FAQ

One of the most overlooked aspects of home maintenance is the plumbing system. It’s not until a drain becomes clogged or a pipe starts leaking that homeowners realize the importance of proper plumbing maintenance. Regular maintenance can prevent costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your plumbing system. When it comes to maintaining drains, two common terms are often used interchangeably: drain clearing and drain cleaning. However, these two terms have distinct differences, and understanding them can help you take appropriate action to keep your drains running smoothly.

Here in Texas, we are no strangers to hailstorms, and they can happen at any time of the year. After a hailstorm, most homeowners are usually only concerned about damage to their vehicles, roof damage and sometimes even window damage.

Hot water feels instant during the summer. Not the case in winter. The water coming into your water heater during the winter is much colder than normal because of the colder weather. It’s common for the water going from your water heater to your faucets or showerhead to drop 10 degrees.

Depending on where you live, service fees can be as low at $79 or as high as $150. As a homeowner, you have the right to know what that fee includes. At first glance, it may sound like the HVAC or Plumbing contractor is price gouging but here is what you SHOULD be getting for your initial investment.

How much does an HVAC system cost? Well, with the new SEER2 regulations effective 1/1/2023, manufacturers pricing is going up 15-20%. That is on top of 30% increases post COVID. A 3 ton, SEER2 compliant system installed with the materials listed above will cost $13,000 to $17,000. This is the base model system. Top efficiency, 25 SEER systems with Inverter technology variable speed compressors and variable speed furnace will be in the range of $23,000 to $30,000.

Your home HVAC and plumbing system require regular maintenance just like your car to insure maximum performance. First time homeowners rarely think about it, and most often it is not communicated to them during the purchasing process as something to consider.

Depending on what type of system, the weather and how well your system functions within your home can ultimately dictate how often your system turns on and off. What do I mean when I say, “how well the system functions within your home”? As you may already know all houses are constructed differently, with different types of building material, insulation, windows, directions the home faces, and square footage. All of these are factors when comes to properly size your system.

After 20 plus years in the HVAC and Plumbing home service business we have seen many home warranty companies come and go. The good ones are still around and provide a valuable product for the homeowner. Many have gone out of business for a couple of reasons. The unsuccessful ones usually had a history of misrepresenting their product to both the homeowner and the contractor performing the work for them. They treated the homeowner like a nuisance not a valued client.

Your water heater needs routine maintenance to operate at peak performance which includes flushing your water heater at least once a year. Some homeowners with higher levels of mineral deposits or a higher usage of hot water may need to flush the heater more often. Annual water heater flushes are recommended by most water heater manufacturers. If your water heater isn’t properly maintained, it eventually gets past the point where maintenance is possible.

Texas has mild winters when it comes to snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures but we still suffer the low humidity problems of our northern neighbors. When the outdoor humidity drops so does your indoor humidity leaving your home feeling dry and often uncomfortable. Lack of humidity or moisture in the air can wreak havoc on you, your family, and your home.