Are you a “good news” or “bad news” first kind of person?

Well, we’re going to make an educated guess and give you bad news first, mostly because you might just find it somewhat reassuring.

Fact:  if your furnace needed to be replaced right now, there’s no way you’d know that without getting an expert opinion from a professional heating company.  As in, unless you’re a qualified HVAC technician in your own right, there’s no way you can make that determination on your own, even if your heating system has completely shut down.  Why?  Because there’s always the chance not only that it can be repaired, but that for the time being, you’re better off repairing than replacing.

And now you have one more very good reason to find one professional heating company you learn to trust, and stick with them.  Especially if they’re demonstrated their willingness and ability to stand by you.

And now for the good news part of our story.  At Absolute Air, we tell our customers like it is.  Which means we’ll give you our best “repair vs. replace” advice, answer all your questions, and then act on your instructions.

Still, you might wonder, “there must be at least some clues that a furnace might need to be replaced?”  And you’d be right.  Here are some of the more common indications that a replacement furnace might be your best course of action:

• Loud popping, banging, and other such noises
• Hot and cold spots throughout your house
• Higher-than-normal heating costs
• Higher than normal thermostat settings to achieve the comfort levels you want
• Burner flame is yellow vs. blue
• Your house is overly dry or dusty
• Your furnace is 15-20 years old, which is its average expected lifespan

If you’re looking for home comfort advice AND service you can trust, contact Absolute Air today or anytime at all. We’re here to make indoor living more comfortable, convenient, and safer for you and every member of your family.

we invite you to contact us today to schedule service for Heating repair in Forney TX .  Same goes if the noises are already there.  Give us a call for  air conditioning  services in crandall TX, we’ll figure out exactly what’s going on, and then give you a guaranteed upfront quote to fix it, and fix it right.

Most everyone would agree that an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. This is precisely why we get regular check-ups and dental cleanings, and perform routine maintenance on our cars.

But surprisingly, when it comes to protecting their biggest investment, many homeowners tend to forget this old adage and rarely – if ever – have their home heating system cleaned and inspected. Perhaps it’s all about “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?  Or maybe some folks just don’t know how truly important it is to have this service performed every year.  Not just for the sake of the system’s ability to heat your home, but for reasons of health and safety, too.

So if it’s been a while since you’ve had a licensed home heating technician make sure your heating equipment is in tip top shape, here are 5 reasons to make that appointment today.

1. Cleaner indoor air. As your heating equipment sits dormant during the warm months, it accumulates dirt and dust. And that dirt and dust, along with allergens and even mold spores, can get pushed out into your living space through air vents and registers.

2. Your family’s safety. A cracked heat exchanger can release dangerous levels of carbon monoxide into your home, putting your family at risk for CO poisoning.

3. Increased energy efficiency. A clean furnace with well-lubricated parts operates more efficiently to keep you and your family at optimum comfort levels, which means less energy used and more money saved on heating costs.

4. Extended operating life. The average furnace is built to last 15 years, but one that is properly cleaned and tuned up on a regular basis can last even longer.

5. Fewer system breakdowns. An annual pre-season inspection can turn up problem areas and worn components that, if taken care of now, can minimize or eliminate potentially costly repairs later on.

Yes, It’s still September, and yes, there’s still plenty of warm weather left before the colder stuff arrives.  But that’s precisely what makes this the best time of year for annual preventative maintenance; as in, get the work done now so you’ll have no interruption in your heating service later on.

Today, we invite you to call Absolute Air to help turn your home into a more comfortable, energy efficient, and safer environment for your entire family. Call for Air conditioning services in forney TX.

Spring is tantalizingly close.

So close, it’s tempting to declare that winter is over.  Done.  Kaput.  The problem is, it’s not.  In fact, right at this moment, your ever-diligent blogger is looking at the 10-day forecast for the Dallas suburb of Kaufman and, sorry to say, low temperatures next week will be in the mid-thirties.

Sorry for the bad news, but now for the “glass is half full” side of our story.  Right now, there are a bunch of things you can to keep nice and warm for what’s left of winter but still manage to bring your heating costs down.

There, don’t you feel a little better already?  Well, you will once you see your NEXT heating bill, but provided you practice one or more of the following home comfort tips from Absolute Air.

1. Take one for the team.  Lower your thermostat just one itty bitty degree and, over a 12-hour period, that adds up to a 3% reduction in your heating costs.  So if, for example, you’re used to leaving it 70 even when no one’s home, lower the thermostat to 66 and then raise it again when you get home.  You can stand at least a little discomfort until your house warms up, right?  Same thing goes during the overnight hours.  If you’re accustomed to turning it down to 68, push it another degree or two and save some money.  In fact, this is where a programmable thermostat would really come in handy:  more about that a little later on.    
   
2. Check your filter.  The filter inside your furnace needs to be cleaned or replaced once a month, and for several good reasons.  One of them is to help control your heating costs.  Another is to help your system last longer.  You see, a clogged filter makes your furnace have to work harder to maintain the desired temperature.  The harder it works, the more wear and tear, and the shorter its shelf life.
   How’s your insulation holding up?  There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to climb up into your attic with a flashlight and check it out.  Over time, gaps will appear and the insulation starts to compress, thus losing some of its ability to keep heat from rising into the attic and then out through your roof.  Insulation, like your furnace, doesn’t last forever.  So if you can’t remember the last time you checked it or had someone do it for you, there’s no doubt you’re paying too much to heat your home.
   
3. Easy on the ventilating fans.  Kitchen and bath fans are quite effective in removing moisture from your home, and just as effective in sucking out the heat.  So vent while you must, but be diligent about turning those fans off after they’ve done their job.
   
4. Remove anything block vents, registers, and baseboard units.  What you don’t need, in particular, are heated drapes, jeans, slippers, or chairs.  What you want is a nicely heated home at the lowest cost possible.  So one big way to help yourself is to let the warm air flow freely, and without anything blocking its way.

As we mentioned earlier, programmable thermostats are on your side when it comes to keeping home heating costs at a minimum.  Let’s say you’re bound and determined to come home to a nice warm house.  Well, without a programmable thermostat, the only way to accomplish that is to keep your house warm all day, even while you and everyone else is out and about.  Or, you can save bunches of money by replacing your old thermostat with a programmable model and pre-set the thermostat to change from 64 to 70, for example, about 30 minutes before you’re planned arrival.  Mission accomplished.

To learn more or to schedule installation, contact Absolute Air today.  We have lots of good ideas to help you heat – and cool! – your home for less.

As the fall temperatures continue to drop and we prepare to greet winter, many families in Terrell and Forney turn to space heaters to take the chill out of their homes and save on home heating costs.

But while space heaters offer an economical and portable way to increase the warmth in a single room, or heat a small area of the house without turning on the main heat source, they are also very serious fire hazards. In fact, space heaters are responsible for an estimated 25,000 residential fires each year.

Fortunately, you can keep your family safe and warm this winter just by following a few simple, yet crucial, space heater safety tips.

• When selecting a space heater, make sure that it has been tested to meet the most current safety standards, and is approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory.
• Choose the right size space heater for each room.
• Space heaters must now be equipped with an automatic tip-switch that will turn the heater off should it fall over. Do not use an old space heater that does not have this feature.
• Read the manufacturer’s use and care instructions carefully.
• Place the space heater on the floor, at least 3 feet away from any flammable items such as draperies, bedding, or clothing, and never in areas near water.
• Avoid using extension cords with space heaters.
• Always turn off and unplug a space heater when you leave the room or go to bed, and never leave young children alone around a space heater.
• If you are using an unvented fuel-burning heater, make sure to leave doors open to the rest of the house to allow proper combustion and prevent any build-up of carbon-monoxide.
• And finally, teach every member of your household how to properly use a space heater, and make sure everyone understands the potential dangers.

At Absolute Air, we care absolutely about your family’s comfort, convenience, AND safety, and there’s a lot we can do to give you greater amounts of each one.  Call us today for more information or to schedule service.

972-932-5373
972-564-5373
Click here to request service or for more information

Let’s See What’s Going On.

It’s that time of year again. Time for hearty soups, fleece blankets, and cozy sweatshirts. It’s also time to start up your home heating system and make your home a warm and inviting retreat from the cold outside.

But if you notice an unusual odor as your furnace kicks into high gear for the first time, it could be an indication that something is not quite right. While some very faint odors are common when a furnace cycles on for the first time after hibernating all summer, others could lead to system failure, or worse, a dangerous explosion.

So how do you know what odors to look for and when to call a professional? Here are four of the most common furnace odors and their causes.

1. If you notice a dusty or smoky smell, first make sure that your heat registers are open throughout your house. For proper air circulation, at least 80% of your home’s registers should remain open. If that’s not the case, it could simply be that your furnace is burning off the dust that has accumulated on its components over the warm weather months. The dusty smell is just as likely coming from air flowing your ducts, an environment where dust loves to gather.  We recommend a thorough duct cleaning every 3-4 years.
2. An electrical burning smell usually means system components or wires are damaged and causing the unit to overheat. It’s best to shut the furnace off and call an HVAC contractor who will inspect the furnace and repair or replace any necessary parts.
3. A musty, moldy smell is most often a sign of mold growth in your vents or on system components, typically due to moisture build-up. The mold would need to be eradicated and the source of the moisture identified and fixed in order to prevent this problem and stop the flow of mold spores into your living space.
4. The most dangerous smell – a rotten egg or sulfur odor – requires immediate action, as it could mean you have a gas leak in your furnace, which could lead to an explosion. Evacuate your home immediately, no matter what time of day. Then call 911 from a safe location.

Your best move, always, is to have your heating system cleaned and inspected at the start of the heating season, strange odors or not.  It’s your best bet for a season long of safe and reliable operation, not to mention lower utility costs.  To schedule service and check one more thing off your “worry list”, contact Absolute Air today.

972-932-5373
972-564-5373
Click here to request service or for more information