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What Is EM Heat On A Thermostat?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
frozen leaves hanging from a tree

If you take a look at the thermostat that controls your home’s heating and cooling systems, you might notice a switch or button labeled “EM heat.” If you see this, your home probably has a heat pump. The first part of the phrase “EM heat” stands for emergency. The emergency heat setting on your thermostat controls your heating system’s auxiliary heat source, which can be tapped into when outside temperatures drop below a certain threshold—usually anything colder than 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that you understand the answer to the original question—What is EM heat on a thermostat?—let’s learn more about this setting and why it comes on.

When functioning properly, the heating system’s heat pump pushes warm air from inside your home to the outside during hot weather and moves heat to the inside during cold weather. When outdoor temperatures drop into the thirties, however, it can become too … Read Full Post »

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Will Pipes Freeze At 32 Degrees? Avoiding Disaster

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
Will Pipes Freeze at 32 Degrees

Here in Texas, we are lucky that our winters are relatively mild. However, we do have those nights where it can get a bit chillier than we’re accustomed to. When it drops below freezing, many homeowners start to wonder: Will pipes freeze at 32 degrees? Water freezes at 32 degrees, so technically that is the temperature at which it becomes possible for pipes to freeze as well. That said, it’s not quite that simple.

Pipes can freeze at 32 degrees or below, but it will take a sustained period of time for this to happen. In other words, a pipe needs to be at freezing temperatures for at least half a day before homeowners have to worry about any freezing occurring. And, generally speaking, the temperature needs to be well below 32 for at least that length of time before freezing becomes likely.

While you may assume that homeowners in the North … Read Full Post »

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Why Is My Furnace Short Cycling?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Furnace short cycling

If you turn on your furnace and discover it’s not heating your home properly, you probably realize how much you take your heater for granted. In some cases, it may seem as though your furnace shuts off just about as quickly as it turns back on. If this has ever happened to you, you probably have asked yourself: Why is my furnace short cycling?

Homeowners in this situation can usually blame one (or more of the following) culprits for this issue: a clogged air filter, a dirty flame sensor, an oversized unit or a malfunctioning thermostat.

Clogged Air Filter

When your system’s filters are caked with dust particles, pet hair, pet dander and other debris that make it into your indoor environment, this buildup restricts airflow. The warm air becomes blocked in your furnace, raising its internal temperature. This warm air sends a signal to your system to shut off.

A furnace that turns … Read Full Post »

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Why Is Cold Air Blowing Out Of Vents When The Heat Is On?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
Cold air blowing out of vents when heat is on

When you come home on a chilly day, the last thing you want is to be met with is a gust of cold air blowing out of your vents when the heat is on. This unpleasant surprise is common, unfortunately, and can make uncomfortably cold weather that much more difficult to handle. Thankfully, there are a few common causes of this issue that can help you identify a solution.

Your Air Filter Is Dirty

Did changing your air filters slip your mind? Clogged air filters could be causing cold air to blow out of your vents. A dirty air filter can block airflow over your furnace’s heat exchanger, which can cause it to overheat. Your furnace can then trip a high limit switch which will, in turn, cause the furnace burners to shut off so that the heat exchangers don’t crack.

Your Pilot Light Is Out

If you have an older furnace with a … Read Full Post »

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Symptoms Of High Water Pressure In A House

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
symptoms of high water pressure in house

High water pressure in a house might sound like a good thing. No one likes taking a shower with low pressure, and many people rely on a good shower first thing in the morning to wake up. But high water pressure—that is, pressure over 65 psi, or pounds per square inch—is too hard on your home’s internal pipes and fittings. If your home has high water pressure, there will be signs indicating the pressure is too high. It is important to pay attention to these signs so you can remedy the problem before the high water pressure ends up damaging your home’s pipes, water heater, toilets or shutoff valve. Symptoms of high water pressure in a house include:

  • A knocking, banging or hammering noise coming from the pipes when you turn on a faucet in the house (this is known as a “water hammer”).
  • Leaky faucets.
  • Irregular water pressure in your showers and … Read Full Post »
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Why Your Gas Water Heater Is Not Hot Enough

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Gas water heater not hot enough

Many homeowners have experienced that same unfortunate situation: You’ve been waiting for the shower to heat up for ten minutes and it’s still lukewarm. No one else has used the shower recently, and no one is doing the dishes or otherwise using up all the hot water. What is the issue? Is your gas water heater not hot enough?

If you find yourself in this situation, there are usually three common culprits: a broken dip tube, a buildup of sediment in your tank or a malfunctioning heating system.

Broken Dip Tube

The dip tube is the part of your water heating system where cold water enters the heating tank. Usually, your dip tube will deliver cold water to the bottom of your tank where it can be easily and quickly heated for your use. If your dip tube is broken, cold water will stay at the top of your tank and will not … Read Full Post »

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How To Reduce Humidity In A House In Summer

. Posted by in • Austin
how to reduce humidity in house in summer

Recently you’ve been trying to escape the heat and humidity by heading inside, only to experience the same muggy feeling. With that in mind, you are probably wondering how to reduce humidity in a house in summer. What can you do to create a cool, comfortable sanctuary that will keep your family, pets and guests happy?

A humid indoor environment is a warning sign that your air conditioner is not working properly. What most homeowners don’t realize is that your AC system not only circulates cool air, but also dehumidifies incoming air. If it’s uncomfortably damp inside, you may have an oversized unit, leaks in your ductwork, insufficient refrigerant or a mechanical problem in your system.

In very humid climates, your system could have a hard time reaching an ideal level of humidity, even if it has no other underlying issues. In those situations, while buying a dehumidifier is an option, your … Read Full Post »

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Why Is My Air Conditioner Turning On And Off Repeatedly?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Air Conditioner Turning On And Off Repeatedly

Our air conditioners are complicated appliances which serve a vital function in our homes. When they are working properly, we hardly think about them at all. When they aren’t, we realize how much we take our cool, comfortable living spaces for granted. When you notice your air conditioner turning on and off repeatedly, you probably realize something is wrong, but you likely have little clue as to why this is happening, much less what to do about it.

There are a few reasons your air conditioner could be cycling on and off. The first and most likely is that your AC unit is too large for your home. When it comes to choosing an air conditioner, you may have fallen victim to a common misconception: the bigger the better. Unfortunately, unscrupulous contractors have an incentive to add extra capacity “just to be safe”, even when you really don’t need it, since … Read Full Post »

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AC Unit Fan Not Spinning: What Should I Do?

. Posted by in • Austin
AC Unit Fan Not Spinning

Air conditioning is a way of life in the southern parts of the U.S. for at least half the year. The price we pay for our mild winters is that we basically skip spring and head straight into summer. That’s why it is so troubling to come home and be hit with a blast of lukewarm air, especially when upon closer inspection, you discover your AC unit fan is not spinning.

Your air conditioner’s fan is usually located in your outside unit. The fan pulls in hot air and delivers it over your condenser coil, where the air cools to your desired temperature and can then be pumped into your home. While your fan can stop spinning for a number of reasons, in most cases, the resolution is not a simple DIY fix. Because of the complexity of air conditioning systems, the dangers of working with electricity and the simple fact … Read Full Post »

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Why Does My Toilet Flush Twice? Advice From The Pros

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Why does my toilet flush twice

Many homeowners have experienced it before: They use the bathroom, press the handle on the toilet to flush and after the first, expected flush, the toilet spontaneously flushes itself a second time. If this is happening in your bathroom, you might wonder, “Why does my toilet flush twice?”

There are several reasons why this might happen, along with some do-it-yourself ways that homeowners can troubleshoot and address the problem. In many cases, however, it is wise to hire a professional plumber for a proper diagnosis of the issue, along with any parts installation or repairs that might be needed.

The two most common issues with a twice flushing toilet are a toilet flapper that is staying up too long or a toilet fill valve that needs to be adjusted.

If the toilet flapper stays up for too long, this is usually because your toilet has been fitted with a generic or universal flapper … Read Full Post »

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