Do I Have Heating Reliable Enough for Serious Cold?

February 22nd, 2021

cold-sweater-manWe’ve been fortunate here in Katy not to have gotten the worst of the cold that struck much of the state last week, although we still had chillier days than we often get. But this deep freeze in February has probably put your mind on your heating system. You may be wondering: “Can my heating system tolerate another major cold snap?”

We’re glad you’re asking this question, because preparation is the key to making it through weather extremes. You’re accustomed to worrying about your AC getting through the intense summers, so let’s now turn this attention toward your heating system.

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Come Join Us at the Katy Home & Garden Show 2021

February 19th, 2021

khgs-logoIt’s time once again for the annual Spring Katy Home & Garden Show! This year it will be held on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 at Merrell Center. If you’re searching for ideas for home design and renovation to make big changes in 2021, you’ll find plenty of great exhibits from experts and top vendors. There are also workshops and seminars from Houston area professionals to help energize your home design dreams!

Once again, AC Comfort is proud to be a featured exhibitor. We’ll be in booth #614, and we’d love to see you and show you what we can do to enhance your home comfort.

Details

  • The Spring Katy Home & Garden Show
  • Saturday, March 27: 10 am to 6 pm
  • Sunday, Mary 28: 11 am to 5 pm
  • Merrell Center
  • 6301 S. Stadium Lane
  • Katy, TX 77494
  • Admission: $7 adults, kids under 12 free

At AC Comfort, Your Comfort Is Our Business!

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Too Early to Schedule HVAC Maintenance? Not at All!

February 8th, 2021

service-blue-markerIt’s early February, and the ol’ groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. However, the groundhog has been right approximately 30% of the time, which is less than chance, and we live in Texas where we generally don’t need to worry about long winters.

And that’s a lengthy way of saying that we’re already heading toward warmer weather here and it’s time to think about scheduling routine HVAC maintenance so your AC is ready to go into spring. But you shouldn’t just abandon your heater. Take advantage of this slower time to have any lingering heater repair in Katy, TX taken care of. In fact, why not arrange for both at one time? Call us up about your heating problems and ask to get on the schedule for HVAC maintenance through our Safety and Efficiency Cool Club.

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What to Do With Your Heater When It’s Not Running

January 25th, 2021

old-air-conditionerHome heating in Sugar Land, TX is different from many other parts of the country. After all, we’re now in late January and the temperatures are often in the low 70s. Since we recommend a winter setting on the thermostat of 68°F, that means your heater won’t be running much. It might turn on a few times in the evening, but when you put in a set-back temperature at night of around 60°F, that will also prevent the heater from coming on. 

You might be content to just let the heater sit there, only occasionally turning on and sometimes remaining off for days at a time. Soon you’ll start having the AC run on the regular. But … is there anything you should be doing about the heater during these winter down-times? You won’t shut it off entirely like you do for summer, but are there any maintenance steps to take? Sort of like how your car still needs care even if it sits unused in the garage for weeks at a time?

Well, yes, there are a few things to do about your heater during the lulls.

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How Does an Electric Furnace Fare Against a Heat Pump?

January 11th, 2021

HVAC-iconsIf you live in an all-electric home, there are several choices available to you when it comes to heating during the winter. The two main ones are the electric furnace and the heat pump. Because we don’t experience fierce winters here in Katy, your heating system will run for only a short season—but that doesn’t mean that just any heater will do. 

In fact, choosing between a heat pump and an electric furnace is a big decision, because it will also affect how you cool the house. A heat pump is a two-in-one system that works as both an air conditioner and a heater, so if you choose a heat pump installation, you’re also making the decision on how you’re cooling the house. If you choose an electric furnace, you’re also deciding to either keep your current AC or install a separate AC unit.

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Proper Thermostat Handling for a Texas Winter

December 28th, 2020

setting-thermostatIt’s the end of the year, and we’re experiencing bone-chilling temperatures here of around … let’s see … 67°F during the day. Yes, not exactly the Blizzard of 1888 (fun facts on that, if you’re interested) and not quite the temperatures that will make you depend on your home heating system. 

But the mild temperatures of winter do pose a challenge to us because finding the ideal setting on the thermostat can be tricky. Sometimes days will warm up just enough that you’ll need the AC running, and then the next day drop down just cool enough to have the heater come on. If you’re moving the thermostat setting up and down all the time, that’s probably creating energy waste without giving you the comfort results you want. 

No Matter the Temperature, Remember these Two Facts…

These two facts will help you understand the “why” of how the thermostat is set.

  1. Heat loss or heat gain slows down the closer indoor and outdoor temperatures are to each other. This is why extreme temperature settings on a thermostat are so wasteful. Cranking the heat up too far means heat leaves the house faster. Blasting the air conditioning causes heat to move into the house faster. Aim to find a temperature inside that’s comfortable but also as close as possible to the outside temperature.
  2. The thermostat is a switch, not a throttle. You won’t get more heating or cooling delivered faster with extreme high or low settings. You’re only telling the heater or AC to stay on for longer. Steady settings are better for energy efficiency and comfort. 

Now let’s look at the recommended thermostat settings.

When You Have the Heater On

Set the thermostat at 68°F during the day when people are home. This is a comfortable enough temperature for most people. Most of the time, the heater won’t even need to turn on or stay running for long. Lower the temperatures further at night or when the house is empty, usually around 60°F. 

When You Have the AC On 

The best daytime setting for staying cool is 78°F, and with proper ventilation, open windows, and fans you may not even need to have the AC running until the temperature has risen into the 80s. At night time or when the house is empty, raise the temperature by 8°F to 86°F.

A Smart Thermostat Is a Great Help

The best way to avoid having to change the programming regularly on the thermostat to adjust to days that are hot or cold is to have a special “smart” thermostat installed. This thermostat learns from your patterns of climate setting and from the house conditions to create its own programs that maximize energy use. In our area, this kind of thermostat is especially beneficial, since it adapts to our mild climate and can change between heating and cooling easily. 

Get in touch with us for thermostat installation, as well as AC and heating repair in Katy, TX whenever you run up against serious comfort trouble. 

At AC Comfort, “Your Comfort Is Our Business!” Reach out to us today if you need help with your heating and cooling. 

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Did You Know Your Ceiling Fans Can Help Keep You Warm?

December 14th, 2020

ceiling-fan-woodenHigh on our list of ways to help lower the cost of staying cool in a Texas summer is ceiling fans. A ceiling fan doesn’t lower a room’s temperature, but it does make it easier for people in the room to stay cool. It’s the power of “wind chill”: when a breeze moves over your body, it takes away the heat envelope around you from heat escaping through your skin. When this envelope is removed, it allows for more heat to leave your body so you feel cooler than the air around you.

How much a difference can a ceiling fan make in hot weather? It can make a space feel up to 10°F cooler. So a 90°F day can already feel like a more bearable 80°F day, and that means having to run the AC less often.

Now here’s the fun news we put in the title: ceiling fans can help in winter, too. For a place with mild winter temperatures, it doesn’t take much help to get you comfortable—and that means heating in Houston, TX that costs less. 

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What to Do When Your Heater Won’t Heat

November 30th, 2020

cold-man-with-thermostatYou won’t need heating repair in Cypress, TX as often as you’ll need AC repair. After all, air conditioning systems get used almost throughout the year here, while heaters only run for a short season, usually handling the cold nights. But when you need to have your heater repaired, make sure you call on our technicians and don’t try to do any of the work yourself. And don’t entrust the job to an amateur who can make big promises at suspiciously small prices. They’re suspiciously small for good reason!

However, if your heater stops heating or is only putting out an inadequate amount of warmth, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to test if the problem is a minor one. These won’t involve you having to get out the tools or do anything that might be harmful. Once you’ve exhausted these steps is when to call us to get that heater heating again.

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Why Annual Furnace Service Is Essential!

November 16th, 2020

Service-technician-testing-furnaceWhen the winter temperatures start to drop into the 40s during the evenings in Texas, you’ll be glad you have a powerful furnace to warm your family. The reassurance of a furnace that you can depend on makes it easy to glide through the winter season, and our team is glad to help you with the finest available furnace service in Houston, TX. 

One of those services, perhaps the most important one, is annual pre-season maintenance. Before the cold weather arrives, we’ll give your furnace a thorough inspection and tune-up. Once we’re done, the furnace will be set for whatever the season can throw at it.

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Heating Maintenance? Yes, You Need It Each Year!

November 2nd, 2020

furnace-isolated-whiteAir conditioning is the top Houston, TX, HVAC service we handle. That makes sense because the intense heat of the middle of the year is the most daunting comfort challenge local homes face. But that doesn’t mean we can ignore heating. Air conditioners work almost every month of the year, but heaters will see their share of “action” in winter months. 

We understand it’s easy to overlook regular heating maintenance service during the year. It can be hard to even think about the word heating when you still have the AC running on a regular basis. But we aim to keep our customers informed, and so we need to remind them that heating maintenance must be done annually for it to provide the best benefits. 

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