Heat Pump vs. Furnace for a San Antonio Home
Choosing between a heat pump and a furnace in Texas comes down to a different set of questions than it does up north. San Antonio’s heating season is short and mostly mild, so the furnace’s big advantage, steady heat on bitterly cold days, matters less here, while the heat pump’s ability to cool and heat […]
How to Prevent Mold in Your Humidifier
The best thing to put in a humidifier to prevent mold is clean, low-mineral water, and nothing else unless your manufacturer says so. Mold grows where water sits, so the protection comes from emptying and drying the tank every day, cleaning it every few days, and keeping your home’s humidity under 50 percent. A humidifier […]
Heat Pump vs. Air Conditioner: Which Works Better in Texas?
In the heat pump vs. air conditioner question for Texas homes, summer isn’t where the two differ. A heat pump and a central air conditioner with the same efficiency rating cool your house the same way and use about the same amount of electricity doing it. The difference is in winter, because a heat pump […]
Why Won’t My Heat Pump Switch to Heating Mode?
When a heat pump is not switching to heat, the cause is usually either the thermostat never asking for heat the right way or the part that flips the system from cooling to heating not responding. The first is often something you can fix in a few minutes. The second, a reversing valve or its […]
Why Is My Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air in Heat Mode?
A heat pump blowing cold air in heat mode isn’t always broken. Heat pumps deliver air that’s noticeably cooler than a furnace’s, and on chilly, damp mornings they briefly stop heating to clear frost off the outdoor unit. Both are normal, and both can make the air at the vents feel cold for a while. […]
Heater Won’t Turn On? What to Check First
When a heater won’t turn on, the problem is often something simple that keeps the system from getting the signal to start, like a thermostat setting, a tripped breaker, or a switch that got bumped. In San Antonio, where the heat may not have run since early spring, the first cold night of the year […]
Why Does My Heater Smell Like It Is Burning?
If your heater smells like it’s burning the first time you turn it on for the season, the most likely cause is dust. Months of it settle on the heating elements or burners while the system sits idle, and the first few warm cycles cook it off. That smell is normal, and it should fade […]
Fall HVAC Maintenance Checklist for San Antonio Homes
Heating system maintenance in San Antonio looks a little different from what you’ll read in most national guides. Our heating season is short, the AC often keeps running on warm afternoons well into November, and the furnace or heat strips may sit unused for seven or eight months before the first real cold front shows […]