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Rewiring Your Home Electrical System

. Posted by in • Austin
rewiring a home

When renovating, many homeowners focus on improving the home’s aesthetic appeal. They could add a fresh coat of paint, upgrade appliances or replace old furniture. But what about the wires behind the walls? These might be due for a change, too.

Rewiring a home’s electrical system can help ensure that your family is protected from electrical mishaps, especially if you have an older home. A whole-house rewire involves replacing all of the old wiring throughout your home and installing a new fuse box.

Home rewiring is a highly complicated task and should not be attempted as a DIY project. That’s why you should ask a licensed electrician to handle this task. 

How Do Electricians Rewire a Whole House?

A professional electrician follows six key steps when rewiring a house, which include the following:

  • Electrical system assessment
  • Layout planning
  • Outlet and fixture marking
  • Old wiring removal
  • Read Full Post »
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Signs of Tree Roots in Your Sewer Lines

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
tree roots in a sewer line

Planting trees is a simple and cost-effective way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. But their benefits go beyond making your yard more attractive. Trees help clean the air around us and give us fresher air.

However, tree roots are notorious for breaking into sewer lines and causing issues with your plumbing systems. The question is, “How do you know there are tree roots in your sewer lines?” When is the right time to call in a plumber? Let’s dive into this issue.

How Tree Roots Get Into Sewer Lines

Most of the time, tree roots grow around a sewer pipe. Other times, they can break into the pipe. If you’re wondering how this happens, here are the three most common ways:

  • They find existing cracks
  • They break pipes
  • They dry out the surrounding soil

Let’s take a closer look at these.

They Find Existing Cracks

A sewer pipe degrades … Read Full Post »

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Heater Is Not Turning On: Troubleshooting Tips

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
a thumbnail from the video in this blog post

Homeowners rely on their heaters to keep their homes comfortable during the cold. Unfortunately, heaters can stop working out of nowhere, leaving you wondering what went wrong. The good news is that there are several ways to troubleshoot heating issues. However, it’s important to understand that all major heating system repairs should be left up to professionals. Your heater serves a vital purpose in your home and deserves the best care to ensure its longevity. If you can’t figure out why your heater isn’t turning on, contact a local HVAC repair service to inspect your system.   

Heater Is Not Turning On: Troubleshooting Tips

There are several potential reasons why your heater is not turning on. Most of them are simple fixes that homeowners can troubleshoot on their own. However, if fixing the following issues doesn’t resolve the issue, you should contact an HVAC expert to inspect your system. These steps include:

  • Read Full Post »
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Best Temperature For Heater In Winter

. Posted by in • San Antonio
a thumbnail from the video in the blog

As a homeowner, selecting the right temperature for your heater can be a challenging task. On one hand, you want everyone under your roof to be comfortable. And on the other hand, you don’t want a thermostat setting that makes your utility bills skyrocket. So, what temperature do you go for?

What Is the Ideal Thermostat Setting During the Day in Winter?

To keep costs low, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends a temperature range of 68 to 70 degrees in the winter.

However, these figures are not set in stone. Gary Cremeans, HVAC Operations Manager at ABC Home & Commercial Services, says that the best temperature to set your thermostat to in winter is a temperature that is comfortable for you and your family. Additionally, some thermostats may read cooler or warmer depending on a variety of factors. 

That said, if you are looking to cut down on your utility bills, there are … Read Full Post »

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Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

. Posted by in • Austin
A furnace blowing cold air through open air vents

Have you ever walked into your home on a cold night, only to realize your furnace is blowing cold air? Many homeowners would find this alarming. In many cases, the cause is something minor you can troubleshoot in just a few minutes. In some cases, it could be a problem that’s best handled by an HVAC expert.

Reasons Why Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

Noticing that your furnace is blowing cold air? This issue could be caused by a number of issues, including:

  • Incorrect thermostat settings
  • Closed supply vents
  • Dirty air filter
  • Furnace hasn’t warmed up yet
  • Faulty gas valves and pilot light
  • Faulty fan limit switch
  • Faulty flame sensor

Let’s take a closer look at each of these potential causes.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

It’s helpful to think of a thermostat as your furnace’s control panel. It regulates the temperature … Read Full Post »

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My Furnace Won’t Ignite: What Should I Do?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
Furnace Won't Ignite

As a homeowner, you rely on your furnace to keep your home warm throughout the winter. Unfortunately, there are times when furnaces can fail and provide unreliable heating.

If you’re dealing with any furnace issues, contact a heating repair specialist to inspect your furnace. They can get to the root of the problem.

My Furnace Won’t Ignite: What Should I Do?

There are several reasons why a furnace won’t ignite. The good news is that that means that there are also several potential solutions. Some of the possible reasons include:

  • Clogged air filters
  • Faulty wiring
  • Gas supply issues
  • Malfunctioning thermostat
  • Old pilot light
  • Failing Igniter
  • Wear and tear

Let’s examine these in more detail.

Clogged Air Filters

One of the most common reasons your furnace won’t light is that your air filters are clogged. Filters that are clogged with debris and dust … Read Full Post »

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Why Is My Electric Bill So High?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
electric bills

Many homeowners are on the lookout for ways to reduce their monthly utility bills. Electricity costs can add up quickly, especially if your home isn’t running as efficiently as it could be. If you’ve found yourself asking, “Why is my electric bill so high?”, you’re not alone.

There are several reasons your energy usage might be higher than expected, some of which may be hidden issues around your home.

Six Common Reasons Why Your Electric Bill Is Rising

A spike in your electric bill can be alarming. However, if you understand the root cause, you can address the problem directly. You may be dealing with one of these issues:

  • Using older appliances
  • Increased power consumption
  • Standby power use
  • Poor insulation
  • Inefficient light use
  • HVAC issues

Let’s dive into each of these a bit more.

Using Older Appliances

While an old appliance may still get … Read Full Post »

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Why Is My Dryer Leaking Water?

. Posted by in • Austin
a dryer leaking water

Your dryer can leak water for many reasons. Most of the time, it’s due to a clogged ventilation system or another common issue that can be easily resolved.

A leaky dryer can be more than just an inconvenience. It can sometimes indicate a more serious issue with your appliance. From clogged vents to faulty seals, there are several common reasons moisture may be building up. Learn how to determine if this issue can be resolved on your own or if it’s time to call in an appliance repair specialist.

Five Reasons Why Your Dryer Is Leaking Water

There are typically five common reasons why your dryer could be leaking water, which include:

  • Blocked ventilation system
  • Condensation in the exhaust duct
  • Faulty lint filter
  • Overfilled dryer
  • Unleveled dryer

Let’s examine these a bit more. Before attempting any of these fixes, turn off your dryer and … Read Full Post »

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Why Is My Furnace Short Cycling?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
a furnace air vent

Have you ever noticed your furnace kicking on, blowing a hot breeze for several minutes and then turning off? This is called short cycling. In other words, the furnace turns off before reaching your desired temperature.

For instance, you could set your thermostat to 72 degrees, but the furnace keeps shutting off at 65 degrees. Short cycling is not only confusing, but can indicate it’s time to get a new furnace.

Reasons Why Your Furnace Is Short Cycling

You might be wondering why your furnace is short cycling. There are several reasons why this happens, including:

  • Faulty thermostat
  • Clogged air filter
  • Overheating
  • Dirty flame sensor
  • Oversized furnace
  • Faulty limit switch

Let’s go over each of these in more detail.

Faulty Thermostat

If your furnace is not kicking on when the temperature drops, check the thermostat. A malfunctioning thermostat sends incorrect signals to your furnace. … Read Full Post »

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What Causes An Air Conditioner To Freeze Up?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
What causes an air conditioner to freeze up

When the temperatures rise, the last thing homeowners expect to deal with is a frozen air conditioner system. Unfortunately, air conditioner freeze-ups can happen any time of the year. They often point to a larger problem with your air conditioning system.

It’s important for homeowners to understand that running a frozen air conditioning unit can cause more damage and lead to costly repairs. If your unit is frozen, turn it off and contact an HVAC technician. An expert will get to the bottom of the freeze-up and ensure that your air conditioner works properly all year long. 

What Causes an Air Conditioner To Freeze Up?

The main reason that an air conditioner freezes up is due to insufficient airflow to the unit. However, an air conditioner can also freeze up because of low refrigerant levels. 

If your air conditioning unit doesn’t get proper airflow, specifically from warm air across the evaporator coil, the entire … Read Full Post »

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