ABC Blog

[Infographic] When to Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioner.

Get your AC ready for the hot Texas summer.

It’s hot outside. Is your A/C ready for the summer heat?

One of the biggest questions our customers ask us is when to repair or replace their AC units. We’ve put together a nifty flow chart to help you navigate the HVAC repair and replacement process. Sometimes, a maintenance routine is all you really need. But other issues require repairs — and sometimes, replacement parts or an entirely new air conditioner.

Always keep in mind that regular maintenance will keep your A/C in perfect working condition for the entirety of its lifespan.

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<p style=”text-align:center;”><a href=”https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/blog/infographic-when-to-repair-or-replace-your-air-conditioner/”><img src=”https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ABCCorpus_AC_Flowchart.png” alt=”abc corpus christi repairs old air conditioners” title=”Click to enlarge” /></a><br />Source: <a href=”https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/”>ABC Home & Commercial Services</a></p>

ABC Can maintain, repair, and replace your HVAC system.

If your journey suggests that your A/C needs some work or needs to be replaced, give us a call. From all of us at ABC … Read Full Post »

Summer Air Conditioning: How To Get Your AC Unit Ready

Summer Air Conditioning

As summer approaches and the days get warmer, you’ll want to know that you can turn on your air conditioner for a little relief.

Before sweltering temperatures are here to stay, make sure you perform some basic summer air conditioning maintenance tasks to make your HVAC perform its best during the peak season.

Replace Dirty Air Filters

The warm weather in Texas forces residents to use about three times as much energy on air conditioning when compared to the average U.S. household.

Replacing your air conditioner’s filter is one of the easiest things you can do to help save on your energy bill. Excessive dust in the house can cause a dirty filter, making it difficult for the system to blow air. The harder your air conditioner has to work, the more money you spend on electricity.

Clean The Evaporator Coils

Your air conditioner uses evaporator coils to remove heat and moisture from the air. If the … Read Full Post »

Your Summer 2016 AC Health Checklist

Get your AC ready for the hot Texas summer.

As a Central Texas resident, you likely experience only a few short months during which your air conditioner is turned off. We’ve had a pretty mild year so far in 2016, so you could have just turned on your AC within the last few weeks! In any case, heading into our 100-degree days of summer, it’s vital to make sure that your AC is ready to operate at full capacity. We’ve all heard stories of people who have had their AC break down in the heat of summer, or been victims of an AC breakdown ourselves. Take some time before it gets too hot to do some DIY AC maintenance. If you run into any problem areas, you’ll still have wiggle room for an air conditioner tune-up.

Doing any air conditioner maintenance yourself can be intimidating – the thought of tampering with (and possibly breaking) your AC unit is pretty scary. … Read Full Post »

Tips to Allergy-Proof Your Home

Allergy-proof your home Austin

It’s that time of year again when everything is sprouting. Just step outside your door and tree pollen will be in your face – it’s all over your lawn, your patio, your car, you name it! And just when you wanted to start spending time outside, your plans are halted by the onslaught of pollen and the pesky allergies that accompany it. Your watery eyes and running nose can have you locked up in your house for the next month or two. Try these tips – for both you and your home – to help keep the suffering to a minimum.

Note: Before getting started, it’s important to know what your allergies are. A trip to the allergist will help solve that mystery. Once you know what ails you, you’ll have a number of options regarding how to treat your allergies – allergy shots, medications, and home remedies. Here are a … Read Full Post »

Outdoor AC Unit In Rain: How To Protect Your Air Conditioner

Outdoor AC Unit in Rain

With periodic hail, flooding and other types of inclement weather, Texas homeowners can find it a challenge to keep their living spaces comfortable. Many of us rely on our HVAC systems to keep us cozy indoors as spring wind and rain bring colder temperatures and keep us cool during a summer thunderstorm.

But while your family might be safe inside, your HVAC unit may not be.

Hail wreaks havoc on vehicles, windows and roofs. Your outdoor HVAC unit is also at risk of damage as well. What should you do with your outdoor AC unit in rain? Here are five tips to keep your HVAC working through the harshest of storms.

Cover Your HVAC

Two of the biggest enemies for HVAC units are hail and debris. If a hailstorm or heavy winds are in the forecast, place a thick canvas cover on your HVAC system. This will provide protection during the storm and allow … Read Full Post »

Hot Weather Tips: How To Keep Cool Without Your AC Running

hot weather tips

When temperatures climb, many homeowners start to get their air conditioners in working order to prepare for the heat. Fighting back against the warm embrace of sunlight trickling through the window blinds with a refreshing blast of air is a feeling many cannot go without, especially in the middle of a notoriously sweltering Texas summer.

The modern comfort of an AC might be a welcome treat for many, but how do people without air conditioning get through those blazingly hot days?

While opening windows at night to cool down is arguably the most common way to beat the heat, there are many more interesting ways for people to keep their cool as the mercury goes up. While some of you may be asking how to make an air conditioner colder, we understand that summer air conditioning can be costly. Check out our hot weather tips below to cut down on your home energy … Read Full Post »

Your Heater Is On — Why Is Your House Still Cold?

uneven heat can easily be remedied with hvac system maintenance

It’s not always cold in San Antonio, but it certainly does get chilly every winter. When it is cold outside, we Texans don’t enjoy it. No one likes to roll out of bed in the morning only to be startled by the ice-cold touch of kitchen tiles underneath your feet. In fact, getting out of bed at all is a struggle when the home is drafty.

Uneven heat in your home puts additional strains on your HVAC system and can lead to higher utility bills. So, what causes you to grab a coat or blanket indoors?

Your home should be a refuge when it’s cold outside, but there are a few reasons you might feel a draft in the winter. Usually these issues can be easily fixed, but sometimes a larger furnace breakdown is the culprit.

Air Leaks

That draft you feel in certain rooms in your home could be due to a poorly … Read Full Post »

Is Your Air Conditioner Running Constantly?

air conditioner running constantly

If your air conditioner is working hard all the time, chances are that you are wasting money, that you will need regular repairs and that your AC’s lifespan will be shorter than it should be.

Contrary to popular belief, shutting down your air conditioner or heater during the day is not the best way to save energy. In this post, we’ll discuss how to balance energy efficiency, the desire for comfort and costs to help you decide how often you’ll want your AC to be running during the day.

Should I Turn My Air Conditioner Off During The Day?

When you leave your air conditioner off during the day, you would imagine that the entire system doesn’t have to do any work, which would save you money in the long run. The problem with this conclusion is that your air conditioner actually works harder to bring your indoor temperature to a desired level … Read Full Post »

6 Ways San Antonio Residents Can Lower CPS Energy Bills

home automation can save texans energy

Did Your CPS Bill Go Up?

Everyone expects a utility bill spike in the summer, but it isn’t entirely uncommon to notice alarming rates in the winter, too. Even in the mildest of winter seasons, it is important to remember that old homes have old furnaces and old furnaces aren’t the most efficient. We love giving our customers insider tips when we can. Read through the following ideas so that you won’t waste a cent on your future CPS bills.

1. Plan Your Budget with CPS’s Help

CPS Energy has begun offering a Budget Payment Plan. The utility provider charges the enrolled customer an average of their previous bills’ amounts, plus a fee for environmental factors. There is an application and approval process. Currently, CPS requires you to call them by phone to sign up. The jury is still out on how useful this option is, but we’re very interested!

2. Learn About CPS … Read Full Post »

6 Tips to Lower Your Austin Energy Bill

Is your Austin Energy Bill to high?

Wondering Why your Austin Energy Bill is so High in the Winter?

Our customers have been fielding us with lots of questions about their Austin Energy bills over the last few months, and we are just as concerned as they are. Across the board, it seems as though our customers’ utilities are getting more expensive. KXAN investigated reports of abnormally high water bills back in the fall of 2015. Now that it’s winter, we’re getting calls about higher-than-average winter utility bills. And we think we know why.

Because Austin doesn’t reach freezing temps very often, most homeowners don’t think their heaters need as much attention as their air conditioners. But if your winter bills are sky-high, an old heater is the likely culprit.

You shouldn’t have to waste a penny to keep your family comfortable. Here are a few tips for general energy-monitoring and winter-specific ideas to lower those energy bills.

1. Take Advantage … Read Full Post »