

The average lifespan of an air conditioning unit is 15 to 20 years, but this does not mean they won’t break before then. Air conditioning replacement and repair services are commonly needed by year 13. Purchasing a new AC system may be less expensive if the AC unit needs frequent repairs.

How Expensive Are Repair Costs?

The average air conditioner repair cost hovers around $100. As the unit ages, the price tends to increase.

During the last stretch of an air conditioner’s lifespan, homeowners often notice temperature fluctuations. This is natural as the AC loses cooling power. Poor air quality is another issue, but unlike uneven temperatures, mold growth can cause health problems for the entire household. AC replacement may be necessary if bacterial growth has occurred inside the unit.

Air conditioner replacement is almost always less expensive than paying for frequent repairs. As the unit ages, repairs become more expensive and may not completely fix the problem. To avoid sudden breakdowns during the hottest months of the year, a brand-new AC is also much more reliable.

Air Conditioning Installation

HVAC units come in different sizes. Energy efficiency and price will be affected if an AC system is too big or too small.

HVAC units are sized depending on a home’s number of cubic feet. Oversized HVAC systems tend to short-cycle, while undersized systems must work much harder to cool each room. To understand which air conditioner size works best, homeowners should calculate the amount of sunlight in addition to square feet. Older houses with poor insulation may need larger systems to maintain the correct temperature.

A professional technician knows how to properly size a unit before providing air conditioner installation services. If the AC system is removed before purchasing a new one, they advise which size will be most energy-efficient for the space. This saves money on the overall cost of air conditioning each year.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating has provided AC service for residential and commercial buildings since 1982. They offer 24/7 emergency services and honest recommendations from reliable technicians for top-notch home service. Call them and schedule an AC replacement in Conroe, TX, today!

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When Is It Too Early for AC Maintenance?

Remember Air Conditioner Maintenance Before Temperatures Spike

Air conditioner manufacturers and technicians have worked hard to spread the word about AC maintenance. By now, most people know that it is an important habit to get into to keep the air conditioner running through the summer. One thing that people don't know is that it is rarely too early to schedule AC maintenance.

AC maintenance needs to be done once per year, but the most effective time is at the beginning of the season. Performing air conditioner maintenance early in the year carries some benefits that homeowners probably want. Here are the top three benefits of early air conditioner maintenance.

Flexible Availability

One of the biggest hassles of air conditioner maintenance is scheduling. In homes where everyone is working or in school, it can be difficult to ensure someone is home to allow someone to work on the air conditioner. When homeowners remember to schedule AC maintenance earlier, the process becomes easier.

Once the heat is on, everyone rushes to turn up the air conditioner. During the early summer heat waves, everyone remembered forgetting to schedule maintenance. Additionally, people are just now discovering they need AC repairs as they fire up the air conditioner. This conspires to make AC technicians very busy, limiting their availability. By scheduling AC maintenance during the technicians' slow season, homeowners can get priority scheduling at their convenience.

Protect the Air Conditioner's Efficiency

Air conditioner maintenance carries many benefits. Maybe the one that owners value the most is efficiency. When technicians change air filters and clean evaporator and condenser coils, the air conditioner's efficiency increases, which can save homeowners a ton of money during the cooling season.

By scheduling early season air conditioning maintenance, homeowners can tap into the savings offered by improved efficiency earlier in the year. This further offsets the maintenance cost and ensures that bills stay low for the entire cooling season instead of just some of it. For homeowners looking to keep their bills low, spring AC maintenance is key.

Make the AC Unit Last Longer

Bills and repairs are standard costs for operating an air conditioner and are burdensome enough when they occur. However, the biggest cost homeowners will ever incur during home ownership is replacing an air conditioner. AC replacement is a big project that needs to be budgeted financially and for time. Wouldn't it be great to know that AC replacement can be delayed, saving homeowners time and money?

Air conditioner maintenance saves homeowners money on bills and repairs, but the most lucrative aspect is that it improves the longevity of the air conditioner. This allows homeowners to plan ahead for AC replacement so the cost doesn't come as much of a shock. By factoring in the longevity aspect with the lowering of bills and repairs, it is easy to see that early-season AC maintenance is a sound investment.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating has 40 years of experience running air conditioners. Their maintenance plan can help every homeowner lower heating and cooling bills, reduce repairs, and improve longevity. Call today for HVAC service in Conroe, TX.

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Everything Homeowners Need to Know About Duct Cleaning

The Benefits of Duct Cleaning

Ducts can easily be considered the unseen heroes of a home’s HVAC system. They’re responsible for transferring air around the home, which is essential for controlling the temperature and humidity in the house. But ducts can get pretty dirty, especially if they haven’t been cleaned in several years. So besides transporting air around the home, they can send pollutants, allergens, dirt, and dust around the house. These pollutants can cause issues among the household members, but that’s not all. They can also have negative effects on the HVAC system itself. So, read on to learn what homeowners should know about duct cleaning.

How Can Homeowners Benefit From Duct Cleaning?

Air ducts are no different from any other portion of the house that gets used regularly. Just like it’s common sense to vacuum the carpet, dust the furniture, or clean the bathroom, it’s also common sense to clean air ducts. Air duct cleaning has several benefits, the most prominent of which is cleaner air. But there are other benefits, as well.

Cleaning the air ducts regularly can also help prevent mold, mildew, and allergens from circulating in the house. Sometimes, moisture from the air conditioning process can build up in the ducts, causing a breeding ground for mold. This is best avoided with regular air duct cleaning.

Lastly, keeping the air ducts clean can also help the HVAC system have a long life with minimal repairs. The less dust there is to get caught in the system, the better it is for the components. Regular duct cleaning is part of an essential HVAC maintenance plan.

Signs It’s Time for Duct Cleaning

Since it’s not easy to see into the ducts, there are some signs homeowners can look for to indicate the ducts need cleaning. One major sign is the presence of dust coming from the vents when the air conditioner or heater comes on. Another is the smell of mildew coming from any of the vents while the HVAC system runs, which can indicate mold in the ducts.

If the home sees a spike in the energy bill, it could also indicate dirty ducts — especially if this is accompanied by filters that seem to get dirty quickly and/or poor airflow. It’s also a good idea for homeowners to listen for strange noises near the ducts, as animals or insects can build nests in the vents.

How to Maintain Clean Air Ducts

Duct cleaning doesn’t need to be a twice-a-year event, like other HVAC maintenance. Having the ducts cleaned once every year or two is usually sufficient. But it’s also important to help keep the ducts clean between visits by a professional air duct cleaning service. Luckily, this is easy to do.

Changing the air filters on time is a great way to help keep the ducts clean. While specifics vary depending on the type of filters and other household details, the general rule is to replace air filters every 90 days. Those with one or more pets in the house may want to change their filters more often. Additionally, keeping the house clean with regular vacuuming and dusting can prevent air ducts from getting dirty.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating has proudly served Conroe, TX, since 1982. Their reliable technicians show up on time and work with efficiency. They also provide honest recommendations and bring over thirty years of local experience to each job. Contact them today for duct cleaning services in Conroe, TX.

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Protect Air Quality During the Holidays

Tips to Keep the Air Clean Inside the Home

The holidays are coming, and everything has to be perfect. The Thanksgiving turkey has to be a beautiful golden brown, and the home has to be ready to receive holiday guests. With all preparations in place, the holiday can be a huge success.

One of the aspects of a clean home that is often overlooked is the indoor air quality. With guests coming over for the holidays, the air has to be clean to keep them safe from lung problems, and the home must be dust-free and clean. But how is one supposed to go about cleaning up the air in the home? Here is a quick guide to help owners finish their homes just in time for guests to arrive.

Install New Air Filters

Air filters are an important part of home hygiene. Although they are primarily intended to protect heating and cooling machinery, they also greatly reduce dust in the home. Controlling dust is essential to keeping surfaces clean and presentable for guests. To start, always install new air filters every three months. This ensures that clean air filters are always in service to remove the maximum amount of dust.

In addition to keeping AC equipment running properly and reducing dust in the home, fresh air filters also help protect people from lung problems during flu season. Some of the issues that cleaner air can help alleviate are:

Allergies
Asthma
COPD
Chronic sinus infections
Dry cough
Nasal irritation

Schedule Evaporator Coil Cleaning

The answer for those who have ever wondered how an air conditioner removes humidity from the air is the evaporator coil. During the summer, the evaporator coil is rapidly cooled by refrigerant. The moisture condenses and drains away as warm, humid air flows across it. While this process is natural, one of the consequences is that the combination of moisture and small dust particles that make it through the filter creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and pathogens.

To prevent this problem, have the evaporator coil cleaned once a year. Removing grime from the coil improves indoor air quality and allows the air conditioner to run more efficiently. Schedule spring and fall AC maintenance to ensure a professional does coil cleaning.

Have an Indoor Air Quality Assessment Done

There are all kinds of contaminants in indoor air that people don’t even realize are there. Some of the most common pollutants that are in every home are:

Dust and dust mites
VOCs
Volatilized cooking oils
Aerosols from cleaning agents
Bacteria
Mold
Poisonous gasses like carbon monoxide and radon

Improving indoor air quality can be done by treating specific contaminants. Having an expert perform an indoor air quality assessment can help owners develop a strategy to clean up their air. Find a local expert and do an indoor air assessment before the holidays so guests can enjoy their time in pure air.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating offers comprehensive indoor air quality solutions. Their experts provide fast service and are available for emergencies. Call today for excellent HVAC service in Conroe, TX.