Enjoy the Little Things When You Invest in Heating Repair for Your Home

Austin, Texas might not get that cold, but this does not mean you should go without a heater, especially throughout wintertime. It is not so much about being able to crank up the heater to warm up your home, but about enjoying the little things that you cannot do without an operational heating system. If you have a fairly modern heater in your home, you should just get it fixed with professional heating repair.

No More Walking Around on Cold Floors

While your floors will not get as cold as homes in New York or other states with freezing winters, you should still be able to walk around with bare feet and not feel like you need to run to the bedroom to put socks on immediately. It is a simple convenience that can make quite a difference for you and your family.

Wake Up at a Comfortable Temperature

In some cases, all it might take is a few degrees to achieve complete comfort in your home. Unfortunately, without a heater, you will have to create your own warmth through clothing and blankets. It is nice to be able to wake up and walk throughout your entire home at a comfortable temperature.

Leave Work to Go to a Cozy Home

When you leave for work, you should not leave your heater at the same temperature as you normally do, but you should not have to come home to an extremely uncomfortable home. It is best to find a temperature balance where you are able to leave work, come home, and feel comfortable right away. When this happens, you might not feel the need to turn the thermostat up, which can save you money.

If you have any questions about heater repair, feel free to contact us any time.

Use an Electrician to Install New Ceiling Fans that Help Year-Round

Having to choose between an expensive electrical bill and an uncomfortable home can be quite frustrating, but this is not a problem that you have to make a decision on as it does have a solution. Although you can install ceiling fans on your own, hiring an electrician is the best way to get new ceiling fans installed in your home.

Rely Less on Heating or Cooling System

While an easy solution to a hot or cold home is to use your heating or cooling system, you can take advantage of strategical methods to keep it at a manageable temperature without spending an excessive amount of money. Having ceiling fans throughout your home allows you to strategically maintain the temperature in your home.

Push Hot Air Down on Cold Days

Since hot air rises to the top of the home, you can use ceiling fans to push that air down on cold days. It is an easy and effective way to optimize your heating system usage as you will get to extend the warmth it provides. These fans are especially helpful to have in bedrooms when you are trying to get comfortable at nighttime.

Keep Cool during Hot Days

Stagnant air feels quite uncomfortable, but you can use a ceiling fan to move the air around. Although this will not actually change the temperature, you will notice a difference in how the air feels around you. When you combine window usage and the ceiling fans, you may be able to go without using your cooling system at all.

If you are not sure exactly what kind of ceiling fans you should use throughout your home, an electrician can give you professional advice to make sure you end up with ones that meet your needs.

Contact us if you would like to learn more about our services.

3 Reasons a Heating Maintenance Plan is Necessary

Nobody wants to be without heat in their homes during a freezing winter storm.  We simply assume that our heaters are going to work when we need them.  But sometimes failures occur, and during a cold winter’s day is the worst time – demand for service during the high seasons means that you and yours may be shivering under blankets until someone can get out to assist.

That’s why it is critical to take advantage of maintenance plans that will ensure your heating system is serviced multiple times per year.  Heating Maintenance Plans provide the following benefits:

Resolve Issues Promptly

Experienced technicians can identify potential issues during the warmer off-season, when repairs are less urgent.   Additionally, minor issues can be repaired more quickly and cost-effectively before they turn into major issues that can bring the entire heating system down.  This will help ensure that your heating system is functioning consistently throughout the winter seasons.

Save Money

Regular inspection and maintenance on your heating system will keep your system operational for longer, preventing the need to prematurely replace a failed system.  It will also help save money on substantial repairs that may be required for a major issue.  When serviced regularly, heating systems will last longer, run more efficiently, and operate optimally for many winters to come.

Improve Efficiency

Over time, heating systems begin to collect dirt and dust in various components.  This can actually reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 5% every year, meaning that your system is working harder, using more energy, and heating your home more slowly than it would otherwise.  In worst case scenarios, you may be at increased risk for a fire.  Regular service will help ensure that your heating system continues to run at peak capacity.

At Comfort Control, we offer affordable maintenance plans for your peace of mind.  Our experienced technicians will carefully inspect and service your heating system to keep it in top condition for the cold seasons.  To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.

Emergency Heating Repair May Not Be Necessary with an Annual Inspection

When your furnace goes out in winter, the only solution is to contact a heating and cooling professional right away, or else you will have no heat. But did you know that emergency heating repair isn't always necessary when you have an annual heating inspection?

Heating repair professionals recommend scheduling at least one inspection a year to ensure that your furnace or HVAC is working like it's supposed to. In doing so, you will completely prevent the need for emergency service.

In fact, not only do service technicians recommend an annual inspection, so does your furnace manufacturer. If you still have the manual for your unit (it's sometimes attached to the outside in a plastic bag), take a look inside for inspection timeframes.

What does an inspection do for your furnace?

A yearly inspection acts like a tune-up for your furnace, and it also ensures that all of the pieces and parts are still functioning as normal.

Further, when was the last time you had a safety check for your furnace? A service technician can provide you with a safety inspection so that you can rest easy knowing that nothing dangerous is going on without your knowledge.

Why not do it DIY?

While various items can quickly and easily be done by a homeowner, like changing furnace filters and vacuuming ducts, it is possible that larger issues will be missed in the process. So even if you plan the DIY route, an annual inspection is still advised.

Don't skip a furnace inspection this year. A simple call to a local heating and cooling professional can save you big headaches in the future.

Want more information on how we can help you with all of your heating and cooling needs? Please contact us today.

4 Signs Your Home's Electrical System Needs Repair

Many homeowners don't give much thought to the electrical wiring in their homes until an obvious problem arises. However, home electrical problems can be dangerous if they're not dealt with quickly. If you notice any of these warning signs, it's time to contact a qualified electrician.

Frequently tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. When a single outlet repeatedly trips the same circuit breaker, this is a sign that the circuit may be overloaded.

A loose plug. If plugs repeatedly slide out of an electrical outlet, the likely culprit is a worn contact in the receptacle. Worn contacts will not firmly grip the prongs. Loose contacts can lead to arcing, which can cause dust or dry wood to ignite. Replace the old receptacle as soon as you can.

A burning odor. A short in the electrical wiring behind the wall can lead to an electrical fire. If you detect a burning smell coming from an electrical outlet, unplug everything connected to the outlet, and remove the fuse or turn off the circuit breaker. Call an electrician to inspect the circuit right away.

Flickering or dimming lights. Some appliances draw large amounts of power. You may notice that the lights flicker or dim when an appliance turns on. This is a symptom of a voltage problem. An electrician can fix this by installing dedicated circuits for high-voltage appliances.

Flickering lights may also be caused by loose electrical wiring. Loose wiring is a fire hazard, so have an electrician examine the wiring as soon as possible.  

Please contact us to find out how we can assist you with repairing your home's electrical system.  

Why You Shouldn't Wait Until Winter to Have Your Heater Checked Out

Since the weather hasn't turned too cold yet, the last thing that you might want to think about is turning on your heater. However, it's a good idea to have your heat pump and accompanying system inspect now, even before the weather changes. These are a few reasons why you shouldn't wait until the last minute to have your system looked at.

You Could Save Money

Did you know that many heating and air conditioning contractors offer special deals and pricing during the off-season? If you wait until the weather turns cold, you might miss out on great deals. If you need to have your system repaired or replaced, now might be the best time to do so if you are on a budget.

You Might Need Time to Budget

You probably do not want to find out at the last minute that your heating system is in need of an expensive repair. Then, you might find yourself struggling to come up with the money that you need to finance the repair or pay for the replacement, and your family could be stuck in the cold in the meantime. If you have your heat pump inspected now, however, you can help ensure that this won't be an issue by giving yourself some extra time to budget for necessary repairs or to come up with financing options.

Prepare for Early Winter Weather

You never know when it might turn cold. Even though you might not be expecting any major temperature changes in the next few weeks, you don't want to find out that your heater isn't working if your area experiences early cold weather. If you have your heat pump inspected now, however, you can ensure that you are ready for the weather, no matter when it comes.

If you need help with having your heating system inspected before the winter comes, contact us. Then, we can schedule you an appointment ASAP to inspect and maintain your unit -- and repair it if necessary.

Three steps to maintain your air conditioning unit's fan

To keep your air conditioning unit in good shape, you need to not only have it serviced regularly and keep a good repair company's phone number at the ready, you also need to take some basic maintenance steps yourself. One of the most important parts of the AC unit is the fan, so follow these three steps to keep your fan in optimal working condition.

1. Clean

Because so much air moves past it, the fan is a prime candidate for rust. It can also get a lot of dust and grime buildup. You should clean your fan occasionally (remember to disconnect the unit from power before opening it) with a damp cloth. You can also spray it with an anti-rust spray to protect it.

2. Check screws

Loose screws can become a big problem with your AC fan because they allow the fan to hang crooked. This means your fan blades can smash themselves against other bits of the unit with every spin, bending and nicking the blades. So every time you open your unit, remember to tighten up your fan blade screws.

3. Lubricate

Unlubricated fans sometimes make annoying sounds, but more often they just quietly run at a sub-optimal level. Regular lubrication is a must, so try to find some special HVAC lubricant (or just use a regular lubricant if need be) to keep spinning components working smoothly.

Use these tips to prevent and manage any AC fan problems. If you have problems with some other part of your unit, feel free to contact us any time for repairs.