June 1st is officially the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season and NOAA has already predicted an above-normal season for 2020. This means that it’s time to check your hurricane kit, stock up on supplies, and figure out how to hurricane-proof your home.

If you’re new to the area and haven’t experienced hurricane season before or are new to owning a home and new to storm-proofing, then you’re in the right place. Here are 5 things you should do to protect your home.

1. Protect the Roof

Your roof may be one of the first things to be damaged in a hurricane. Hurricanes can bring winds between 74 and 155+ mph. Hurricane clips are one tool to secure your roof. They are typically made from steel and strengthen where the roof and the home are connected.

Hurricane clips, which you sometimes see called hurricane straps or hurricane ties, make it less likely that the roof will lift off the frame when winds get high. Hurricane-proof homes often will have these clips installed when the roof is replaced.

2. Reinforce the Garage Door

Your garage door is one of the most vulnerable places in your home. Garage doors are often made of lightweight material to save on costs, improve safety, and improve the efficiency of the opening and closing of the door.

However, you should choose impact-resistant garage doors, metal if possible, and get a vertical bracing system to protect your door from hurricane-force winds.

3. Protect Your Windows and Doors

Like the garage door, windows and other doors in your home are also vulnerable. You can install hurricane-resistant doors and impact-resistant windows to keep them from shattering.

Replacing your windows and doors is a significant expense. In the meantime, you can protect your windows and doors with hurricane shutters. If you’re really in a pinch, stock up on plywood and other supplies to board up your windows and doors in the event of a hurricane.

4. Protect Your Air Conditioner

You should shut your air conditioner off during a hurricane to prevent damage from power interruption. Power that is flickering or a strong power surge can damage your compressor. Preventative maintenance can help make sure you keep your air conditioner in good working order as well.

You can also cover your air conditioner to protect it from any flying debris. Check with your manufacturer to make sure anything you cover it with won’t void the warranty. Some manufacturers may have their own covers that you can purchase that won’t impact your warranty.

Your air conditioner can easily survive a hurricane, as long as you take steps to protect it. Otherwise, you might find yourself having to replace your system after the storm has passed. Hurricane straps can also ensure that the outdoor component of your air conditioner stays put.

5. Stock up on Emergency Supplies

Having a well-stocked hurricane kit is imperative once hurricane season begins. You can find plenty of lists out there of what you should include in your emergency kit, and basics include:

• Water
• Non-perishable food
• First-aid kit
• Flashlights
• Candles
• Portable chargers for phones
• Battery-operated radio to get any weather updates if the power is out
• Batteries

At the start of each hurricane season, check the contents of your kit and update it with anything that needs to be replaced.

Create Your Plan for How to Hurricane-Proof Your Home

Before hurricane season is in full swing, get your plan together on how to hurricane-proof your home. Update your emergency kit, make sure you have supplies for boarding up your home if necessary, and have a plan for securing outdoor areas of your home in the event of a hurricane.

If your air conditioner has been damaged in a hurricane or you need a seasonal tune-up, contact us today.

Cleaning your home ventilation system is an important task in maintaining your quality of living.

Along with the things you might expect to be in your air ducts, like dust and dirt, you might also be surprised to hear that toxins circulate there as well. Building material, excessive moisture, and pesticides are just a few of the things that may be making their rounds in your home through your ventilation.

Now, more than ever, those with upper-respiratory challenges find themselves vulnerable to aggressive viruses. Keeping your lungs healthy at home starts in the home ventilation system.

Do Home Ventilation Systems Need to Be Cleaned?

The short answer is yes.

Building materials like asbestos can find its way into a home ventilation system as it degrades, spreading toxic material throughout the home. Another concern is pesticides, that have been tracked inside or blown into the home.

With over 25 million Americans around the country with asthma, 14.8 million with COPD, and 12 million Americans currently undiagnosed with upper respiratory diseases, keeping the lungs of yourself and your visitors healthy is critical. Continuing to circulate toxins through your home’s air supply means that occupants’ lungs will be consistently irritated.

Any pockets of excessive moisture in home ventilation systems also pose a threat to the upper respiratory health of occupants in a home or building. The constant humidity can lead to mold. Aside from a mildew smell from the mold, it can be dangerous as it grows and spreads through the home’s system.

Your HVAC System Will Thank You

Not only is the safety of your lungs at stake, so is the safety of your HVAC system. HVAC, or heating ventilation and hair conditioning, systems contain filters as well as ducts throughout your home.

Hopefully you have been changing the system’s filter on a regular schedule, but if not, take the time to check the filter. Keeping the filter itself replaced on a regular basis can help ease stress on the units involved as they circulate the air through your home.

A clogged filter will not be able to filter out dust, particles, and toxins from the air ducts. With an expired, clogged filter in place, the HVAC system will have to work harder to push air through the filter as well.

The added stress of air pressure in the ducts and pushing against the filter can be detrimental to the life span of your HVAC system.

What Can an HVAC Professional Do

Having a professional come check on your home ventilation system can make all the difference in how it functions, and how you breathe in your own home.

A professional service can take a look through the HVAC system to check for pockets of moisture that can lead to mold growth. They can also check to see if there is a buildup of particles circulating through the home.

HVAC professionals can also implement technology that helps control the spread of germs.

All of these things can lead to better indoor air quality.

Ready to Improve Indoor Air Quality?

By taking having a professional take a look at your home ventilation system, you will be on the road to a healthier environment. Breathing easy at home is something everyone should enjoy.

If you’re ready to improve your home’s indoor air quality, contact us.

42% of your monthly energy bill goes toward heating and cooling costs, according to the Department of Energy. As your HVAC unit ages, that percentage will grow by 1-2% annually.

How can you prevent your bill from ballooning whenever the weather changes? Invest a little time and money in fall air conditioning and heating maintenance.

Regular maintenance, proper insulation, and using a sensible thermostat setting can save you up to 30% on energy bills.

If saving money isn’t incentive enough, here are some other reasons why you should bring in a professional to look at your HVAC system during the fall.

Air Quality and Humidity

An estimated 51.8 million people in the United States live with some form of respiratory disease.

To keep these people safe, they need access to filtered air.

HVAC filters catch most of the particles that can cause an asthma attack. These dangerous particles include pet dander, dust, mildew, pollen, and smoke. Without constantly circulating air, these particles build up in the home. Fans and open windows blow allergens around, posing a threat to anyone with asthma.

Circulating air keeps humidity levels low. High humidity can lead to dangerous mold growth, which costs a lot to remove.

Prolongs the Life of Your HVAC Unit

HVAC units have a lifespan of 15-20 years if they’re taken care of properly.

Regular maintenance visits from a specialist will allow them to spot potential problems with your system before they get worse.

During a maintenance call, your technician will take care of problems like:

• Checking and tightening electrical connections
• Inspecting the condensate drain to make sure it’s not blocked
• Lubricating all moving parts
• Cleaning dirty parts
• Checking gas connections
• Checking coolant levels
• Clearing debris from airflow vents

You can also help extend the life of your HVAC system by looking for leaks around your unit, replacing the filter often, and making sure there is no debris near the unit.

Keeps Your Family Safe

HVAC preventative maintenance will ensure your family stays protected from obvious things like extreme summer heat and freezing winter temperatures.

HVAC maintenance will also protect your family and home from lesser known hazards such as:

• Water damage – Leaking HVAC units can cause damage to the ceiling or floor and encourages mold growth.
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Older HVAC units are prone to developing cracks in the exhaust flue and heat exchanger. These leaks can cause carbon monoxide gas to seep into the home.
• Fire – Damaged wiring in old air conditioning units spark an estimated 2,800 home fires per year.

Quick Response Time From Specialists

The busiest times of year for HVAC repairmen are mid-summer and mid-winter. That’s also the time of year when we rely on our systems the most.

To make sure your family doesn’t have to deal without a functional HVAC unit during when they need them, schedule a visit from an HVAC specialist in the fall.

Let Us Help You With Your Fall Air Conditioner and Heating Maintenance

We want to make sure everyone is healthy and comfortable all year long.

To make it easier on you, we offer a comprehensive maintenance plan which offers fall air conditioning and heating maintenance. Not only will it help you save money, but we’ll repair any potentially hazardous problems to keep your family safe.

Contact us today to set up a maintenance appointment.

The average lifespan of an HVAC unit these days is 15-20 years. That number may surprise some, as the number of problems and repair can jump before reaching 10 years. Part of this reason is the lack of preventative maintenance.

HVAC units experience a lot of stress in the summer and winter. If there are any parts failing or debris interfering, high temps make matters worse. It’s in your best interest to perform fall air conditioning and heating maintenance.

Fall is your opportunity to check for potential problems and prevent larger repairs. Here’s a quick HVAC maintainence checklist to help you get started.

Change Your Filter

Your air conditioner was probably doing a lot of work during the summer. For most Texans, it’ll likely do the same going into fall. Your air filter is your HVAC’s lungs, so if they get clogged, everything works harder.

Once this happens, your coils can freeze up; then you’re dealing with your HVAC unit leaking water. This eventually leads to your system switching off, as the safety switch is tripped from a small drainage tray. Stay on top of your filter replacement to avoid your coils getting gunked up.

Check the Refrigerant Levels

Another common reason for coils freezing up is low refrigerant. Lower refrigerant levels mean lower pressure in the coils. The HVAC unit will also run a little louder, as there are more gaps of air pumping in the coils.

If your HVAC unit needs refrigerant, then it’s time to call an HVAC specialist to refill it.

Clean the Compressor

The compressor is the unit outside. You’ll want to keep it clear of debris as much as possible. Learning how to do maintenance by yourself will minimize major repairs needed later.

First, you’ll want to make sure the power is cut off from your breaker. Next, focus on the big stuff surrounding the perimeter.

Got tall grass nearby? Cut it.

Clear out any branches or leaves on and around the unit. This is something you should do every time you cut the grass. We recommend using a wet-dry vac with a brush to do regular cleanings.

Check to see if any of the fins on the outside are bent and fix them in place. You can move onto opening up the compressor; just unscrew the top grill. Once inside, you can move the fan out of the way.

Look at all the wiring and check for any damage or corrosion. Continue vacuuming inside and spray off the fins from inside to complete the cleaning.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

If you want to really pile on the savings, you should consider upgrading to a smart thermostat. These are not only more accurate than standard programmables, but they’re also more reliable. They’ll learn your routines and save you the time of having to constantly reprogram them.

Perform Thorough Fall Air Conditioning and Heating Maintenance

Preventative fall air conditioning and heating maintenance will save you time and money in the long term. A quality $15 air filter sounds like a waste until you start to add up all the coil cleaning and repairs. If you struggle with your HVAC system turning on and off too much, running loud, etc., then you should call the experts.

Get a free consultation to see whether your problem is a maintenance issue or something bigger. Go local with Livingston’s Best Air and Heat LLC. We won’t give you the runaround like the big-name franchises.

A good air conditioning system works when you need it to, and doesn’t run your bills through the roof.

However, without proper maintenance, you won’t be able to get much out of your air conditioning system. Springing for an air conditioning maintenance plan can be just what you need.

Read the tips below to figure out what these plans are and whether they’re right for you.

Understand the Benefits of an Air Conditioning Maintenance Plan and What You Get

Before you shop for an air conditioning maintenance plan, be sure that you learn about their benefits. A maintenance plan lets you pre-pay for your HVAC visits.

Here’s why they’re a good idea:

1. You’ll Save Plenty of Money

In the summertime, your air conditioning system uses upwards of 5,000 watts of energy during the hottest part of the day alone. As you might imagine, this can cause your bills to rise and cost you a lot of money.

When you care for your air conditioner, it’ll also double down on your savings since the equipment won’t be wasteful.

2. Your Home Will Be Ready for Summertime

Getting your air conditioner ready for summertime is an absolute must — especially if you’re dealing with sweltering Texas summers.

When you have an air conditioning maintenance plan, it’ll always let you get your system ready for summer. You’ll be glad that you had the plan when you’re hanging out in the living room without sweat beading down your face.

3. The AC Will Last Longer

Properly maintaining your air conditioner makes it a good bet that your system will last for 12 years or more.

By pre-paying your AC maintenance, you’re buying this longevity upfront. This will save you a lot of money since you won’t have to purchase a new AC for at least a few years.

Research HVAC Contractors and Figure out if You Need a Plan

Now that you see the benefits of these air conditioning plants, you’ll need to figure out whether or not it’s for you.

If the air conditioning system is brand new, you can often buy a maintenance plan at the time of purchase. Buying a maintenance plan can also be helpful if you live in an older house and don’t want to risk downtime with your HVAC system.

Whether you plan to find a plan or not, you’ll still need the help of a professional contractor. Get some references so that you can find a quality air conditioning professional.

Do What’s Right for Your Air Conditioner

If you are looking into an air conditioning maintenance plan, this is the information that you need to know.

Regardless of what sort of air conditioning system you have, buying one of these plans is a great idea. The points above will give you an understanding of what you’ll get from these maintenance plans.

Regardless of what you need, we’re happy to give you the Best Air Conditioning and Heating in Point Blank.

When you need air conditioning services in your area, get in touch online, or call us at (936) 213-5116.