Thermostats are an essential part of keeping your home feeling comfortable. Ultimately, your thermostat monitors and regulates climate control. At Trade-mark Air Conditioning, we want to help you maximize your comfort through efficient heating and cooling. For many homeowners, thermostat placement isn’t given a second thought. But where you choose to place your thermostat certainly matters for your home’s comfort. Don’t Place the Thermostat Near a Window or Door Placing your thermostat near a window or door means that the thermostat will read the temperatures from outside. Outside weather not only fluctuates, but the thermostat won’t get an accurate reading of what the temperature is inside the home. Don’t Place the Thermostat Near Sunlight Similar to placing your thermostat near a window or door, placing your thermostat near sunlight will make it difficult for the thermostat to get an accurate reading of the temperature inside the home. In fact, direct sunlight will tell your thermostat that your home is warmer than it is, so the furnace won’t kick on until the sun goes down in the winter, and the AC could run far too often in the summer. Don’t Place the Thermostat Near Air Registers and Vents Don’t place the...
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When your home in Ingram, TX, needs a heating system replacement, you might be concerned about the cost of purchasing a new one. Perhaps you’ve noticed online listings of used furnaces for sale in the area. Before you purchase a secondhand furnace, here’s what you need to know about their safety and whether or not it’s worth buying one to save money. Who Will Install It? Beware of used furnaces listed for sale on social media and other online marketplaces. There’s no way to trace where those furnaces came from or whether an offer is even legitimate. You won’t be able to verify the previous maintenance history either. Since the risks are so high, most reputable HVAC companies won’t even agree to install one. They don’t want to be held liable for potential equipment defects. Licensed HVAC contractors prefer to go right to the source and get new equipment from the manufacturer. Forget About a Warranty A furnace has a life expectancy of about 15 years. When you purchase a pre-owned one, a great deal of its usefulness is already behind it. There’s really no way to tell when it might break down or what component will go next. And...
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Throughout the winter, your Center Point, TX home’s furnace keeps each room warm and toasty. During each heating cycle, the warmed air passes through the furnace filter. It’s important to replace the filter every 30 to 90 days in order to maintain good furnace performance and indoor air quality. Choosing the best furnace filter can be tricky, so follow these three easy tips. 1. Select the Right Size Each make and model of furnace has its own size requirement for filters. Refer to the owner’s manual to verify the correct size for your heating system. You’ll need to know the length, width and thickness of the filter. Ordering filters in bulk will save you money on filter replacements. 2. Evaluate the MERV Rating Minimum efficiency reported value (MERV) is a rating system for air filters. The higher the rating, the smaller the particles trapped by the filter. If anyone in your household suffers from allergies, asthma or another breathing disorder, choose a filter rated at least 14. Be sure to read your furnace’s owner’s manual as some furnaces can’t accept filters with too low or too high of a MERV rating. 3. Consider Your Preferences There are disposable and reusable...
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Winter has arrived in Ingram, TX, which means it’s time to consider replacing your old furnace with a new one. With so many options available, you might feel overwhelmed. Follow these four simple tips to buy a new furnace for your home, and stay warm and comfortable for many years to come. 1. Check the AFUE Rating Annual fuel utilization efficiency, AFUE, measures how efficiently a furnace converts gas into heat. Look for a furnace with at least 95% AFUE. You’ll save money and decrease your home’s carbon footprint. 2. Verify Capacity Our technicians measure your home’s heating load requirements. It’s important to choose a furnace that meets these requirements. Choosing a furnace with too much capacity will waste energy, while choosing one without enough capacity will leave your home cold, overwork the unit and shorten its lifespan. 3. Consider a Variable-Speed Blower A variable-speed blower operates at the lowest speed needed to warm your home. At lower speeds, it uses less power. Furnaces with this feature provide more consistent temperature control in your home. 4. Skip the Pilot Light Few new furnaces have the traditional pilot light. Those lights constantly burn gas. Instead, new furnaces use an intermittent pilot,...
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If there’s a burning smell when your heater comes on, it may be nothing, but it could indicate that there’s a serious problem. The type of smell can help identify what the problem is. Burning Dust Smell When you first turn your heater on after it hasn’t been used for months, you may notice a burning dust smell. Dust collects in your heater when it’s not being used and will burn once the heater turns on. The smell should go away after a little while. If the smell lingers, check the air filter to see if it should be changed. Burning Plastic Smell A burning plastic smell can be caused by one of the heater’s components wearing out. This could be a failing capacitor or a worn fan belt. You should call an HVAC company to have the problem fixed. Trade-Mark Air Conditioning in Ingram, TX, does heater repair. If another HVAC company says that your heater needs a major repair, call us to get a free second opinion. Electric Burning Smell The smell of electric burning can be produced by something harmless, but it can also indicate that there’s a serious problem. Remove registers and make sure that there...
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If your furnace is nearing the end of its lifespan, now could be the perfect time to invest in a replacement before the winter arrives. A new furnace is a big financial commitment, though. Before you make your decision, there are certain things you should consider and steps that you should take. 1. Have Your Ducts Inspected When you purchase your new furnace, you’ll want to make sure your home is set up for it to give you the best possible results. Your heating system will be relying on your ducts to circulate warm, clean air throughout the household, so it would be wise to have them inspected beforehand. Your technician will be able to clean the ducts as well as locate and repair any leaks or damage. 2. Schedule a Home Inspection It’s important that your new furnace is the appropriate size to be able to efficiently heat your home. To make sure you get a furnace that’s a good fit, the square footage of your house, as well as the ceiling height, will both need to be considered. You can take these measurements yourself, but you may find it wise to have a contractor visit and carefully evaluate...
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Experiencing restful sleep is an important factor in your overall health. Room temperature can make all the difference in the sleep process. If your room isn’t the right temperature, falling asleep and staying asleep can be difficult. Sleep Temperature Recommendations General temperature recommendations for sleeping indoors is 65 degrees. Because each of us is different, optimal temperatures can range from 60 to 67 degrees. Installing a thermostat in your sleeping quarters can help you pinpoint the perfect setting for you. Experiment by starting with a setting of 65 degrees and taking note of your quality of sleep. Too Hot Sleep Environment If you attempt to sleep in a room that’s more than 67 degrees, you may have trouble falling asleep. The body naturally begins to reduce its internal temperature as your regular bedtime approaches. If the room is too hot, the body can become uncomfortable, and you’ll be unable to sleep. A humid environment can make sleeping even more difficult. A portable dehumidifier is a great appliance to have on hand to eliminate humidity in the bedroom. Would you like professional help to determine the condition of your home’s heating and cooling system, including the thermostat? Trade-Mark Air Conditioning has...
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As the cold months come, homeowners in Ingram, Texas, and the surrounding counties brace for crisp and chilly temperatures. Heating systems are usually the first line of defense for most households, but running your heater 24/7 can also mean an increase in your utility cost each month. Here are four ways to get around that. 1. Improve Airflow Heat is typically distributed across your household via radiators and duct-linked vents. These hot spots are called registers. How many heat registers your house has will depend on how big it is. Start with the radiator, which is normally situated in the living room. Are any couches, chairs, or bed frames obstructing the radiator from distributing hot air evenly throughout the room? Similarly, clear your heat vents of any obstructions to maximize airflow. 2. Install Reflectors Radiators produce heat in every direction, which includes the panel right behind them. The conditioned air directed there does nothing but dissipate into the wall. A radiator reflector helps redirect this warm air back into your living quarters. These heat-resistant sheets sit on the back of your radiator and cost anywhere between $20 to $40 at your local home improvement store. 3. Invest in a Humidifier...
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Has your home’s air conditioner been struggling to do its job? AC units falter and fail for a variety of reasons, most of which require professional intervention. If you’re located anywhere in the vicinity of Ingram, our team at Trade-Mark Air Conditioning can assist you. Let’s consider a few of the most common cooling problems our customers encounter. Thermostat Troubles If your AC isn’t cooling properly, the thermostat is the first thing to check. It’s at the root of many air conditioning problems. First, ensure that its settings are correct. It should be turned to “Cool” and set a few degrees below the home’s current temperature. Improper Installation When an air conditioning unit is new but it isn’t working as expected, installation practices may be to blame. Consider asking us to inspect the system to determine what the problem may be. We can also rework units that are poorly installed, which will bring long-term savings. A Dirty Condenser In most homes, condensers are placed outside for the best performance. However, this exposure allows them to accumulate debris that could affect the unit’s functionality. Clear away any grass, weeds, and other debris, and then clean the condenser with soap and water....
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Even if it’s not the solstice, any summer day when your air conditioner stops working seems like the longest of the year. When it comes to AC units, there are a number of problems that are mentioned over and over again by homeowners. Those are problems you’d rather avoid, so become more familiar with the issues that could affect your AC unit once the summer heats up. Dirty Filter A filter is designed to allow the free flow of air through your air conditioner by preventing dust and debris from entering. Over time, it collects layers of dirt and dust that can reduce its efficiency. A dirty filter is one of the most common problems and one of the easiest to fix. Simply replace the filter every three months. Do it more often during periods of extreme use. Low Refrigerant Level The refrigerant is a fluid that maintains the refrigeration cycle of an AC unit. Low refrigerant is a common occurrence that causes the temperature and pressure levels to be too low for normal functioning. Running Without Cooling It’s common for people to hear the AC running but not feel it. In some homes, it takes 10 minutes or longer...
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