Cool Care Heating and Air Conditioning

How to Detect if You need Heating Repair

November 22nd, 2021

When people think of harsh winters, they probably imagine a state up in the midwest or maybe even New England. Still, just because we’re not known for our chilly temperatures doesn’t mean that we don’t need fully effective and efficient heating systems when wintertime does come. You know as well as we do that we can even be surprised by chillier-than-normal temperatures and even snow!

That said, it’s extremely important that you keep up on your professional heating maintenance appointments. Annual tune-ups from a trained and experienced professional will ensure that your system works as best as it can while minimizing repair needs.

But still, there’s always the chance that your system will need repairs between maintenance sessions, and for this reason, it’s a good idea for you to know the signs of a heater in disrepair, which we’ll cover below!

Problems You Might Face with an Aging Central AC

November 8th, 2021

While other parts of the country get ready to turn on their heaters for the season (some probably already have), we’re still using our air conditioners for a bit.

Your central air conditioner gets a lot of use throughout the years. Hopefully, you keep up on your maintenance appointments! Annual maintenance allows our professionals to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust components that need it. We’ll also check for small repair needs during this service before they have a chance to grow into big repair needs.

Even with maintenance though, every central air conditioner has its limits. 10-15 years of useful service life is the average limit for a central air conditioner that’s well-maintained. After this point, or even nearing this age, it’s going to experience problems. Here are some of the most common we get called for:

Don’t Let HVAC Problems Haunt You: Schedule This Service Today!

October 25th, 2021

It’s definitely the spooky time of year… but that doesn’t mean that you need to be haunted by HVAC problems! We know winters are pretty brief here in Texas, but if you’ve lived here for a year then you know our weather can absolutely surprise us, and for that reason, we all need fully functional and efficient heating systems in place.

What kind of shape is your heater in? Not sure of the answer to that question? Well, then it’s definitely time to schedule one very important service–heating maintenance!

Unsure if you really need this service or if it’s going to benefit you all that much? Read on as we uncover the benefits of this service, and then give us a call when you’re ready to schedule a tune-up.

What Kind of Shape Is Your Ductwork In?

October 11th, 2021

It is easy for homeowners to underestimate the importance of air ducts in their HVAC system. It’s also easy to take it for granted that this ductwork will stay in great shape no matter what happens, since most of the time they’re out of sight, out of mind.

However, ductwork does sustain damage at times, sometimes from corrosion and sometimes from old age. It could even be that your air ducts were poorly installed to begin with, which will have a big impact on how well your HVAC system actually performs. This can result in a drop in comfort, and an increase in the contamination that’s allowed into your home.

If ductwork has gaps, leaks, or loose connections, it must be managed with a professional duct repair service from trained and experienced professionals. Otherwise, your home can suffer from expensive efficiency issues and other problems, such as the following:

We’ll Waive Your Diagnostic Fees Starting this October

October 1st, 2021

We’re getting into the season of giving a little early this October. We’re waiving your diagnostic fees on approved service or repair! Fall is already the time of year where we suggest that you schedule an appointment for maintenance. This offer makes it the perfect time to check in on any other problems you might have with a free diagnosis.

We do want to highlight that this is for approved services. If you choose not to go forward with any of the services, then we will still charge diagnostic fees. We’d also like to note that diagnostic fees are only waived on approved credit.

Get in touch with us today!

Is It Time to Consider Going Ductless?

September 27th, 2021

hand-holding-remote-for-ductless-air-handler

There’s a good chance you already have an idea of what a ductless air conditioner is, even if you saw it and weren’t quite sure what you were looking at. Have you ever been in a hotel room or a doctors office and seen a unit that looked sort of like a window unit mounted up on a wall? This is a ductless air handler. Ductless systems go by many names–ductless heat pumps or ductless mini-splits, for instance.

But no matter the name, the fact is they’re very beneficial for homes around our area, particularly because their heat pump technology is great for climates like ours–hot in the summer and typically mild temperatures in the winter. There are of course rare exceptions to that rule! But overall, a ductless system could really benefit you. Read on to learn how!

How to Troubleshoot Your Struggling Air Conditioner

September 13th, 2021

It’s no secret that our hot weather can be brutal and unforgiving. Sure, there are those very rare instances where our weather takes a different turn, but for the most part, we need to be able to rely on our air conditioners almost year-round. This means that if it has repair needs, we should take care of them right away, right?

We get it–it’s almost the official end of summer and you want to start thinking about turning your air conditioner off for a couple of months, not spending money on repairs. But the truth is, this is the most likely time for you to have problems with your air conditioner, and addressing them now will set your air conditioner up for success, throughout the rest of this season and next spring when you need it again.

Fortunately, in some cases, you don’t actually have to call an AC professional. No, we are not advocating for DIY repairs. We would never recommend this. But there are some troubleshooting tips you can take before you give us a call! Read on to learn more.

The AC Compressor Debate: Repair or Replace?

August 16th, 2021

So… you have either been told, or you suspect, that your air conditioner’s compressor is failing, and it could or already has caused your air conditioner to have a breakdown. The next question is, should you pay to have your AC fixed, or should you replace the system?

Before we provide an answer, we need to explain the role of your compressor to your air conditioner.

You may have seen us say that your thermostat is the brain of your air conditioner. Well, the compressor is the heart. It’s what allows the refrigerant process, so that your air conditioner actually does the job it was designed to do. When the compressor fails, the whole AC system fails with it. Sure, the fans may still run, but you won’t feel any chilled air coming through the vents.

“Okay, So Should I Repair My System or Replace It?”

The short answer to this is “it depends.” Replacing your entire air conditioner is usually the best, most financially sound decision, but not in all cases. Read on to learn more!

Repairing Your Air Conditioner (By Replacing the Compressor)

When a compressor breaks down, the only way to “fix” your air conditioner is to replace that particular component. And this may seem like your best option. After all, it’s more affordable than buying a whole new air conditioner, right? In some cases, yes, it’s the best option.

Consider your system’s manufacturer’s warranty. If it’s still good, then replacing the compressor makes sense–because you’ll only need to pay for labor, not the actual compressor. The reason this is important to note is because the compressor is actually the most expensive component of your air conditioner, and replacing the compressor in an aging system that’s about to fail anyway may not make much sense, if you have to pay for the component yourself.

In most cases, a compressor doesn’t fail until the air conditioner is quite old. A well-maintained and properly cared for air conditioner can last approximately 10-15 years, but if your system has already reached this age and the compressor has failed, it might be a good idea to upgrade instead of replacing just the compressor. Putting a new compressor in an old air conditioner means that even though you’ll have this one new component, other parts of your air conditioner will soon start breaking down and you’ll need to replace the system anyway.

A Case for Replacing the Whole Air Conditioner

As we mentioned above, a failed compressor is most likely to happen in an older air conditioner that’s falling apart anyway. Today’s air conditioners are much more efficient, plus they use the more modern and eco-friendly refrigerant.

But upgrading your air conditioner, you’ll save money on monthly costs and help the environment out too! Plus, if you decide to upgrade your air conditioner, you can find out what your various options are. For instance, could a variable speed central air conditioner benefit you? The only way to find out is to talk to a pro today!

For professional service on your central air conditioning in Houston, TX, contact Cool Care Heating and Air Conditioning.

No, That Ice You See On Your AC Isn’t Normal, and Here’s Why!

August 2nd, 2021

Your air conditioner is getting quite the workout this summer, right? But what if you’ve discovered that something is not quite right with its performance? You go out to check on the outside unit and discover there’s a layer of ice developing on the unit. You might think this is normal–after all an air conditioner chills the air, so isn’t it natural to see ice? But unfortunately, this belief can do some harm to your system and to your comfort.

Fortunately, you have the team here at Cool Care to help! Please give us a call before grabbing something to scrape off or thaw the ice. Attempting to remove the ice on your own can do more harm than good to the system, plus it doesn’t get to the root of the problem to actually resolve it.

Read on as we explain further, and give us a call when you need professional AC help!

4 Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Repair

July 19th, 2021

When summertime hits, homeowners and their families tend to spend a lot more time indoors, and your home comfort levels are going to be even more important than during other seasons. But staying at home will be a lot more difficult if your air conditioner stops working, right? This is why you want to ensure that you’re keeping your cooling system in the best possible shape it can be in.

Whether you’re using a traditional central air conditioner or you have a heat pump system, maintenance and repairs are services you want to make sure you’re on top of in order to keep your home as comfortable as possible, as affordably as possible. And while maintenance does make a huge difference, it won’t stop every potential ac repair need you’ll have. This is why it’s important that you be aware of the signs that your air conditioner could be in need. Here are 4 indicators!

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