The kids are restless, the teachers are ecstatic and the temperature is soaring. Must mean that ready or not, summer is here!

Even if you’ve stocked up on hot dogs, watermelon and enough sunscreen to last through September, are you REALLY prepared for summer? We mean, of course, is your HVAC system ready for the hot months ahead?

When the temperatures rise, especially in hot areas such as Texas, your air conditioner must work overtime to keep you cool. To help, here’s a short checklist to make sure your AC is ready for summer:

Replace the Filters – During the summer, you’ll want to clean or replace the filters more frequently, at least once a month. Clean filters keep them working properly and help prevent unexpected breakdowns.

Check the Ducts – You’ll want to check to make sure that your ventilation system is optimally functioning. Holes or leaks in your ducts reduce efficiency, causing you to lose much of the cool air. This is not only harder on the system, but it can greatly increase your energy bill.

Clean the Outside Unit – During the winter and spring months, branches, leaves and other debris often make their way into the outside part of HVAC units (even little critters!). It’s important to inspect the coils to be sure they are clean and that nothing is obstructing the unit (important: be sure the power is off before cleaning!). Move any gardening tools or yard items at least 2-3 feet away from the unit.

Test Your Unit – Don’t wait until the first hot day to test your unit. If you find problems, you’ll be stuck sweating until you can schedule a repair. However, if you detect a problem early on you’ll have time to get it fixed and working properly by summer.

Don’t Wait To Schedule a Maintenance Visit – To ensure that your system is running properly and efficiently, it’s important schedule regular tune-ups on your HVAC unit. These visits help prevent unexpected breakdowns and extend the life of your system. In not only saves you money in the long run, but it gives you comfort knowing you can relax in your cool house during the summer.

To schedule a tune-up for your HVAC unit, contact us today. Here’s to a cool and enjoyable summer!

A dehumidifier is exactly what it sounds like – a device that removes humidity, or excess moisture, from the air. That’s all well and good, but why would anyone need a dehumidifier in their home?

Here are 4 major benefits of having a central dehumidifier in your home:

Provide comfort in any weather. Have you ever heard anyone say that it’s not the heat, but the humidity that makes Houston summers so unbearable? It’s the truth.

When your body is hot it sweats and that sweat evaporates, cooling your body down. When the air is already full of moisture the evaporation process is slowed down, causing you to take longer to cool off.

When it’s cold, our clothes trap a layer of air over our skin and our body uses heat energy to warm it. It takes more energy to warm water than it does air, so when there’s humidity it takes more energy and time for our bodies to warm up.

Having a dehumidifier in your home will keep the air dry, helping your body to maintain a more comfortable temperature no matter the season.

Eliminate odors. Humidity itself smells musty and damp, but humidity also enhances other smells. That means that odors rise with the humidity level, and unfortunately the foul scents outshine the pleasant ones. A dehumidifier will help control any bad odors in your home, keeping it smelling fresh and clean.

Protect your health.  Mold, mildew and dust mites all thrive in humidity. These are all things that you may not “smell” when you breathe them in, but they definitely have an impact on your health. They can bring on allergies, as well as more serious things like infections and asthma. Having a central dehumidifier in your home will help to regulate the levels of humidity in all rooms keeping pollutants at bay and allowing you to breathe easy.

Preserve your home. If you live in a humid climate, like the Houston area, too much moisture in the air can warp wood flooring, window frames, cabinets and furniture. A dehumidifier can balance out any excess moisture in the air prolonging the life of your furniture, wood flooring, draperies, etc.

Having a central dehumidifier installed in your home can have a positive impact on your house, your health and your comfort level, especially in a humid climate like Houston.

If you want more information on a whole home dehumidifier visit our website or contact us today to schedule a service call.

Many people wonder if HVAC tune ups are truly necessary. If your unit seems to be running fine, why schedule a professional inspection?

Your HVAC system is similar to your car in terms of preventative maintenance. If you take care of it and schedule regular tune-ups it will run longer and more efficiently.  A little care along the way prevents unexpected breakdowns or problems.

Just as you wouldn’t want to be stranded on the side of the road, you don’t want to unexpectedly be stuck in a hot house with relatives coming for Labor Day weekend (because, let’s face it, don’t things always seem to break at the most inopportune time?!).

Your HVAC system is a large investment, so preventative maintenance is crucial to keeping it running efficiently and longer. Here are some reasons to schedule regular HVAC tune-ups:

Prevents Unexpected Problems – Regular tune-ups can highlight any potential issues early, allowing you to take care of them before it is too late.

Increases Health of People Living in Home – Clean filters promote better air quality, especially important for those with allergies or asthma.

Safety – In the event of a heating system, tune-ups will confirm that the heat exchanger is working properly and ensure no harmful gases are leaking into your home.

Increases Life Span of Your Unit – Preventative maintenance extends the life of your unit.

Increased Efficiency = Decreased Energy Cost – Regular tune-ups help your system run efficiently, which can lead to decreased energy bills and cost savings.

HVAC systems are a major investment and should be properly maintained in order for optimal performance.  For questions regarding your HVAC system, or to schedule an AC tune up contact Efficient Climate Control today.

 

Changing air filters regularly is critical to the long-term maintenance of your HVAC system. However, most homeowners don’t change or even check their filters regularly.  For some reason when it comes to air filters, out of sight often means out of mind.

Unfortunately this inattention can lead to a host of problems. Dirty air filters not only cause your units to be less efficient at heating and cooling, but they can also lead to costly repairs down the line – not to mention possible safety hazard! Some older home-heating systems units that don’t have now-common safety measures, such as an automatic shut off if they overheat. In this case, overheating can cause the furnace to catch fire with potentially catastrophic results.

So, How Often Should You Change Your Air Filters?

The short answer: it depends. There are a number of factors that can affect how often the filter needs to be changed, and answer should be customized to your specific home. A good rule of thumb is to check once a month, but take into consideration the following:

Number of People in the House  – It makes sense that the more people coming and going in the home the more dirt and dust they bring in and kick around.

Presence of Pets – We love ‘em, too, but dogs, cats and other furry pets can plenty of dander around your home. If you have pets, particularly those that shed, you’ll probably need to change your air filters more regularly than non-pet households.

Nearby Construction? Construction creates all kinds of dust – if there’s a new house going in on your street, or perhaps you’re having a pool installed (lucky you!), make a note to check your air filter. You may find it needs to be changed more frequently than usual.

How Does the Air Quality Feel?  – Some people can “just tell” when it’s time for a new filter. They suffer more from allergies or can tell a difference in breathing.  If you notice the air simply doesn’t feel as fresh and clean as it used to, it could be a sign that it’s time to change.

Air Pollution – If you are in an area that is experiencing high pollution you’ll definitely want to check your air filters frequently.

Do They Appear Dirty? – This common sense task is the most easy and effective way to tell if it’s time to change your air filters. Take an extra few minutes to check them out regularly. If they appear dirty, it’s time to change.

We understand that changing an air filter isn’t at the top of anyone’s list of fun things to do. However, it’s much easier and cheaper to prevent costly repairs than to deal with them unexpectedly.  So make a note on your calendar, put a reminder in your phone or do whatever you need to do to remind yourself. Your health – and your wallet – will thank you.

If you find yourself in need of an HVAC professional, please give us a call at (281) 367-5267 or visit our website to schedule a service call today.

Summer is here, the season when temperatures rise and our AC works overtime to keep us comfortable. Homeowners hope this all works as planned, but as anyone who’s AC has gone out during a heat wave knows – when it breaks you’re miserable.

Fortunately there are several preventative maintenance steps homeowners can take to ensure their AC unit functions properly and efficiently. Doing so not only helps with energy use and electricity bills, but it can reduce the chance of seasonal breaks and expensive repairs.

Just as regular car maintenance extends the lifespan of a car, scheduled maintenance on your AC can help avoid costly major repairs down the line. Below are some important preventative maintenance steps that can prolong the life of an AC unit:

Check and Replace Air Filters Regularly — Dirty filters greatly reduce a system’s efficiency and are a major cause of breakdowns. Replacing filters regularly can help energy consumption and the air inside the home. Experts recommend replacing every 1-2 months during the summer, or more frequently if other factors such as extreme dust or shedding pets are present.

Check Coolant – Be sure to check coolant levels and test for leaks using a leak detector. Be sure to capture any refrigerant that needs to come out of the system (do not release into the atmosphere).

Electrical Check – It’s important to inspect an AC unit’s the wiring. Faulty connections can be a fire hazard or ultimately damage AC unit.

Check AC Coils (Condenser and Evaporator Coils) – Replacing an AC unit’s air filter regularly helps keep its evaporator coil clean, but the coils themselves also need attention. Over time coils can collect dirt that affects the unit’s ability absorb heat. Check and clean evaporator and condenser coils as needed to increase efficiency.

Visual Spot Check – Regularly check around the outside unit for leaves and debris. Clean the areas to be sure there are no leaves or dirt that will interfere with airflow around the condenser. It can also help to have shade trees around, but make sure they are no closer than 2-3 feet from the unit.

Cover Outdoor Unit in Off-Season – During the winter it’s a good idea to cover your outdoor unit to protect it from the elements.

Consult A Professional – There are steps responsible homeowners can take to extend the life and efficiency of their AC unit, and several of the above are things they can easily do themselves. However, if repairs are needed or there are any potentials issues it’s important to contact a qualified, trained professional. He or she knows what to look for and can identify and fix problems before they get worse.

Remember, some basic preventative maintenance can save you from an inconvenient, expensive emergency down the line. If you need professional assitance with your AC unit, please call us at 281-367-5267 or click here to schedule a service call.

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 10, 2015 – 09:28:00 AM CST

One of the most common problems that can happen with AC units is that they stop cooling. Although this problem is common, the solution is not always the same. Sometimes it’s an easy fix that you can do on your own and other times you will need to call a professional.

But how do you know when a professional is needed? That’s what we’re here to help you with! Here’s a list of things to check on your own, before you enlist the help of a pro.

Check to see that the thermostat is not set to heat: Now I know this is an obvious one, but (perhaps because it’s SO obvious) you’d be surprised how many overlook this one. So before you start panicking, be sure to check that it is on the appropriate settings.
Is there any visible restriction of airflow? – Many people fail to keep up maintenance on the actual AC unit that’s located outside. Changing the air filter and cleaning the evaporator coil need to be regular maintenance activities in the summer time; Failure to do so seriously affects the cooling ability of your unit and can lead to the compressor freezing up. Make sure the filter is clean and that there is not dirt, leaves or other debris blocking the condenser coils airflow.
Is there a blown breaker switch? – Check to make sure that the circuit breaker hasn’t been tripped or that a fuse hasn’t been blown by the AC. This can be a sign of a bigger problem and you should contact a professional to take a look at it and make sure everything it ok.
Is it low on refrigerant? – This is one of the most common reasons for an AC unit to blow hot air. A refrigerant, usually Freon, is what cools the air in an AC unit, so if your ac is low on Freon it won’t produce cold air.
If your AC unit is blowing warm (or hot) air then most likely it’s a problem with the compressor (located in the outside unit) or it’s low on refrigerant. Another common cause of this problem could be a broken or disconnected return duct that is pulling in hot air from the attic or outside.

If your AC unit is blowing warm air and you need a professional to check it out, please visit our website to schedule a service call today, or call us at (281) 367-5267.

 

While the initial cost of new equipment may seem high, energy savings that will be realized through increased efficiency often justifies replacement. This improved efficiency is not only good for you, but also helps reduce your home’s electrical demand, which is ultimat read more