How Much Is Your Old Water Heater Costing?

March 18th, 2024
smiling-technician-with-wrench-and-water-heater

Life is always so busy. There are so many things to focus on that when it comes to your home, it’s usually only the things that demand urgent attention which get your focus. If something is not badly broken or totally failing, you might not even notice more minor problems. Unfortunately, when it comes to home systems and appliances, when you allow minor problems to continue, they often develop into major ones.

Another thing that is hard to focus on in the busy day-to-day rush is how small expenses add up. They might never seem like much in the moment, but if you step back and take a look at the big picture, they might be a big expense altogether. Today, we’d like you to consider your water heater. How is it working? Is it costing you unnecessary money? What should you do about it?

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What’s in Your Air Ducts?

March 4th, 2024
close-up-view-of-metal-air-ducts

In an elegant modern home, there’s no need to look at the functional structures like electrical wiring or plumbing pipes. These things are tucked neatly behind clean, smooth sheetrock. And that can make it so that we hardly ever think about them, unless something obvious is going wrong. 

Another functional structure that’s tucked away and frequently forgotten about is the ductwork for your HVAC system. Unfortunately, the fact that you can’t see it doesn’t mean you never need to think about it. What’s lurking inside your air ducts? Is it posing any risk to your health or your home? Do you need to schedule a duct cleaning? Here’s what you should know.

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The Best Plumbing Upgrades for Tax Season

February 19th, 2024
a-bathroom-done-in-a-green-color-scheme

If you’re looking forward to getting a chunk of money from your tax refund this year, it might be the best time to invest in something that will improve your home. Putting that money toward an upgrade to some part of your home’s plumbing could save you money and prevent inconvenience in the future. 

But there’s so much that could be done. What would the best options be? Here are some of our top recommendations for plumbing upgrades you could spend your tax refund on, and how they’ll benefit you.

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How to Protect Your Furnace from Ice

February 5th, 2024
feathery-crystallized-ice-patterns

While we don’t tend to have long stretches of extreme cold in our area, extreme weather does sometimes happen. In fact, one of the longest stretches when the temperature stayed below freezing in Lubbock—for an entire week!—was just a few years ago. And when temperatures are that cold, even if it’s not for quite that long, you could be at risk of a frozen furnace.

You might be surprised to hear that an iced-up furnace is even possible. How could a furnace freeze? Where does the ice come from? We’ll explain all about it, including what you can do to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

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3 Plumbing Issues to Avoid With Kids

January 22nd, 2024
two-kids-peeking-out-of-the-bathtub-with-mischievous-expressions

As responsible adults, we’re capable of considering complex consequences. We can make good choices based on a long-term understanding of what those choices might result in. However, we might have people living in our homes who are incapable of considering consequences, people who simply do whatever crosses their minds without any thought process. Who are these people? Your children.

Many of the plumbing problems that occur in households with children are, in fact, directly caused by the children. What kinds of plumbing issues are kids most likely to cause? How can you avoid those problems? We’ve got you covered. Here’s the info you need.

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Commercial HVAC Service: Pros vs. Amateurs

January 8th, 2024
commercial-HVAC-technician-works-on-rooftop-AC-unit

An HVAC system for a commercial building or a business is kind of a big deal. It’s a big investment, it’s absolutely critical that it be kept in working condition, and if anything does go wrong, you need it fixed right away. It can be very tempting to try to cut expenses by having someone who’s not really qualified—and therefore charges less—work on your system.

Is it ever okay to have an amateur, or someone who’s experienced only with residential systems, work on your commercial HVAC system? What are the benefits of having your installation and service done by qualified commercial HVAC professionals? Here’s the scoop.

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Turning Off Your Water Before Vacation: Yes or No?

December 25th, 2023
image-of-clear-blue-water

In 2018, actor Frankie Muniz of “Malcolm in the Middle” fame left home to travel to his uncle’s funeral. When he returned, he found that his house had catastrophically flooded. Everything from valuable artwork to irreplaceable family photos was lost. How did this happen? And how can you make sure it doesn’t happen to you?

One topic that’s sometimes debated is whether or not a home’s water should be shut off before the family goes away for a vacation. Could this have saved Frankie Muniz’s home? If you’re leaving on vacation, should you completely shut off the water to your house? If so, how? Is there a right way to do it? We’ll tell you all about it.

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Watch for These Signs of Danger from Your Heating System

December 11th, 2023
person-checking-carbon-monoxide-alarm

It’s dangerous to be without a heating system in the dead of winter, especially if this is one of those winters when a polar vortex brings unusually cold temperatures to Texas. But it’s also dangerous to have a faulty heating system, which could risk your health or your home. To stay safe as well as warm, be aware of these signs of danger, so you can address heating system hazards right away. 

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Do Pets Make Your Ducts Dirtier?

November 27th, 2023
sleepy-ginger-cat

Most heating and air conditioning systems in the US use ductwork to distribute the heated or cooled air throughout the home. This has been the standard for half a century because it works well! But no system works flawlessly all the time without upkeep, and one type of upkeep that can make a big difference is duct cleaning.

Do your ducts need to be cleaned? Since you can’t see inside them, how can you tell? One consideration that affects how dirty your ducts get is whether you have pets. How do pets affect your ducts? We’ll tell you all about it.

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Why a “Gurgling Noise” Is a Problem

November 13th, 2023
graphic-of-a-complicated-tangle-of-plumbing-pipes

Aside from the whoosh of water flowing, your plumbing really shouldn’t be making any noises. Unfortunately, noises do sometimes happen, and since they’re a sign of a problem, you definitely shouldn’t ignore them. If your plumbing is making a gurgling noise, something needs to be done to address the problem. What should you do? Read on to find out.

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