Home Electrical Safety Tips from Your Austin Electrician

We all care about keeping our families safe, and while our homes are often the safest and most comfortable place, they have potential to be the most dangerous too.

As an electrician, we have seen some situations where safety wasn't of the highest concern. When that happens, we always take the time to explain to customers what needs changed, and do our best to help them reach the high level of safety that they deserve.

Because, let's face it, electricity has potential to be dangerous; there's no reason to let it be that way.

Here are some home electrical safety tips.

Extension Cords

They make life easier, but there some big no-no's involving extension cords.

- Never route them under rugs.

- Only use them temporarily.

- Throw old, cracked cords away.

- Only buy approved cords.

- Do no overload extension cords.

Receptacles/Outlets

Receptacles are important to how we use electricity, but are often the first thing to go bad.

- They are inexpensive, replace them if they crack.

- If they feel hot, stop using them and call an electrician.

- If they spark when you plug something in, cut the power and contact us.

- Check that the ground is connected if you must use a grounded plug.

- Only replace like receptacles; don't install 20-amp circuits where 15's go.

- Use lockouts if you have small children.

GFCI Receptacles

A GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) receptacle is perfect for those looking to add extra safety to their home.

- Ideal for wet environments like kitchens, baths, laundry, and garages.

- They constantly monitor current levels, and switch off for imbalances.

- They prevent fires by detecting ground faults.

- Appliances that you plug into them are safe from damage.

Need more information on how we can help you with your home electric? Please don't hesitate to contact us any time.

How Efficient Is Your HVAC?

Your HVAC system is a major energy expenditure. Whether you're turning up the heat or cooling things down, you spend a significant amount of energy getting your indoor environment under control. When operating on a budget, you have two choices.

1) Endure the Distress of Shrinking Your Footprint

You hear it on the news. You see it on television. Turning your temperatures up or down by a few degrees can help you shrink your footprint. If you're comfortable at 70 degrees in winter, you can put on a sweater and turn it down to 67 degrees instead. If you're comfortable at 75 degrees in summer, you can wear shorts and turn it up to 78 degrees. Little adjustments can lower you energy bills and shrink your footprint. 

2) Enjoy Comfort with Energy Efficiency

The real reason you might need to reduce your comfort to reduce your environmental impact, not to mention lower your energy bills, is because you are probably using an older, inefficient HVAC system. Investing in a new, contemporary system can improve your comfort by reducing your footprint and your energy bills with increased efficiency.

Along with the benefits of improved efficiency, increased comfort, and lowered energy bills, a quality contemporary HVAC system can reduce illnesses and allergic reactions by improving the quality of the air in your home or business. Improved indoor air quality has a big impact on health, as well as comfort. See how efficient your HVAC could be with a free inspection. Contact us today to take the first step to better comfort.

Easy Tips to Keep Your HVAC System Up and Running

Your HVAC unit is like the comfort center of your home or business. On hot days, it keeps everyone cool and relaxed. On cool days, it warms everything up so you can go about your day as content and comfortable.

So what do you do when your unit is running poorly, or seems to be working less efficiently than normal? Do you know how to ensure that your HVAC unit is functioning properly with some minor checks?

In this post, we'll give you some tips on maintaining your HVAC unit, helping to prolong its use, and lessening the time in between regularly scheduled maintenance.

Check Filters: How often? During peak operation, give them the once over at least once a month; replace them once every six. A clean filter helps your HVAC system run smoothly and at optimum performance at all times of the year.

Clean Coils: Evaporator coils are an easy target for mold. Disinfecting them with a spray bottle mixed half and half with bleach and water keeps them clean and working as expected. Just turn the unit off before applying cleaner, and wave goodbye to any potential mold problems.

Wipe Fans: Dirt accumulates on fans in a short amount of time. This dirt can cause strain on the system, ruining your HVAC's efficiency. Wipe fans clean at the same time you check your filter.

Sop up Water: Some water accumulation during peak running times is expected. However, if you see large pools of water, it means something more serious is going on. This is why a regular inspection by a service professional is important.

Keeping your HVAC system in tip-top shape is important to every individual in your home. So keeping it running with regular, professional maintenance should be on the top of your list.

For more information on how we can help you with your HVAC system, please contact us any time. Providing 24/7 service. Call Comfort Control today to service your HVAC system and if service is required, we’ll waive the service call fee!

How to Save Money on Your Heating Bills and Avoid Costly Repairs This Fall

Fall is just around the corner, bringing with it changing leaves and cooler weather. When those first cold nights hit, the last thing you want is for your heating to stop working. Heating repair experts offer these tips to keep your system running smoothly and to keep you ready for fall and winter weather.

Focus on Preventive Maintenance

While many of us ignore our heating or cooling systems until we face a costly problem, with just a little preventative maintenance you can ensure your heating system will be ready to go when cool weather hits. If you have a furnace, replace your filters regularly to avoid accumulated dirt and guarantee efficient heat. Clean your heater or regulator and make sure it isn't crowed by potential fire hazards like furniture or drapes. Do a quick visual inspection for any rust or other corrosion and call for annual system maintenance before the cool season hits.

Plan for Energy Efficiency

Many of us are looking to stay comfortable but also take care of the environment. By setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter you can help reduce your carbon footprint and lower your costly heating bills. Properly insulating your pipes and following basic maintenance also helps prevent emissions and increase your savings - up to 30% off your normal bill according to Energy.gov.

Know Who to Call if You Need Repairs

Despite our best efforts, sometimes our systems simply don't work when we need them to. The time to choose a maintenance service is before you find yourself in desperate need. Choose a local company with experience in your area and which offers service on your schedule. Look for professional qualifications as well as a record of dedicated customer service.

If you live in the Austin, Texas area and your heating system needs maintenance or you encounter a problem this cold season, contact Comfort Control.

An Electrician, For All Your Home Electricity Needs

What is one of the things in our home that we take completely for granted? That of course is the electricity that lets us live the way we do. So when your power goes out in full or partial or when you need electric work around the home done, who is the first person you should call? One of Comfort Control's electricians, that's who.

When you need wiring or electric work around the house done, you don't want someone who has no idea what they are doing working in your home. that's why all of our electricians get trained and  have an experienced background to provide you with the best service that they can possibly give. From simple projects like wiring up lights outside or helping to hook up a ceiling fan to re-wiring a new house, there is no project that is too hard for our trained and experienced electricians.

When it comes to the larger projects and equipment there is also options available for financing to help pay for whatever you may need done and all major credit cards are usable, to make sure that nobody gets excluded from our service. Not only that, we are also happy to help and assist you on things like; home energy audits, electrical safety inspections and help finding rebates for energy-efficient upgrades.

So if you are in need of quality electrician services, then don't even hesitate to contact us, day or night we will be here to help and serve our community and you.

Three Reasons Your Air Conditioning Unit Could Quit Working

As the summer wears on, the average temperature in Austin is right around 96 degrees. No matter how you look at it, that's just hot. The blazing hot sun beats down on your home, heating the interior up too. It can be downright unbearable, to say the least, unless you can retreat inside to enjoy the air conditioning. However, if it quits working, you're going to be miserably hot and uncomfortable until you can get it repaired. Knowing what could cause issues, and how to resolve them will help keep your family cool, even on the hottest of days.

Lack of Maintenance

Air conditioners need to be serviced by an HVAC specialist on an annual basis to assure they stay in good working order. The air filter, condenser coils and refrigerant level of your air conditioner should be checked at the beginning of each season, at a minimum. Dust can accumulate in the filter and on the coils, making it harder for the unit to produce cool air, and even more difficult for it to distribute it through your home. The refrigerant level might be low, which means there is a leak somewhere in the system that needs to be addressed.

It's Overheating

Your air conditioner works very hard, day and night, during the hottest months. If it's not operating properly, it could overheat and quit working. You'll know if the unit is overheating because it will often trip the circuit. While it may seem easy enough to just turn the circuit back on, it's not a good idea. The only way to resolve the issue is by calling in a professional to diagnose the problem. While the issue may be as simple as a dirty air filter or condenser coils, it could be a bigger issue such as bad wiring, or a burnt out fan.

Age of The Unit

Even under the best of conditions and proper maintenance, any air conditioner unit will eventually wear out. If your air conditioning is 10 years old, there's a good chance that it has reached the end of its useful life. Although it may seem like a big investment to make, a new, energy-efficient air conditioner will function better and last longer than one that is simply being repaired. An HVAC professional will calculate the amount of square footage of your home and recommend a unit that will be able to keep your entire home cool.

With more than three decades of experience, the Comfort Control team has what it takes to install, maintain, service and repair the HVAC system in your home or business. We guarantee all of our customers the best service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at the best price possible. If your air conditioner is giving you problems, don't hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to come out, assess the problem and make the necessary repairs right away.

Tired of living without air conditioning? How to Fix it Today.

Air conditioning has moved from being a luxury to being a necessity, especially in a climate as hot as Austin, Texas.  There are few things worse than sitting in an office, dripping in sweat, and waiting for the day to end.  So why deal with it, why force yourself through another sweaty day?

Sure, you could call one of the huge companies and schedule a repair later in the week, but why wait that long?  Picture the day after we come out and repair your AC:

Sitting in your same office, nice and comfortable,  not sweating, and far more productive.  As a manager, think of the productivity being lost not only to employees fatigued by the heat, but wasting company time complaining about it.  

Even better, you'll build some great rapport with your employees by fixing the problem quickly and making the work environment bearable again.

Remember,  our certified technicians have been in the air conditioning industry for over 30 years.  They know what they're doing, and they can be there in minutes, not days, to get your AC working again.

 Of course, having the knowledge is only one part of the equation.  Have you ever had a contractor or technician make an appointment, then be late or not show at all?  We pride ourselves on our professionalism, punctuality, and we won't keep you waiting.  So why keep waiting?

So if you're tired of being uncomfortable and hot, just contact us now and let us take care of it for you.