What Size Furnace Do I Need?

February 18, 2021

A good furnace can make all the difference when the winter in Austin turns ugly. It’s important to understand that the process of selecting a good furnace involves far more than simply selecting the best brand and calling Totally Cool to install the furnace for you. Properly sizing the furnace to your home will ensure that you optimize heating capabilities and energy costs. Here are a few ways to ensure you get a “Goldilocks” furnace that’s “just right.” Consider Your Location When it comes to heating a home, not all locations are created equal. Across the country,

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Why is my heating system making noise?

January 20, 2021

As temperatures start to drop, you typically rely on your heating system to keep you warm during the winter. The condition of your heater can determine how comfortable you and your family will be in your own home. If your furnace is not operating as it should, it is a good idea to get it fixed quickly. In certain scenarios, you may notice that your equipment is producing strange noises. While some furnace sounds are normal, others can hint at serious issues that could be affecting the performance of your unit. It makes sense to let an experienced and certified

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What Is Duct Sealing and Do I Need It?

December 17, 2020

If your home has a forced-air heating or cooling system, your ducts distribute conditioned air throughout your house. In the average home, around 20% to 30% of the air that circulates throughout ducts is lost due to poorly connected ducts or leaks and holes within the ductwork. If your ducts aren’t functioning properly, the result could be a spike in energy bills. You might find it difficult to keep your home comfortable, too. Common signs of poorly functioning ducts include: High year-round energy bills Indoor areas that are difficult to

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Safety Checks and Why They’re Important

November 20, 2020

Your Austin home’s HVAC system is a complicated system made up of multiple mechanical components. Although these components usually operate flawlessly, the complexity of these components means that problems can occur. In some cases, these problems can lead to safety hazards that could put you and your family at risk. To help avoid these problems and the associated risks, it’s important to have a technician from Totally Cool AC perform regular safety checks as part of your ongoing HVAC maintenance. Significant Power One of the potential safety risks associated with an HVAC system is due

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Five Easy Ways to Fix Hot Spots in Your Austin, TX Home

October 20, 2020

Many homeowners in Austin, TX, are spending unnecessary money on their heating and cooling bills. Home energy loss, which is a common problem, happens when conditioned air is allowed to escape through gaps and cracks in your home. This may be from insufficient insulation or poorly maintained ductwork. Regardless of the cause, the result will be hot and cold spots in certain rooms. Having hot spots means that your heater is probably working much harder than necessary to get the job done. The following are five things that you can do to get rid of these warmer-than-average pockets of air.

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Why Upgrading Your Insulation Is Not a DIY Job

September 20, 2020

If you are trying to cut your cooling and heating costs in Austin, TX, home insulation adjustments are a great way to minimize your utility bill. However, many homeowners are afraid that the rate of hiring an expert insulation contractor may outweigh their possible savings, so they are turning to DIY insulation to save money. Will removing and updating your home insulation save you cash or be a headache at the end of the day? Let us look at the dangers and possible complications of DIY improvement projects like modernizing insulation. Dangers of Removing

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AC Repairs You Might Not Know You Need

August 8, 2020

It can be frustrating to find that your system has suddenly stopped working. You can avoid such eventualities by maintaining your AC regularly. Regular preventative maintenance helps to prevent high utility bills and expensive replacements. Here are some repairs you might not know you need. Decreased Cooling Capacity One problem that you may ignore is when the AC progressively loses its capacity to cool the interior. Often it indicates clogging in the filter, which restricts airflow within the system. As a result, your air conditioner will require more energy to cool your home.

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Should I Have My Thermostat Set To “Auto” or “On”?

July 12, 2020

Thermostats have lots of useful settings for all sorts of scenarios. Two of the most common are “On” and “Auto.” The Auto setting automatically turns on and off the fan while the “On” setting keeps the blower on at all times. Each has its own merits that can provide your home with the most comfortable climate. Here’s a look at whether you should have your thermostat set to Auto or On. Cost Efficiency Cost efficiency is a major variable in this equation. The Auto setting is much less expensive to run than On. In Auto mode,

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Are Humidifiers Good For Your Health

June 5, 2020

When you’re suffering from coughs, a runny nose, congestion, and other respiratory issues, any relief is a welcome sight. While over-the-counter medicines can offer temporary relief, you may not want to put medicine in your body every time you get a sniffle. That’s why many people turn to humidifiers for relief when the weather in Austin causes people to feel less than their best. Even though humidifiers are a popular form of treatment, you may wonder if they actually work. To help you maintain your health, at Totally Cool AC, we offer this guide to humidifiers.

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How To Cut AC Power Consumption Without Replacing

May 10, 2020

In the average home, most of the energy bills each month go toward powering the air conditioner. This is especially true during the summer. Therefore, your AC usage is one of the first things to look at when you want to save money. A lot of guides to cutting back on energy usage recommend all sorts of fancy, new, energy-efficient equipment. This is not a feasible option for all homeowners, however. Fortunately, there are many other ways you can save without having to buy a brand-new HVAC system. Rethink Your Landscaping Use your outdoor landscaping to

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