Blog - GVEC Home

Will I Save Money If I Close the AC/Heating Vent to a Room I Don’t Use Much?

September 18, 2020

While it seems logical that closing vents in unused rooms will save you money, it’s a bad idea. Doing this can cause serious problems and cost you money instead of saving it. Blocked Airflow The blower in your heating and cooling system is designed to push against a maximum pressure difference. If you close vents, the blower motor will work harder to maintain proper airflow. This causes a loss in efficiency in your system, which could increase your energy bills. Leaks in Ductwork Since closing vents increases air pressure in your heating and cooling system, duct leaks can result. If there are already holes in the ductwork, they may get wider. This results in conditioned air blowing into your attic or crawlspace. GVEC Home® is a heating and cooling company with offices in the Texas communities of Gonzales, Seguin, Schertz, Cuero, and La Vernia. We can make your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently by performing maintenance checks and tune-ups of your AC/heating system. Cracked Heat Exchanger Your HVAC system needs to work harder when vents are closed. This can result in your furnace’s heat exchanger cracking. This is expensive to fix and may even require you to buy...

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Why Seasonal Maintenance Programs Are Beneficial for Your HVAC System

September 11, 2020

Central AC/heating systems are hardy, powerful home appliances, lasting two decades or longer when maintained properly. Without maintenance, however, they may not last as long or work as efficiently. Check out these benefits of necessary seasonal maintenance programs for HVAC systems. Stay True to Manufacturer Warranty Guidelines When purchased new, heating and cooling systems are almost always protected by a manufacturer’s warranty. Many modern HVAC warranties are quite expansive, covering a plethora of damages or failures. A central reason for these generous warranties is the fact that many homeowners inevitably — and often unknowingly — void them in some way. One of the most common ways they’re voided is by failing to maintain the HVAC system properly and keep records of seasonal maintenance. Prevent Untimely System Failures AC/heating systems have many working parts, most of which the average homeowner is entirely oblivious to. Being unable to tell the difference between a perfectly fine HVAC unit and one that’s about to blow up is critical. However, homeowners shouldn’t be left solely responsible with system maintenance. HVAC professionals can prevent untimely, costly system failures as part of affordable seasonal maintenance programs. Improve Allergy and Asthma Symptoms Seasonal allergies and chronic asthma symptoms...

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Four Important Benefits of HVAC UV Light Systems

August 20, 2020

Many homeowners in Gonzalez, TX, and other others throughout South Central Texas are shocked to discover the air in their homes could be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Furniture, plastics, dry-cleaned clothing, adhesives, paints, cooking and household chemicals all contribute to indoor air quality issues. You may also be concerned about airborne germs in your house. Here are four important benefits of AC/heating air filtration systems that use UV light in your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. 1. AC/Heating UV Lights Help Inactivate Allergens Many people suffer from allergies. UV light air filtration systems installed in your heating and cooling system help inactivate a range of allergens, including dust mites, pollen, mold spores and more. You’ll breathe easier and have fewer allergy symptoms. 2. HVAC UV Lights Help Remove Odors Cooking and cleaning generate a lot of odors. Those smells may make you uncomfortable or even nauseous. HVAC UV lights help break down and destroy odor-causing chemicals. If your residence includes a pet, these lights also help eliminate stinky pet odors. Your visitors may not even realize you have a dog or cat after you have a system incorporating UV light installed in your heating...

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Five Common Reasons Why My AC Isn’t Working Properly

August 10, 2020

With high temperatures regularly exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the Guadalupe Valley and South Central Texas this summer, you turn to your AC unit for relief. If the air conditioner isn’t working properly, your home could be sweltering hot and unbearably humid. Read on to learn about five common reasons why your cooling system isn’t working properly. 1. Dirty HVAC Filter Dirty air filters are a leading cause of AC and indoor comfort problems. The air filter is located in a small compartment within the indoor unit of your air conditioner. Slide it out and check it. If it’s dirty, replace it. At GVEC Home, we highly recommend checking the air filter monthly regardless of its rating. Admittedly, depending on filter type and the operating environment, some filters can continue working effectively between three and six months. 2. Clogged Condensate Line The humidity condensed from the outside air processed by your AC collects in the AC drain pan and leaves through the condensate line. The pipe can get clogged with algae and other assorted muck. Once every three months, we recommend that the air conditioner be turned off and a solution of vinegar and water poured down the drain to...

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A Profile of ecobee Smart Thermostats

July 20, 2020

Ecobee smart thermostats come in a range of models designed with features to give you control over your home comfort from anywhere and help to save money on your energy bills. These models include the ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control and ecobee3 lite. Both come with several features that make your life easier. Here’s what to know about ecobee smart thermostats and how to get the most out of them. Why Buy an ecobee? An ecobee thermostat can save you around 23% on your annual energy costs compared to keeping your house at a constant 72 degrees. It learns the patterns of your home comfort behaviors and doesn’t heat or cool it as much when nobody is around. You can control an Ecobee with an iOS or Android device, and it’s compatible with Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT. ecobee SmartSensor ecobee comes packaged with the company’s innovative SmartSensor, which senses both room temperature and occupancy levels. With SmartSensor, you can control your home’s thermostat based on a particular area. Or you can connect to multiple SmartSensors (sold separately)—one for each room if you like—and set an average temperature for your home, helping alleviate hot or...

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Why is it Always Hotter Upstairs in my Home?

July 10, 2020

A common problem for some two-story homes is the upstairs being hotter than the downstairs. You feel nice and comfortable downstairs, but when you go upstairs you feel noticeably warmer. Here are a few of the reasons this occurs. Warm Air Rises As you may remember learning in school, warm air rises while cool air sinks. Your home will naturally be warmer upstairs simply due to physics. Hot Roof Your roof collects a lot of heat in the summer as the sun beats down on it for hours every day. The heat moves into your attic and then into the top floor of your home. Insulation helps prevent this, but it can’t stop all heat from transferring. However, insulation can wear down after time, so sometimes replacing or adding more insulation is needed. This can help keep the upstairs cooler and help with energy efficiency as well. Your Air Conditioner Is Old Most AC units last about 15 to 20 years. Aging air condition systems may not cool as well as they used to. If your upstairs is significantly hotter than your downstairs, it’s entirely possible your old AC unit just can’t push enough cool air throughout your home. GVEC...

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A Profile of Nest Learning Thermostats

June 20, 2020

Gaining greater control over home energy usage is worthwhile goal for virtually every homeowner. Maintaining a comfortable climate inside the home is one of the most costly aspects of energy usage here in South Central Texas. It’s not unusual for electric bills in this region to be made up of 50% in heating and cooling charges. That makes the cost-effective usage of your HVAC system one of the most important aspects of home-energy efficiency. Here’s one piece of technology that can enable you to take greater control of heating-and-cooling energy usage: the Nest Learning Thermostat. The Nest Learning Thermostat and Energy Savings The Nest Learning Thermostat can help help significantly reduce energy costs around your house. While you can certainly control this thermostat manually, the primary advantage of the Nest lies in its name: “Learning.” The Nest has the brains to learn from the way you use it in regulating the temperature inside your home. From the time you connect it to your AC/heating system and turn it on, it begins cataloguing your usage and using that information to save you every penny possible in heating and cooling costs. After the first few days of “learning” your usage habits, the...

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Why Is My AC Freezing Up?

June 10, 2020

It can be pretty stressful to come home on a hot day and find your air conditioning unit frozen over. There are a few common reasons why this occurs. Here are some some of the issues you can watch for that may lead to freezing over. AC Airflow Problem The condenser coil in your AC unit needs proper airflow or else it can freeze over. The most common reason airflow becomes restricted or blocked is because the air filter is dirty. Manufacturers recommend changing the air filter anywhere between every one to every six months depending on the filter type, size and materials used. However, at GVEC Home we recommend checking your air filter monthly and replacing or cleaning at least every 3 months. Air Conditioner Refrigerant Leak A leak in your refrigerant lines can lead to reduced pressure. This results in the refrigerant not being able to absorb heat, which leads to the condenser coil freezing over. You will need to contact a professional HVAC technician like those at GVEC Home to solve this problem. If you have an AC system made before 2010 and it’s leaking, you will likely need to replace the entire system because it probably...

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Why You Should Inspect the HVAC Unit Before Purchasing a New Home

May 29, 2020

There are many things to have inspected before you purchase a new home. One of these is the heating and cooling system. You want to make sure you’re eliminating as many surprises as possible when you buy a new home, after all. Why Have a Separate HVAC Inspection? The average home inspection doesn’t include a detailed inspection of the HVAC system. The inspector will make sure it’s functioning but not much beyond that. If there’s an underlying issue, such as a cracked heat exchange in a gas furnace, the inspection won’t uncover it. Home inspectors are not HVAC professionals. They don’t have the skills or experience to make sure a home’s heat pump air conditioner is really in good working order. It takes a specialist to make sure these systems are really working as they should. GVEC Home® is a professional HVAC firm that serves Gonzales, Seguin, New Braunfels, La Vernia, Schertz and surrounding areas in South Central Texas. Our technicians are highly skilled in inspecting heating and cooling systems and making sure they are performing well. It’s an Investment to Replace an HVAC System Heat pump air conditioners and other heating and cooling equipment are usually one of the...

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Choosing the Right Insulation for Your Home

May 10, 2020

You don’t want to waste energy keeping your home comfortable. Once air has been heated or cooled, it’s important to try to keep that air in your home for as long as possible for energy efficiency. One of the best ways to keep conditioned air in your home is to add insulation. With so many types of insulation available, though, it can be difficult to know which type is right for your home. To help you keep your home energy efficient, here are some tips from GVEC Home® regarding choosing and installing insulation. Main Variables: Location and Cost Ultimately, there are two main factors that determine what type of insulation is right for your home: location and budget. The location is important because different types of insulation are appropriate for different areas in your home. For example, if you are planning on installing insulation in your attic, you can choose between cellulose, fiberglass and spray foam insulation. On the other hand, if you want to install insulation in a completed wall, you can choose between spray foam and blown-in cellulose. Cost is the other main factor in determining which type of insulation you choose. To return to the attic insulation...

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