Cooling, Heating, and Cleaning the Air You Breathe in Your Houston, TX Home
Trying to service or understand your HVAC system on your own can be difficult, which is why the experts at The Lee Thompson Co receive a lot of different questions. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions that come our way:
Q: How often do I need HVAC Maintenance?
A: To keep your heating and cooling systems working properly year-round, we recommend scheduling maintenance twice a year. (Once for heating, once for cooling). This way, a Lee Thompson Co HVAC expert can check your filters, coils, wiring, motor, and moving parts to make sure your system is ready for the seasons ahead.
Q: What if I need emergency HVAC service?
A: We provide emergency AC repair when you need it most! Weekend or holiday problems can happen. Contact our office at (713) 688-6900 if you require emergency services for your HVAC system. Check out more of our emergency services here.
Q: Can you help me with my commercial property?
A: Yes! The Lee Thompson Co performs installation, repair, and maintenance on commercial equipment - packaged units typically used in smaller commercial buildings and offices generally from one to four stories tall. Learn more about our commercial services here.
Q: Which HVAC system is the best fit for my home?
A: The best way to make sure you have the best HVAC system to suit your needs is to contact us and schedule an appointment with one of our HVAC specialists. We will be able to find the best solution for your home or business and install it with ease!
Q: How do I know if I need repair or replacement?
A: At a certain point, all HVAC systems will need to be replaced. If you find yourself needing constant repairs or your system can't heat or cool your home properly, it's best to invest in a newer and more efficient model. A Lee Thompson Co expert will be able to assist you from start to finish!
Q: How do I know if my air quality is suffering?
A: Did you know that the air quality in your home can be 5x more polluted than the outside air? Your air ducts and heating and cooling equipment could be housing and spreading bacteria, viruses, mold, dust mites, pet dander, and more. If you think your home air quality is less than perfect, The Lee Thompson Co offers a wide range of solutions to fix it!
Q: How do I choose a good HVAC company in my area?
A: When looking for an HVAC contractor to best suit your needs, ask friends and family for recommendations. Always check online reviews, too! Make sure they're qualified to do the job and have all the proper licensing and insurance.
Do you have a question we didn't cover? Call us today!
Cooling, Heating, and Cleaning the Air You Breathe in Your Houston, TX Home
Trying to service or understand your heating system on your own can be difficult, which is why the experts at The Lee Thompson Co receive a lot of different questions. Here are a few of the most frequently asked heating season questions that come our way:
Q: Do I need heating maintenance?
A: Professional annual heating maintenance is vital. You should call in professional heating maintenance personnel to inspect your space heating equipment, water heaters, central heaters, and clean up your chimneys to clear any clogged vents. This will help safeguard your home from such fires. You also get to avoid costly future heating repairs as well as improve the value of your property in the long-term.
Q: How often do I need heating maintenance?
A: Your heating system should be checked once a year. You may think that you don’t need to check your equipment annually, or you may not want to pay a fee once or twice a year, but you may regret your decision if you and your family are left without heat this winter! HVAC experts claim that up to 75% of no-heat calls each winter are due to lack of maintenance. Proper inspection will help to prevent you and your loved ones from being stuck in a cold house.
Q: Will heating maintenance help with my energy costs?
A: One major benefit of routine service is the impact that a full-functioning furnace will have on your energy bill. Professionals will suggest small changes to keep things running smoothly, such as changing your air filter. A filter replacement is recommended every three months to prevent restriction of air flow throughout your home. Another common step to save money on your energy bill is using a programmable thermostat. Simply setting the dial down a mere seven or eight degrees can save you up to 10 percent. These changes, along with routine service, can reduce your bill annually by 30%.
It may not seem like a lot preliminarily, but over time these totals really start to add up. Switching out your filters and reducing the expenditure of heat by your furnace will also help extend the life of the furnace. As filters grow old and the furnace is used often, corrosion and degradation tend to take their toll on the system much quicker. By conserving just a small amount of energy, you’ll be saving your money in the short term and the long term by lowering your energy bill now and reducing the risk of any expensive repairs later on down the road.
Q: Why Do I Have Cold Spots In My Home?
- You Have An Improperly Sized Furnace
If your furnace is too small for your home, this will leave some rooms in your house out in the cold. A too-small furnace simply can't generate enough heat for the amount of square footage. Not only that, but it has to work too hard, which is costing you more money.
- Your Air Ducts Are Leaking
Leaky air ducts are a sneaky problem that will cost you money and create uncomfortable variations in temperature throughout your home. These issues affect you all year long, because they hurt your air conditioning, too. During the winter months, you'll find that areas of your house are chilly while others are warm.
- You Have Improperly Sized Ductwork
Similar to the issue of an improperly sized furnace, the wrong sized ductwork creates uneven heating in your home, causes the furnace to work too hard and results in increased energy costs and costly repairs to your furnace.
- Your Furnace Does Not Have Zoning Capabilities
Even if your furnace and ductwork are adequate, if your furnace doesn't have zoning capabilities, you are still going to run into temperature fluctuations throughout your home. This is because different areas of your home are simply going to be colder. This may be due to large windows, exposure, lack of carpeting/high ceilings and other factors. Zoning allows you to increase the temperature in some rooms and reduce or eliminate it in others. For example, if you don't use one area of the house as much, there is little reason to heat it. If you have a room that is just naturally colder than another, you can increase the temperature in that particular room without overheating the rest of the house.
- Your Thermostat Is Broken Or Needs To Be Replaced
This is a relatively easy fix, but people are often unaware that their thermostat is no longer functioning optimally. This is something that should be checked during your yearly maintenance and inspection.
Q: How do I know if I need repair or replacement?
At a certain point, all heating systems will need to be replaced. Here are some signs that it needs to
- Your Furnace Sounds Like a Monster
No furnace is completely soundless, but if it is making noises like a hungry tiger on the prowl for food -groaning, whining, banging - repair may include replacing a loose belt, priming the ignition, or finding the correct component to replace it with. Troubleshooting as soon as you hear those noises and you will be on your way to quickly remedying the situation.
- Turning Up the Thermostat Doesn't Do the Job Anymore
Your natural reaction to feeling cold is to turn up your thermostat to a temperature where you feel comfortable again. Lately, however, this just doesn’t work anymore. Now you won’t have the proper heat during the cold season months. This suggests that the thermostat may be on the blink, or your ducts might be leaking. For constant, reliable heat, call in a specialist to see if the problem is your thermostat and he will suggest a replacement.
- You Have Difficulty Starting and Keeping Your Furnace On
This is a sure sign that you need furnace repairs. Problems can range from improper wiring, a broken fan motor or getting a new pilot light. Most furnace repair companies will provide easy financing provided you catch the problem before it becomes too severe.
- Air Condensation
You may not need furnace repairs for condensation, but if it keeps up it could mean you’ll be making constant calls for checkups that could lead to a higher risk of replacement. It is best to only allow two minor furnace issues to occur in succession before you call for a maintenance person.
- Your Furnace is a Dinosaur
The average furnace lasts between 10 to 20 years with a good unit lasting into the upper level of that range. If you have had your furnace for over 15 years, now is a good time to begin looking for a new one. A new furnace gives constant, reliable heat, eliminates repair costs and maintenance visits.
- Your Furnace Gives Off an Unusual Odor
Your furnace is only supposed to have the scent of fresh gas or oil if you are using it for the first time of the season. If after several consecutive uses, there is still a strange smell during your generator use, then something isn’t normal. Contact a specialist right away to diagnose the problem. Strange odors are more serious than you might think. Not only does it mean your unit is not functioning properly, but it also poses safety hazards to your environment.
If you are experiencing any or all of these problems, call us today. A Lee Thompson Co expert will be able to assist you from start to finish!
Q: What if I need emergency heating service?
A: We provide emergency heating repair when you need it most! Weekend or holiday problems can happen. Contact our office at (713) 688-6900 if you require emergency services for your HVAC system. Check out more of our emergency services here.
Q: Can you help me with my commercial property?
A: Yes! The Lee Thompson Co performs installation, repair, and maintenance on commercial equipment - packaged units typically used in smaller commercial buildings and offices generally from one to four stories tall. Learn more about our commercial services here.
Q: How do I choose a good heating company in my area?
A: When looking for a heating contractor to best suit your needs, ask friends and family for recommendations. Always check online reviews, too! Make sure they're qualified to do the job and have all the proper licensing and insurance.
Do you have a question we didn't cover? Call us today!
Cooling, Heating, and Cleaning The Air You Breathe in Your Houston, TX Home
Trying to service or understand your air conditioning system on your own can be difficult, which is why the experts at The Lee Thompson Co receive a lot of different questions. Here are a few of the most frequently asked cooling season questions that come our way:
Q: Is spring HVAC maintenance important?
The old adage is true: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Having your HVAC System maintained in the Spring before the hot summer days require it to work hard all day long is imperative to keeping your system in peak condition. Following a scheduled HVAC maintenance routine will not only save you tons of money on utility bills, it will give you peace of mind knowing that your HVAC system will work properly and efficiently when you need it most (cool spring nights and hot summer days.) It is not a good feeling when you need your home to be heated or cooled only to find your system is not working properly. In many cases, these issues can be identified during a preventative maintenance inspection before they become a major issue. Not familiar with what a preventative maintenance visit for your HVAC unit entails? Here are the services performed and a little insight as to the importance of the task at hand.
Q: How often should I get my AC maintenanced?
Get your air conditioner serviced once a year at the beginning of the warm-weather season. Your HVAC repair person will clean and inspect the wiring and mechanical parts, check for wear and tear and make recommendations for repair. Getting a tune-up can help improve the efficiency of the system and prevent breakdowns, ensuring that your air conditioner will be operating at optimal levels throughout the cooling season.
Q: What are some services for a typical spring HVAC maintenance?
- Clean and lubricate indoor HVAC components such as blower fans and coils so that the unit is working efficiently and keeping your utility bills low.
- Check AC’s refrigerant levels to ensure your AC is blowing cold air. If the technician notices the level is low, this could indicate a possible leak in the system.
- Changing the air filter during the Spring visit will help your unit run more efficiently and will keep down dust and allergens in your home.
- Tighten electrical connections as well as inspect the fan blades and motor for damage and normal wear.
- This is also a great time for the technician to lubricate the parts as needed and inspect safety devices for proper operation.
- Check the operation of all HVAC units (heating, cooling) to make sure everything is in peak running condition for the upcoming season.
- Clean out the outdoor unit to remove any leaves, twigs, grass, dirt, etc. that might have gathered during the winter months.
- Test thermostat for proper operation, calibrate and level to ensure your home is heating and cooling to the right temperature.
- Most air conditioners have a drainage hole on the base of the cabinet. This hole needs to be kept clear so that the air conditioner works properly. The technician will remove any obstructions during the inspection as he flushes and treats the condensate drain.
- Inspect ductwork to check for leaks.
Q: Does my furnace performance affect my air conditioning?
Your furnace and air conditioner use the same blower and air ducts. If you've been having problems with your furnace this winter, your air conditioner could be affected as well. Repairing your furnace now will help ensure that your HVAC system is ready to go when the cooling season begins.
Q: What are the different types of air conditioning systems?
- Central air conditioners and heat pumps are the most common form of systems, and unlike some of the other options they are often used to heat entire homes. They generally consist of a large compressor that is external to the home and drives the process and indoor refrigerant coils that distribute cool air throughout the home via ducts. Heat pumps work similarly, except they are also able to distribute warm air in the cooler winter months. Ducts throughout the home are utilized for distribution of both warm and cool air in concert with a fan system.
- Room air conditioners are mounted either on the walls, ceiling or through a window. These systems work in a similar fashion to central air conditioners, but compressors are located outside the home and the systems are generally built to control the temperature in a single room. These units are less expensive to purchase, but are potentially less efficient and have a higher daily running cost overall.
- Ductless mini-split air conditioners are more popular outside the U.S., but are gaining prominence with homeowners who are updating a portion of their home or reworking an older addition that doesn't have ductwork in place. They are similar to room air conditioners in that they are a zoned system, but the functionality is more similar to a conventional central air conditioning unit. When you're using a ductless system, you also avoid the energy loss that is associated with a traditional system with ducts. You can also maintain overall cleaner air due to the lack of cracks and crevices in the ducts for dust, mold and other contaminants to hide.
Q: What if I need emergency air conditioning service?
We provide emergency air conditioning repair when you need it most! Weekend or holiday problems can happen. Contact our office at (713) 688-6900 if you require emergency services for your HVAC system. Check out more of our emergency services here.
Q: Can you help me with my commercial property?
Yes! The Lee Thompson Co performs installation, repair, and maintenance on commercial equipment - packaged units typically used in smaller commercial buildings and offices generally from one to four stories tall. Learn more about our commercial services here.
Q: How do I choose a good cooling company in my area?
When looking for an air conditioning contractor to best suit your needs, ask friends and family for recommendations. Always check online reviews, too! Make sure they're qualified to do the job and have all the proper licensing and insurance.
Do you have a question we didn't cover? Call us today!