JD's Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Lubbock’

What’s in Your Air Ducts?

Monday, 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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How to Protect Your Furnace from Ice

Monday, 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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Commercial HVAC Service: Pros vs. Amateurs

Monday, 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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Do Pets Make Your Ducts Dirtier?

Monday, 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

Monday, 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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Refrigerant Leaks: Our Guide to Fixing Them

Monday, August 21st, 2023
air-conditioner-evaporator-coil

Refrigerant is the lifeblood of your air conditioner or heat pump. With the compressor, like a heart, forcing it to flow through the indoor and outdoor coils in a continuous circuit, it absorbs and releases heat and provides the cooling you so desperately need during a Texas summer. Because it is a continuous circuit, a closed loop, there should never be a need for more refrigerant. The system doesn’t use it up like fuel. But there are times when it must be refilled. Occasionally, a leak occurs, causing refrigerant to be lost from the AC system. Catching this issue early will prevent it from causing bigger problems.

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Start With a Video Pipe Inspection

Monday, August 7th, 2023
a-tangle-of-many-plumbing-pipes

Do you have any idea what’s going on in your plumbing? Maybe you’re new at homeownership, or you’re considering purchasing a home. Maybe your home is older, with pipes whose materials you aren’t certain of, or there have been changes or additions to the plumbing system. Maybe you’ve got some suspicions that there are problems going on in there somewhere. If you don’t have clarity about exactly what’s going on in your plumbing or where, how do you begin? Video pipe inspection can give you the answers you need. 

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Our Guide to Proper Summer Maintenance

Monday, May 15th, 2023
outdoor-unit-of-an-air-conditioner-covered-with-autumn-leaves

It’s that time of year again! Your air conditioner is going to start working very hard very soon. It’s important to do whatever you can to keep it happy, so it won’t poop out during a serious heat wave. There are a few things you can do to make life easier for a hard-working Texas air conditioner. Here are our summer maintenance recommendations.

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It’s Officially Spring—So Spring Into Getting Your AC Maintenance!

Monday, March 20th, 2023
AC-maintenance

It’s that time of the year again! Spring has finally arrived, and as the weather begins to warm up (or at least acts like it will), we recommend you think about getting your air conditioning system checked and tuned up. Or don’t just think about it—actually call us to schedule air conditioning maintenance in Lubbock, TX or the surrounding areas. After all, you don’t want to wait until the first hot day of the year to discover that your AC isn’t working properly. With maintenance, you’ll have your air conditioner prepped and in the best condition for any heatwave that may strike in the summer.

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Can I Repair My Furnace on My Own?

Monday, February 20th, 2023
wrenches

If you’re looking to save money on home repairs, don’t look to your furnace. You can take care of many DIY projects around the house, but you should consider the furnace strictly “off limits.” 

In other words, the simple answer to the question in the title of this blog is “No.” 

However, there’s a more complex answer… 

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