JD's Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

Why Does My AC Have Ice on It?

July 22nd, 2024

ice-and-frost-in-a-beautiful-feathery-pattern

Air conditioners make the air around them colder. The refrigerant which runs through the coils sucks the heat right out of your house. That means that the coils themselves are very cold. No wonder you sometimes see air conditioners with layers of ice developing on the coils!

Unfortunately, that’s actually a very bad sign. Ice does not form on air conditioners during normal operation. The coils should be cold, yes, but they should also be absorbing heat, and thus never actually freezing. If your air conditioner has ice on it, what in the world is going on? What can you do about it? Does it need repair? We’ll investigate together.

How Plumbers Locate Sneaky Leaks

July 8th, 2024

Sometimes, a plumbing leak is obvious. Water is dribbling out around the base of a faucet, for example, or the shower just doesn’t shut off all the way no matter what you do. Or it’s obvious in a dramatic, exciting, plumbing-emergency sort of way, with water gushing or spraying. But in other cases, a plumbing leak can be pretty sneaky.

There’s plumbing all throughout your walls. There are pipes under your floors. There are even pipes underneath the concrete foundation of your home. And if leaks occur in those places, they can do a lot of damage and waste a lot of water before you realize what’s going on. So what are the signs of a hidden leak? And how do plumbers locate sneaky leaks so they can repair them? We’ve got the info you need right here.

What to Look for in an HVAC Contractor

June 24th, 2024

Your HVAC system is like your home’s heart and lungs. It is so critical to your home being safe and comfortable that you really can’t take it for granted. You need to make sure that you’re caring for it properly. And just like you wouldn’t go to some guy whose ad you spotted when you need a cardiologist—you’d see an actual, qualified doctor—you can’t trust the care of your HVAC system to just anyone.

Unlike a doctor, who you’ve probably got some experience finding, and whose credentials, like a medical degree, are probably obvious to you, an HVAC professional might be more mysterious. What qualities are necessary in a great HVAC contractor? How can you determine whether someone has those qualities? We’ve got answers for you.

Ways an HVAC Contractor Can Help You Save Money on Cooling This Summer

June 10th, 2024

person-calculating-money-saved-by-making-their-home-more-efficient

Energy is expensive, and the biggest consumer of energy in American homes is heating and cooling. Now, this isn’t an optional luxury. We need our homes to stay at a safe temperature, and we need to be comfortable enough to be productive and enjoy ourselves. So we can’t just say, forget it, I’m not going to heat or cool my home anymore. But we can do things to limit the cost!

How can you spend less money on cooling your home this summer? By running the air conditioner less. How will you manage to stay comfortable? With the help of professional HVAC technicians! Your HVAC contractor can provide services to help your air conditioner run more efficiently, in less time, and save you money. Here are the details.

Dryer Vent Cleaning: A Job for the Pros

May 27th, 2024

dryer-vent-hose-caked-with-a-thick-layer-of-lint

Your dryer has a lint trap that must be cleaned after every load of laundry you dry. We’re sure you already knew this, and we very much hope you are diligent about doing that each and every time. But you might think that this is enough to prevent dryer lint buildup in the rest of the vent system for your dryer. You would be wrong, and you’re causing yourself unnecessary and serious problems!

Some of the lint that is produced by your clothing, sheets, towels, and more will work its way through the screen of the lint trap or, if your lint trap becomes clogged, will force its way around the edges of that screen. This lint will accumulate in your dryer vent, where hot, wet air is exhausted from your home. This vent needs to be cleaned by professionals. Here’s why.

Is It Time to Replace Your Old Air Conditioner?

May 13th, 2024

very-old-air-conditioner-in-need-of-replacement

In Texas, you don’t want to be starting the summer with an air conditioner you can’t rely on. How’s your air conditioner doing? Were you happy with it last summer? Or was it struggling? Does it perhaps need a major repair in order to be up and running for the heat that will hit us so soon? Or could it be time to retire that air conditioner entirely?

It can be hard to determine whether you should keep investing in your existing AC system or give up on it. You don’t want to buy a new air conditioner if it’s not necessary. But you also don’t want to need that new air conditioner in a desperate hurry after a breakdown in a heat wave. We’ve got some tips for you on how to decide whether it’s time to replace your old air conditioner.

Clean and Prepare Your AC This Spring

April 15th, 2024

The beautiful Texas springtime has arrived, and you know what that means. It won’t be long before the summer heat arrives! It’s time to make sure you’re ready for it. What should be at the top of your springtime to-do list? Cleaning and preparing your air conditioner, of course! Here are the steps you should take.

Texas Air Quality Tips for the Spring

April 1st, 2024

Ah, springtime in Texas! It just might be the most beautiful time of the year. The weather is getting warmer, the flowers are blooming, the pollen is blowing around, the allergies are starting to act up… If you’ve got concerns about your air quality, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

There are a wide variety of things you can do to ease your allergies, breathe easier, and feel healthier this year than you have during previous allergy seasons. Let us share some of our best tips for improving your indoor air quality during this Texas springtime.

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?

What’s in Your Air Ducts?

March 4th, 2024

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.