JD's Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

Sounds You Never Want to Hear Your Air Conditioner Make

June 1st, 2021

Someday, in the not too far off future, we may have air conditioners that self-diagnose problems and report them back to the homeowner.

This simply isn’t the case though–not yet anyway.

One of the most common signs that something is wrong with an air conditioner is strange sounds. What qualifies? Honestly, anything that’s different from the normal hum of the fans and the compressor, plus the occasional clicking as the system comes on and shuts down and the temperature fluctuations cause the ductwork to adjust.

What sort of sounds are we talking about? Well, we’ve listed 6 ominous sounds below. If you hear any of them, please give our team a call right away.

AC Installation: Does Size Matter?

May 17th, 2021

The official start of summer is right around the corner, and we all know what that means. It’s time to make sure that your air conditioner is in the best shape possible to handle higher temperatures. Despite our crazy blizzard like temperatures we had just a few short months ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that this summer will be hotter than most in the U.S.!

If this concerns you to the point that you’re wondering if your aging air conditioner has what it takes to keep you cool this season, then it may be time to consider an upgrade.

And no, we don’t want you to rush out and find the biggest, most powerful air conditioner on the market, because that could actually leave you with an inefficient system and a lack of comfort rather than the other way around. We encourage our customers to carefully consider their air conditioning system purchase. Bigger is not always better, and this applies to air conditioners as well. Yes size and power matter, but not necessarily in the way you might think.

Read on as we go into why an undersized unit won’t do you much good, and why an oversized air conditioner will leave you disappointed too.

Drip, Drip… Do You Have a Leak?

May 3rd, 2021

Have you ever been watching a TV show or a movie that depicts a character discovering a leak when a rainstorm hits or when they’re getting their home ready for a gathering? That’s for dramatic effect, but the truth is—leaks are pretty undetectable up to that point. After all, your plumbing system is hidden behind drywall and beneath floors—so unless water is gushing into your property like it does in the movies, you’re probably not going to know about a leak until it does significant damage.

Of course this is not an ideal situation, and it’s not one we want you to face. While you do need a professional plumber to come out and accurately pinpoint where the leak is occurring and actually fix it, there are fortunately factors you can watch out for that indicate you might have one and it’s time to call a plumber. Read on to learn what they are:

Heed These Signs Your AC Needs Help

April 19th, 2021

So let’s say you’ve just come in from your kids’ little league game, or you just went for a morning run. You are likely looking forward to relaxing in your home with the air conditioner blasting on you, right? So you set the thermostat to where you like it, and you wait for the system to cycle on.

Wait, what’s that? You turned it on but you don’t feel cool? This is no time of the year to be stuck with a malfunctioning air conditioner!

You’re a lot less likely to be surprised by this if you have routine annual maintenance done for your air conditioner. During maintenance, our team thoroughly inspects, cleans, and adjusts components that need it, ensuring that your system is able to run as efficiently and effectively as possible for as long as possible. Even with maintenance though, it’s a good idea to reach out if your system is showing any signs that it needs repair. So what are these signs?

AC Compressor Damage: Should You Repair or Replace?

April 5th, 2021

Well-maintained air conditioners are designed to last about 10-15 years, but throughout that time there are some issues that can befall it, whether it’s from natural wear and tear, a manufacturer defect, or some other type of event. Considering how much we need our AC systems to work reliably in this climate of ours, you want to take care of any of these issues right away.

One of these potential problems is a broken down compressor. While with other AC components replacement is typically the best option, replacing a compressor component can be very expensive, since it is the most expensive component of your air conditioner.

Help Your Air Conditioner Cool Your Home Better!

March 22nd, 2021

The cooling season is right around the corner, and when you start using your air conditioner this spring and summer, you want to do so efficiently, right? After all, while it is of course vital to have proper air conditioning in the Lubbock area, nobody wants to pay an arm and a leg to stay comfortable in their own home.

This is one of the reasons maintenance is so important. Air conditioner maintenance helps your AC system perform as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. But maintenance isn’t the only way to help your air conditioner cool your home better. Read on to learn some other methods you can take too.

Is It Too Early to Tune Up Your Air Conditioner?

March 8th, 2021

With the crazy winter we just experienced, it’s hard to imagine that it’s almost time to start thinking about our cooling systems. But you know as well as we do that when it does get hot in our area, it gets hot fast, and you need a fully functional and reliable cooling system to keep you comfortable and healthy all summer long. So, if you’ve had your air conditioner for a year or longer, no, it’s not too early to tune it up!

Properly maintaining your air conditioner on a regular basis will help it to work as efficiently as possible, costing you less money to run it every month. Plus, maintenance helps prevent problems that can shorten its lifespan and/or leave you with expensive repair bills. Read on to learn more!

Did you Skip Heating Maintenance This Winter?

February 8th, 2021

Good news, it’s not too late to schedule it now!

If you ask the average HVAC professional, they’ll tell you that the best time to schedule heating maintenance is in the fall, or the very early winter. Why? Because that’s right before you’ll actually need your heating system the most and it will go through the most work. Checking it early could be the difference between a great heating system and an emergency breakdown.

We agree, fall is the best time to schedule your heating maintenance. So, does that mean since you skipped it this year, and winter’s almost over, you can just wait until next fall? Not quite—read on as we uncover why it’s never too late for heating maintenance.

Why You Should Care about Your Furnace Heat Exchanger!

January 25th, 2021

Gas-powered furnaces seem to be among the top preferred heaters on the market today. Do you have one? If so, you have one of the most powerful and effective heating systems there is! But how old is it? If it’s 10-15 years old, you might have noticed it experiencing repair and inefficiency issues more frequently. And there’s one particular repair need you should really care about—a cracked heat exchanger!

Read on as we uncover what a heat exchanger is, how it operates, and why you should care if you have a damaged component.

Check Out Our Blog for Advice on All Things Plumbing and HVAC

December 1st, 2020

Be sure to bookmark the JD’s Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning’s blog to start learning the ins and outs of Plumbing and HVAC.

We’ll regularly post energy saving tips, how-to’s on troubleshooting your systems, and breakdowns on even the most complex industry related terms and concepts.

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