Got questions? Good. We like those.

These are the things San Antonio homeowners actually ask us. Real answers, no runaround. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, just call us.

Cooling & Heating

Twice a year. AC maintenance is typically done in the spring before San Antonio's heat arrives, and heating maintenance in the fall before you actually need it. We've seen what happens when people skip a year or two. It's usually not the skipping that causes the problem. It's the second or third year, and by then it's 100 degrees and you're calling us on a Saturday night.

If you want to stop thinking about it altogether, our 5-Star Service Club handles the scheduling for you.

Our technicians inspect your system top to bottom. On a typical maintenance visit, we're looking at:

  • Fans, compressors, and coils (both indoor and outdoor)
  • Refrigerant lines and levels
  • Electrical connections, including frayed wires and corroded contacts
  • Drain lines, ductwork, and any signs of rust, soot, or rot
  • Furnace components: dampers, valves, blowers, burners, and flue

The goal is to find small problems before they become expensive ones. Most people don't realize something is wrong until the system stops working entirely. We'd rather catch it at a tune-up.

It depends on the equipment, how it was installed, and how well it's been maintained. Generally, a well-maintained system in South Texas runs 12 to 18 years. Your system runs more months of the year than almost anywhere else in the country. Regular maintenance is the single biggest factor in getting the most out of it.

We carry some of the longest-lasting equipment available. If your system is getting older, we're happy to talk through whether repair or replacement makes more sense for your situation.

It matters, especially here. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Simply put, it measures how much cooling you get per dollar of electricity. A higher number means a more efficient system and lower monthly bills.

Modern systems start around 14 SEER and can go up to 25. Texas requires new systems to be at least 14. In San Antonio, where your AC runs much of the year, upgrading from a 14 to a 20 SEER system can make a real difference on your electric bill over time.

One thing to know: the SEER rating on the equipment label assumes a specific pairing of indoor and outdoor components. Mix-match that pairing and your real-world efficiency changes. We size and match equipment correctly so you actually get what you paid for.

Bigger is not better. It's one of the most common misconceptions in this industry. An oversized system short-cycles, turns on and off too frequently, wears out faster, and never properly dehumidifies your home. Undersized and it runs constantly and still can't keep up.

We do a full in-home load analysis before recommending anything. That accounts for your square footage, insulation, window placement, ceiling height, duct layout, and more. It's the only way to know what your home actually needs. We won't quote you a system until we've done the math.

Depends on the filter. Standard 1-inch filters usually need replacing every 30 days. Thicker media filters can go 60 to 90 days. If you have pets or someone in the house with allergies, lean toward the shorter end.

A clogged filter makes your system work harder and can restrict airflow to the point of causing damage. It's one of the cheapest forms of maintenance you can do yourself. If you're not sure what type of filter your system takes, or where to find a replacement, just call us.

Whatever you're comfortable with. We get asked this a lot and the honest answer is that personal comfort varies. That said, most energy-efficiency guidance puts the sweet spot around 78 degrees when you're home and slightly higher when you're away. A programmable or smart thermostat makes this easy to manage without thinking about it daily.

Once a month is a good habit. Flush it with a mix of equal parts warm water and white vinegar. It takes five minutes and prevents the kind of drain backup that ends up as a water stain on your ceiling. We see that more than we'd like to.