Do you think your air conditioning system in Austin, TX is on its last legs, or it’s too old to make it cost-effective to keep it around? Finding this out in the middle of another hot Texas summer is unpleasant—but the sooner you schedule a replacement air conditioning system, the better off you’ll be. Don’t delay calling our technicians to arrange for a new central AC right away.
“But wait a minute,” you’re thinking. “How do I know for certain that it’s time to replace my air conditioning system?” We can help you figure out when to call our experts for AC services. When in doubt, arrange for a consultation, and we can help you make the choice about whether you should repair or replace your current AC.
The air conditioning system’s age
The first factor to consider is how long you’ve had your air conditioner. Check on the plate on the condenser unit to find the manufacturer’s date if you don’t know the system’s age. Most central air conditioners will last between 10 to 15 years. Regular maintenance for a system should push it up to 15 years of service. If you have a system that’s older, we recommend replacing it, since the period of decline and deterioration will soon set in.
The state of your summer energy bills
One of the indications of an air conditioning system that’s starting to fail due to the stresses of age is a rise in summer electrical bills. If you compare your utility bills for the season over the past couple of years and notice an upward trend that’s not related to price increases of electricity, then you may have a dying air conditioner. A newer system will give you better energy efficiency performance than your current system had when it was new.
The pile-up of repairs
You shouldn’t need to call for air conditioner repairs more than once a year. And even once every year is still too much. If the cumulative repair costs to keep an AC running is more than $500 a year, or any single repair would cost more than half the price of a new system, it’s better for your budget to have a new system put in.
The air conditioner can’t keep up anymore
Does your home feel hotter than usual when the AC is running? Are there certain rooms that are warmer than the rest of the house when this wasn’t a problem before? Do you keep lowering the thermostat setting in order to stay cool? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” your air conditioner is probably close to the end. If a technician thinks repairs aren’t worth it or won’t make a difference, we recommend investing in a new system.
The comfort of your family is too important to leave to a rickety, energy-eating air conditioning system. Call our qualified technicians to help with getting the best new AC. At Intelligent Air, we do it all.
Intelligent Air Services serves the Greater Austin Area. Call the Intelligent Choice Today—It Makes Cents Tomorrow!
The end of winter tends to see the most heater breakdowns and repair calls in our neck of the woods. Heating systems have been running regularly for months now, and while temperatures will start going up again soon, there are still a few more weeks to get through where our heating systems will be vital. If your system is experiencing trouble and has a serious breakdown, you need a qualified heating repair company to arrive and get the problem fixed right away.
But which service should you call? There are a number of qualified companies throughout the greater Austin area, and in the end, only the homeowner can determine which service is the best fit for their needs. There are, however, several qualities you should look for in the service you call that can make that decision easier. We’ve included a list of the most important below.
Most companies have testimonials from satisfied customers and similar affiliations assuring you how well they do their jobs. But if you’re looking for a service that goes above and beyond, you should look for more credible affiliations. For example, Angie’s List provides excellent third-party evaluations of a given heating and cooling service, while the companies that manufacture the actual heating and cooling systems will give affiliations to repair services indicating that they are trusted to fix any problems with the system properly. Such affiliations can help you separate the truly good companies from those that are just run of the mill.
While winters are mild, a lack of heating can be dangerous for certain homes, and waiting even a few hours for proper repairs can be extremely problematic in many cases. Not every problem reveals itself during normal business hours, and sometimes, you can’t wait until morning–or the end of the weekend–to get a heater or an air conditioner fixed. Quality companies recognize this and will offer emergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That means they’re willing to do what it takes to get your system up and running again and that you can count on them to be there no matter what kind of assistance you may need.
Fly-by-night companies rarely concern themselves with telling you how much a rapid call will cost upfront. That way, they can quietly raise the price during the operation by finding some “new” problem that will cost you more to fix. A reputable company, however, will have none of such foolishness. That means providing up-front estimates so that you know exactly how much the operation will cost before any work begins. It also means offering promotions and guarantees that ensure the problem is corrected the way you expect it to be, and that your system will be up and running with no further problems by the time they’re done.
If you need a reliable service for heating repairs in the Austin, TX area, contact the friendly professionals at Intelligent Air Services today to make an appointment!
We’re in the middle of the coldest period of the year, but here in Texas, the weather never gets quite so cold as it does further north. That makes now a good opportunity to give your heating and air conditioning system a good look and determine whether it could benefit from any additions or upgrades. HVAC systems can be improved greatly by adding new components.
You don’t need to replace the whole system to put them in, and most technicians can ensure that the new components work seamlessly with your existing system. You can see the difference not only in added convenience and new ways to use your HVAC systems but with considerable savings both in monthly bills and in reduced repair costs as well. We’ve provided a list below of some of the more popular upgrade options to give you an idea of what you can expect.
Thermostats are comparatively simple devices and are designed to last for decades in most cases. If yours is over ten years old, congratulations on making such effective use of it. The one drawback to that is that you might have missed some of the exciting advances in technology that thermostats have seen in the past few years. Smart thermostats now can make automatic adjustments to your heating and cooling schedules because of your unique needs—saving you money in the process—while Wi-Fi thermostats allow you to control them from anywhere in the world via an app on your phone.
(In addition, if your home still contains a thermostat that relies on a mercury switch, you should get it replaced immediately. Mercury is toxic and should not be in your home under any circumstances).
If you rely on centralized heating and air conditioning, you have a system of ducts in your home that distributes the air after the system has warmed it or cooled it. It’s a safe and effective way to keep the whole house comfortable, but with centralized systems, you’re limited to a single temperature in the entire house.
Zone control systems get around that: allowing you to set different temperatures in different sections of the home, or even run the heating and air in specific sections without running it in others. That helps cut down on wear and tear, as well as lowering the monthly cost of running your HVAC system without skimping on the comfortable temperatures you’ve come to expect.
If you’re concerned about indoor air quality, then a UV air purifier can be an excellent addition to your heating and air conditioning system. It shines ultraviolet light across the width of your ducts at the apex: the point where conditioned air enters the system for distribution into your home. UV light is harmless to humans and multicellular organisms like pets but stops germs and bacteria cold when they come into contact with it. A UV air purifier in your HVAC system will make the air fresher and cleaner, as well as cut down on instances of illness in your home.
If any of these upgrades sound like a good fit for the heating system in your Round Rock, TX home, call Intelligent Air Services today
Most people in the area use traditional centralized heating and air conditioning systems to keep their homes comfortable. A furnace generates hot air and an AC cold air—both in a centralized location—which is then blown through the ducts in the house with a fan. They’re inexpensive, comparatively simple, and easy to operate, which is what makes them so popular.
They’re not the only means of keeping a home comfortable, however, and in some cases, an alternative system might work better. Older houses may not be able to support the ducts necessary for a centralized system, while larger homes may struggle to feel as warm or as cool as they should with a centralized system. If your home can’t support a centralized system or has experienced recurring problems with its effectiveness, you might want to consider other options. We’ve laid out a few below for you to consider.
Heat pumps use the principles of air conditioning–circulating refrigerant through a series of valves and coils that first release hot air and then cool the air for distribution into the home–to serve as a heater as well as an air conditioner. They work well for homes that don’t have a structural problem with centralized HVAC systems but could use a little help with monthly heating costs.
Because heat pumps use refrigerant to generate heat, they don’t need to spend as much fuel to warm the home, and they work especially well in climates like ours that have mild winters. In some cases, they need help on the coldest nights, which is why dual-fuel systems exist: adding a small furnace to the heat pump in order to provide that extra bit of heating power.
Ductless systems adopt a decentralized approach to heating and cooling. Instead of a single unit covering the entire house, the system installs multiple smaller units throughout the house, each one tasked with covering a single room or section. This allows for comprehensive heating and air conditioning without relying on ducts.
It also provides precise control over the temperature in each section of the house. Not only can you raise and lower the temperature in each section independently of the rest of the house–letting individual family members set the temperature to their taste–but it lets you turn off the heat or cooling to parts of the home you aren’t using while still running the HVAC system in parts of the home you are.
Geothermal systems use tubes full of liquid buried under the earth to provide heating and cooling power. Once you dig below about ten feet or so, the temperature of the earth remains in a stable range no matter what the weather’s topside is. Geothermal systems take advantage of this. The set-up cost is high since the tubes need to be buried beneath the property, but over time, they can save a household a considerable amount of money.
Electric baseboard heating is one of the most popular alternative heating solutions. It provides your home with heat via a baseboard electric heater. This system is responsible for controlling the temperature in your home by dispersing heat into your individual rooms. Electric baseboard heating doesn’t work by blowing out air, which could be a great benefit when it comes to avoiding allergens, dust, and pet dander. Each heating unit utilizes electric coils that work similarly to the way that heating coils work inside a toaster.
Another great alternative heating solution is solar heating. Solar air heating utilized solar thermal technology to obtain and use heat. It’s most common in commercial and industrial buildings, as it can help to save money on utility costs. This type of alternative heating solution utilizes a wall-mounted system, that allows it to capture large amounts of solar radiation during the winter season. Perforate solar collector panels are installed a couple of inches away, which creates an air cavity. This allows the newly heated air to make its way into the building via ducts connected to the HVAC intake.
Painting your roof could help to cool your home. If you live in a hot climate, a dark-colored roof will increase the heat that is absorbed by your roof and distributed throughout your home. A light-colored roof can help cool your home during the hot summer months by absorbing less heat from the sun. If your roof is black, or another dark color, painting your roof white could be a great idea for the summer months.
If any of these HVAC systems sound like a good match for installation in your Round Rock, TX home, call Intelligent Air Services today at (512) 675-6997!
Residential air conditioners usually consist of a single unit that cools the air and then blows it through the ducts in the home with a fan. Commercial spaces are larger, however, and often have unique heating and cooling needs. While most of them use ducts to move the cool air around just like residential systems do, they usually employ modular units: multiple smaller air conditioning units placed on the roof to provide cool air. Why do commercial HVAC systems rely on modular air conditioning units? Why not just put in a single unit and be done with it? The answers have a lot to do with the unique nature of commercial properties and the specific needs of the space.
Residences rarely change their specific needs. While a new family may move into an existing home, the cooling needs of the space won’t change. It’s the same space, after all, and a new family doesn’t need anything different to keep their home cool. Businesses, however, can change their functions drastically. A new occupant of the space may have more computers than the previous occupant, or storage needs for products that require a specific set temperature. That, in turn, requires a more powerful (and in some cases a less powerful) HVAC system.
The primary benefit of modular systems is that you don’t need to install a whole new heater or air conditioner every time a new company moves in. You can simply add or subtract units as needed. A new unit can be attached to the existing system or an old one taken away for a fraction of the time and cost, and without having to install an entirely new system in the process.
Modular air conditioning units further benefit by being readily able to be installed on the roof of the business in question. The roof is the ideal place for such equipment because there’s usually a great deal of room to add or subtract more units without difficulty. It provides other benefits as well. For example, it means the technician doesn’t have to trod through your workspace during regular hours when you’re trying to conduct business. It also allows the technician to put a new unit in place or remove an old one without having to maneuver through any tight spaces on the inside of the building.
That, in turn, provides additional space for your business. Without a bulky HVAC unit to take up valuable room, you can set a significant chunk of the building aside for storage, workspace, and (in the case of the building’s exterior) additional parking for employees and customers. Modular air conditioning units are durable as well: able to handle extremes of heat, cold, and rain so they almost never run into trouble when the weather takes a turn for the worse.
For quality service on modular commercial HVAC units in Austin, TX, call Intelligent Air Services today. We handle installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance for a wide variety of modular units, and can be there in a flash to address your unit problem.
Winter arrives slowly in the Austin area, and even at its worst, it doesn’t get nearly as cold in our neck of the woods as it does further north. Nevertheless, we need our heating systems to keep warm on the chilly winter nights, and chances are you’ve already had to run your heater more than once this fall. That makes now an excellent time to spot any problems that your heating system may have.
Laymen should never attempt to diagnose a heating problem, much less repair one. Heating systems are complex and contain potentially dangerous components such as gas lines. Determining the exact cause of an issue, much less fixing it, requires formal training and licensing from the state. That doesn’t mean you can’t spot the signs that something is wrong, however, and call in a trained technician to deal with the issue. Generally speaking, anything that doesn’t match your heater’s normal functioning is cause for concern. However, there are several common symptoms that recur across a wide variety of problems. The next time you turn your heating system on, watch for these specific issues, which can include, but are not limited to the following:
- Unable to Turn On. This is an obvious sign, for obvious reasons, and it’s actually not the worst thing that can happen to your heater. Modern systems have safety features that prevent you from activating them if there’s a gas leak or a similar issue. It alerts you to the problem and keeps you safe until you can call a repair service. Lack of power can also be caused by a power overload or something with the thermostat settings, both of which you should check before calling in repair service.
- Lack of Air Flow. Clogged filters, fan motor issues, crimps in the ducts and similar issues can reduce the flow of hot air through your home. That means the heater must work harder to do its job, raising your monthly rates and the strain on the rest of the system as well. Even worse, it means that hot air is often trapped in the furnace, which can cause further damage to individual components.
- Low Heat Levels. Cold air blowing out of your heater is an obvious problem, but it’s also a problem if the air is warm but not quite as warm as you expect. It can be caused by anything from clogged burners to a breach in the ducts. Like the lack of airflow, it forces the heater to work harder than it should.
- Strange Noises. A number of problems are accompanied by odd noises such as cracks, groans, rattles, hums, and the like. In most cases, they will stop and start in time with the starting and the stopping of your heating system. You’ve likely become accustomed to the sounds your heater makes when it turns on, making it easier to spot noises that “don’t belong.”
If you need heating repair services in Austin, TX, call on the pros at Intelligent Air Services today!
One of the benefits of living where we do is that cold weather arrives late and leaves early. We have a tendency to avoid focusing on our heating systems the way we would our air conditioners because of this. Certainly, our air conditioners see much more use during the year and therefore need more attention. But chances are you’ve already used your heating system a number of times, and its usage is only going to grow more frequent as the weather continues to cool. If you’ve noticed any kind of a problem with your heating system, now is the time to schedule repairs. Doing so will ensure that the heater works exactly the way it should for the rest of the winter. What kind of problems should you be looking for? We’ve provided a brief explanation below.
Generally speaking, any kind of sign that your heating system isn’t functioning the way it normally would elicit some concern. You should never attempt to diagnose a problem with your heating system on your own: it takes a trained and licensed technician to do so safely. However, you are probably accustomed to the sounds and other features of your heater when it is running. Anything different from your expectations should be considered a problem warranting a call for a repair session.
While specifics vary, there are several common symptoms that occur over a wide variety of issues. They can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Strange Noises. This means anything you don’t associate with normal functions in the system: groans, whirs, clanks, hums, etc. In most cases, the noises will start and stop in time with the starting and the stopping of the heater.
- Low Heat Levels. The heat that is lower than you expect can mean anything from a clogged burner to a breach in the system somewhere. It’s a problem because it forces the system to work harder than it should, raising your monthly bills and the chances of further breakdowns.
- Low Air Flow. A breach in the ducts can reduce the flow of hot air from your vents, as can a clogged filter or a blockage in the vents. Problems with low airflow are similar to those of low heat levels. In addition, low airflow often causes hot air to remain backed up in the system, resulting in damage to other components.
- Failure to Turn on. This is a pretty obvious sign that you have a problem, though it’s a little more technical than it may seem. If your system fails to turn on at all, you might be able to solve the problem with a little troubleshooting. Check the breakers to see if a power surge has cut off electrical power to the system, then check your thermostat to make sure it hasn’t been switched off accidentally. Only then should you call in repair service. (Failure to turn on usually means a safety feature has been triggered.)
For quality heating repair services in Austin, TX and the surrounding area, call on the pros at Intelligent Air Services today!
With winter on the way, now is the time to give your furnace a thorough look. The fall weather is still relatively mild, but in a few weeks, you’ll have need of your heating system on a daily basis, and if there are any problems with it, you need to spot them before the winter begins in earnest. This is especially true with older systems that may have an expired warranty, and if you’re having trouble with such a device, you should be prepared to consider replacing it instead of repairing it. Sometimes, the money you intend to spend on repairs would be better served going into a replacement system instead.
But how can you tell when a furnace needs replacing and when repairs are enough? Frankly, only the homeowner can answer that question. Every furnace is unique, and you are probably more qualified than anyone to determine if it has another winter left in it, or if you should replace it now. There are a few guidelines that can help you make that decision, however.
The first factor to consider when gauging a replacement for your furnace is the status of the warranty. The warranty covers the replacement costs of any individual components in the system, provided that are the original components. That usually makes repair preferable to replacement, since you’ll only pay for the labor and any incidental components like bolts and screws.
If the warranty has expired, you’re going to need to consider your options more carefully, though repair may still be preferable to a replacement if it doesn’t cost that much. Only when the costs rise higher than you feel the system is worth should a replacement be an option.
Again, that’s a question only the homeowner can answer, but it usually boils down to two specific costs:
- Repairs. If a single repair costs more than you feel the system is worth, and the warranty has expired, it’s probably best to look into replacing the furnace. In addition, multiple smaller repairs can add up too. If you’ve had to schedule repairs more than twice in the last twelve months, you might want to think about a new system. (You can mitigate repairs in older furnaces by scheduling regular maintenance once a year throughout the furnace’s life.)
- Monthly Costs. As furnaces get older, wear and tear take their toll, and even carefully maintained systems are going to surrender to the ravages of time eventually. That means your monthly heating costs are going to gradually creep up, which will eventually cost more than you think the system is worth. New furnaces are invariably more efficient than old ones, which can give your monthly budget a huge break. If you’re tired of paying high heating bills with an older furnace, replacing it now means you can enjoy that improved efficiency all winter long.
For furnace repairs and replacement services in the Austin, TX area, call on the friendly professionals at Intelligent Air Services today!
Cooler weather has arrived, and while we still get a few periods of intermittent heat here in Southern Texas, most homeowners have turned off their air conditioners and turned on their heaters. It can be easy to ignore any lingering signs of trouble with your air conditioning system: things you may have ignored over the summer since our lengthy heat waves made the prospect of turning off the AC difficult at best.
But those repairs should be dealt with sooner rather than later, and waiting until spring means the issue is likely to get worse. Now is the ideal time to handle any problems with your air conditioner, since you have all winter to schedule the repairs with a trained technician.
And you definitely need to leave air conditioner repair to the pros. AC systems contain potentially dangerous components like refrigerant which require formal licensing and training to handle safely. Without a professional working on the problem, you’re apt to make it worse or even injure yourself in the process. You can, however, notice the signs that something is wrong and call in a service to help. Such signs can be almost anything. The only connecting factor is that they don’t correspond to what you normally consider the way your air conditioner behaves while it’s running. Common signs can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Strange noises, such as bumps, whistles, and hums, that you don’t normally associate with the air conditioner. In most cases, those noises will start and stop when you turn your system on and off.
- Low airflow from your vents, or air that isn’t as cold as you are used to. In both cases, the reduced efficiency will crank up your bills, as well as add to the stress and strain on the air conditioner or other components.
- Short cycling, which is when the air conditioner turns off and on again multiple times throughout the day.
If you spotted these signs over the summer and weren’t able to have them repaired at the time, this is the right moment to get them addressed. Why? Simply put, you have all the time in the world to get them addressed. You likely won’t need your air conditioner for several months, which means you don’t have to reorganize your life to accommodate the needed repairs. It also avoids a scramble before air conditioning season begins in the spring—lowering the chances you’ll overlook it in the midst of other pressing tasks. And it can often reduce the cost of repairs as well since the problem won’t have a chance to get worse as dust and lack of use gather on the system throughout the winter.
If you don’t detect these signs and aren’t sure if your system needs repairs, professional maintenance can be the answer: letting a trained technician take a look at your air conditioner and determine if it needs a little tuning up, or something more in-depth.
For Austin, TX air conditioning repair and maintenance services, call Intelligent Air Services today!
Warm weather often lasts well into the fall here in southern Texas, which means most homes are only now starting to turn their air conditioners off in favor of their heaters. With long months of regular use during our hot summer, your AC has likely taken on quite a bit of work as of late. Breakdowns and repair calls are extremely common this time of year, and even if you’ve turned your system off for the winter, it pays to have a quality service give it a look for anything that needs fixing.
You should never attempt to formally diagnose a problem with your air conditioner on your own, let alone try to fix it. Air conditioners contain potentially dangerous components like refrigerant–requiring formal training to correct–and even seemingly obvious problems need a licensed repair technician to address properly. That doesn’t mean that you can’t spot the obvious signs that something is wrong and summon a repair service to take care of it. Now makes the perfect time to do so, since you have all winter to schedule repairs before you’ll have regular need of your air conditioner again.
Generally speaking, any behavior that doesn’t match the normal function of your AC is cause for concern. But here is a quick list of three specific symptoms to watch out for.
You can probably tell that the system is having trouble if you turn it on and warm air blows out of the vents. But the same holds true if the air is cool, just not as cool as you were expecting. It can be caused by anything from leaking refrigerant to an overheating component to a breach in the ducts which pulls unconditioned air into the system. Regardless of the causes, it lowers the system’s efficiency, which in turn raises the monthly costs of running it. It also increases strain on other components, which raises the risk of a more serious breakdown.
Fan motors are usually to blame for a lack of airflow through the system, though a problematic fan belt and/or issues with the fan blades themselves may also be to blame. In some cases, the lack of sufficient airflow may also be caused by a blockage in the ducts or a problem with the air filter. Either way, the issue is similar to a lack of cool air: increasing costs and lowering efficiency. In addition, low airflow usually means cool air trapped in the air conditioner itself, which can damage key components.
Sometimes, there doesn’t need to be anything specific to indicate a problem. A malfunctioning component may continue to do its job, it simply uses up more energy in the process. That will cause your monthly bills to spike without any matching uptick in AC use. If your bills suddenly go up without any reason, it usually merits a repair call.
Air conditioning repairs in the Austin, TX area can be performed by the friendly pros at Intelligent Air Services. Call us today!