Summers in Texas can be brutally hot, increasing homeowners’ energy costs. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to reduce your energy consumption and lower your utility bills. 1. Check for Air Leaks Whether it’s caulking around windows, weather-stripping doors, or using a foam sealant to insulate around your foundation, you can reduce the amount of air leaking into and out of your home. These efforts will help keep heat out and cool air inside, reducing how hard your cooling system needs to work to keep you comfortable and reduce utility costs. 2. Install a Programmable Thermostat Installing a programmable thermostat is a practical way to reduce your energy consumption. You can program it to automatically adjust the temperature higher when you and your family are outside of your home. Having a professional upgrade your thermostat will reduce how much your cooling system runs, saving you money on energy bills. 3. Ensure Regular Maintenance of Your AC Unit Air conditioners can become inefficient for various reasons, including clogged filters, dirty coils, and low refrigerant levels. Experts advise that you should have your air conditioner tuned up before each summer. Having an HVAC professional service your cooling system will help...
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Getting a new HVAC system installed in your Ingram, TX home is a big deal. It’s also a major investment in your home’s comfort and overall value. Homeowners worry that they’ll damage a new system if they don’t get it off to the perfect start in their home. To put your mind at ease, here are the facts about HVAC break-in periods. What Happens After an HVAC Installation? On the day of your HVAC installation, one of our expert technicians will arrive at your home with everything they need to complete the job. They’ll begin by removing your existing system if you have one. Then, they’ll prepare the installation areas both inside and outside your home. After that, they’ll install your new HVAC system. When your new HVAC system is all set up, our technician will run it through a series of tests to make certain everything’s in working order. After that, you can turn on your HVAC system and use it as much or as little as you wish. So, There’s No HVAC Break-in Period? There’s no special procedure you’ll need to follow and no break-in period to worry about. Modern HVAC systems arrive at your home ready for...
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Heat pumps are an efficient option for heating your home throughout the year. They are popular because they combine the functions of an air conditioner and a heater. Like other systems, heat pumps experience various issues, one being water leakages. The following are common reasons why your heat pump is leaking water. 1. Drainage Issues Heat pumps contain a pan to hold normal condensation before it flows through a drain line. If the drain line is blocked or the overflow pan is not balanced, your heat pump may leak water. Our technicians can unclog the line or align the pan to prevent leaks. 2. Dirty Coils Your heat pump’s cold evaporator coil collects condensation and channels it into a pan that takes it to a drain. If your coil is dirty, it may become faulty and result in water leaks. Scheduling regular maintenance with us to clean various heat pump components is a great way to prevent leaks caused by dirty coils. 3. Frozen Coils Besides dirty coils, frozen coils can also cause leaks. Ice formation often occurs when low refrigerant levels in the heat pump disrupt the cooling process. Keeping your unit filled at an appropriate level of refrigerant...
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Your energy bill in summer can be quite a shock. Often, it’s because your air conditioner is working overtime to keep your home cool and comfortable. You might be looking for ways to reduce your energy consumption and save money. 1. Check for Leaks and Gaps Leaks and gaps in the ductwork, around windows and doors, or in the insulation can cause your AC unit to work harder than necessary. They allow cool air to escape, which means your unit has to run longer to maintain the desired temperature. To check for leaks, hold a piece of tissue near suspected areas. If the tissue flutters, you have a leak. Once you’ve located the leaks, seal them with caulk or weatherstripping. 2. Replace or Clean the Filters Dirty filters can restrict airflow, which makes your unit work harder and less efficiently. Check the filters monthly, and clean or replace them as needed. If you have a reusable filter, rinse it with warm water, and let it dry completely before putting it back in place. If you have a disposable filter, replace it with a new one of the same type and size. Never operate your AC unit without a filter in...
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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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Air conditioning is essential to your well-being and comfort in Ingram, TX. The last thing you want to deal with in the middle of the sizzling hot summer season is a broken air conditioner. A common issue is a frozen up AC unit. Here are three possible causes of why air conditioners freeze up and some tips on what you can do to prevent this from happening. 1. Dirty Air Filter Air filters trap dust and debris in your home’s air. When the filters get clogged, they hinder airflow across the evaporator coil. The refrigerant in the evaporator coil isn’t able to absorb heat from your house’s air, so it keeps getting colder. Moisture from the warm air condenses and freezes onto the coil, resulting in ice buildup. Be sure to check and replace the air filter every month. 2. Debris Buildup on Evaporator Coil Dust and debris can build up on the evaporator coil even if you do change the filter once a month. Filters only trap large particles, and layers of small particles will accumulate on the coil over time. The best way to prevent a dirty evaporator coil is to schedule an annual AC maintenance visit each...
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The summers are hot in Ingram, and you depend on your cooling system to keep you comfortable. When you lower the setting on your thermostat, you quickly feel the cool air blowing through your home. It has not always been so easy. Your air conditioning unit is the result of a series of inventions and years of progress. Mist and Evaporation People have long understood the cooling feel of water evaporation. Even on a warm, sunny day, sitting outside after a swim can make you shiver. Some of the first attempts at modern air conditioning were founded on this principle. In the 1850s, an inventor named John Gorrie developed a machine to provide a cooler atmosphere in hospital rooms. His first attempt required transporting ice from northern states to Florida. It was a messy and expensive endeavor. However, in 1851, he invented a machine that used compressed air to make ice and mist. His cold air machine was powered by horse or wind. Unfortunately, Gorrie lost his financial backing, and his machine was never fully developed. The First Electric Air Conditioner Gorrie was limited by the power sources of his time. By the early 1900s, more American cities had access...
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In the summer heat, air conditioning systems become indispensable in maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. But some homeowners are tempted to run their AC system while leaving their windows open for fresh air. This is a bad idea for several reasons and can affect your air conditioner adversely. You Wear Down Your AC Unit Leaving your windows open results in your AC system needing to run continuously, dramatically shortening its lifespan. AC systems are installed with a load in mind related to the size of your home. When you leave windows open, you increase the load. Your AC system has to work much harder to maintain the temperature you set on the thermostat as cool air escapes out the open windows. Trade-Mark Air Conditioning provides air conditioning replacements for Ingram, TX, homeowners and the surrounding areas. Our technicians ensure your home’s air conditioning system is the right size. Dust Enters Your Home When you leave a window open while running your AC system, dust comes into your home and then enters the return register. The dust clogs up your system’s air filter and can end up covering the evaporator coil. You’ll need to change air filters more often as otherwise,...
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While other heating and cooling options are more efficient than ever, the most energy-efficient heating is offered through geothermal heat pumps. These systems transfer heat between your home and the ground outside. They don’t burn fossil fuels like natural gas or electricity. This article will help you decide if a geothermal heat pump is the right system for you. How Geothermal Heat Pumps Work The ground has a lot of heat in it that it collects from the sun. The heat stays at a fairly constant temperature throughout the year. There is refrigerant in heat pumps that condenses the heat in the ground and supplies it to your home. In hot months, the opposite happens as the system sends cool air into your home. There are closed-loop and open-loop systems. The most efficient system is the open-loop system as it has efficiency ratings over 45 EER. Closed-loop systems can exceed 35 EER. Trade-Mark of Ingram, KY, installs and services geothermal heat pumps. Our customers have significantly reduced their energy bills after a geothermal heat pump was installed on their property. Pros and Cons of Geothermal Heat Pumps Besides reducing energy bills and reliance on fossil fuels, a geothermal heat pump’s...
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Many homes are heated and cooled through a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC). Making sure your house is warm and comfortable is important during the holidays when the weather is cold and your friends and family members are visiting. Here are five smart HVAC tips for the holiday season. Hire a Pro to Inspect Your HVAC Ductwork A professional HVAC specialist can inspect your ductwork for leaks. If any are found, the expert can do a quick repair. He or she may also clean the system, thereby making sure heat will be able to flow unobstructed throughout your house. Remove Clutter from Around Your Furnace Some people use the area around their heating system as storage space. Once you start using your heating system again, you should clear the area around it. Otherwise, you may have a fire hazard on your hands — especially if there are any combustible items nearby. Replace Your Weather-Stripping If you feel a cold draft near any of your windows, it means that there are air leaks. You can eliminate these air leaks by caulking and replacing weather-stripping. This will prevent cold air from leaking in. A professional HVAC expert can also...
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