Month: October 2020

As with anything The Darville Company does, we like to go above and beyond for our customers. Part of being the Higher Standard can mean being a little nosey (in a good way!). When you schedule a call, we’ll fix what we’re there for, but we also keep an open eye for other potential problems (like problems with your water heater). If we find something, you can be sure we’ll give you a fair evaluation and consult you about how to handle it.

WATER HEATER WOES

One of the areas we often check out is the hot water heater. It’s an area you rarely notice unless something’s wrong. And very few homeowners flush it regularly as they should. Curing a recent call on a cooling system, we decided to take a look at the water heater.  Here’s what we found!

Gross, huh? As you can see, this home had a big problem and they didn’t even realize it. The mess you see was likely a case of a water heater “bursting”. The damage was limited to the closet in this case, but bursts like this can cause water damage throughout your home.

CHECK FOR SIGNS

The photo is an extreme example, but there several warning signs that indicated something was wrong. Small rust lines down the side of the tank, rust bubbles around the bottom, or any sign of water in overflow pans are all indicators. If you’re hearing popping or gurgling sounds from your water heater – that could mean a disaster is coming!

THE HIGHER STANDARD

The damage in the photo also shows that the water heater may not have been properly installed. Professional plumbing contractors, like the ones at The Darville Company, can check for problems and install a new unit if necessary. We are proud to carry Rheem Water Heaters, and you may even want to try a new Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters! Make an appointment with us today by calling 432-580-9675. The Darville Company is the Higher Standard!

Many of our posts revolve around providing regular maintenance to your HVAC so that you don’t need to replace it. However, every home’s HVAC system will need replacing every 20 years or so. This goes for your heating and air units, which are good to replace together.

CONSIDER REPLACING BOTH

There are some distinct advantages to replacing your A/C and furnace at the same time. Here are times to consider getting it done:

• If your furnace is more than 15 years old
• When your air conditioning is more than 10 years old and has a SEER rating higher than 16
• If your current system is noisy
• When a new, efficient HVAC unit will mean lower energy bills

Having a “matching” system (A/C and furnace installed together) has some advantages in terms of efficiency, compatibility, and even price if you’re bundling them together. But if your situation doesn’t match the situation above, it may make sense to only replace one or the other. 

PICKING THE PROPER SEER RATING

The SEER rating measures an A/C’s efficiency. A high rating means your energy bill will be lower. However, a higher-rated unit will cost you more upfront. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a new A/C:

• Price: As mentioned, paying more upfront will save you money on your bills.
• Insulation: A well-insulated home is already saving you money, and can greatly boost your unit’s potential efficiency. It can also help you determine how much a new unit will save.
• Regulations: All modern A/C units have a SEER rating of at least 13.

Most experts recommend a SEER rating of between 15 and 18, but you can consult The Darville Company for expert advice.

THE HIGHER STANDARD

Ultimately, the choice to replace your heating and cooling is up to you. The Darville Company services all types of HVAC units and can handle many other household needs. Fall is a great time to take advantage of our Fall Clean & Check, where we give your entire system a tune-up and even provide a free air filter. Make an appointment today by calling 432-580-9675. The Darville Company is the Higher Standard.

The Darville Company is currently offering our Fall Clean & Test!  It’s recommended that filters be changed on a monthly basis, but we suggest that your heating and cooling system be professionally serviced and inspected twice a year just before the change of seasons when the weather is more temperate and you are preparing to make the switch from air conditioning to heating or vice versa. In this post, we’ll tell you why this maintenance is a good idea.

WHAT WE DO

Our Fall Clean and Test provides several services for your heating system.  Some of these tasks you could do on your own, but others are better suited for a pro; so let us do the work for you. The Clean & Test includes:

• Check, clean, and/or replace all filters (we provide one free 1” pleated filter in the myriad of standard sizes with the service)
• Check and thoroughly clean out the blower wheel, including the housing
• Inspect electrical connections
• Check and clean out the combustion air chamber
• Check heat exchanger
• Clean pilot assembly
• Check condensate drain on condensing furnaces, clear and clean if needed
  • A clogged drain pipe can cause significant water damage to your home if left unchecked.
• Check and lubricate motors
• Check all safety controls 
  • This is especially important as we switch from air conditioner to heat!
• Check the power supply to the system
• Inspect and calibrate the thermostat
• Check the outdoor fan motor on Heat Pumps.
  • It’s critical that the fan be maintained to avoid spending hundreds of dollars for a replacement.
• Check the belts and adjust or replace if necessary
• Clean and adjust burners
• Check heat and fan relays and capacitors.
• Check temperature differential
  • This ensures your system is operating properly.
• Provide maintenance supplies

THE HIGHER STANDARD

The Fall Clean & Test will get you ready for the winter, provide valuable maintenance for your unit, and, most of all, give you peace of mind that your home will be comfortable when that cold snap happens. Make an appointment today by calling the Darville Company at 432-580-9675. We provide The Higher Standard of Excellence in all that we do from how we answer the phone to the final White-Glove clean-up.

It seems simple but we just can’t seem to say it enough: changing your air filters is absolutely critical for your household. It keeps your air cleaner and saves you money at the same time. In this post, we’ll dive into some of the details of why it’s so important.

HOW IT WORKS

The primary purpose of your HVAC system is to remove dirty air from your home and replace it with clean air (at your preferred temperature). Air filters operate at the point that the old air is pulled from the living space in your home. The filter is a selectively permeable membrane (one of our favorite terms from high school science). That means that some things get through and others don’t. The clean air gets through the filter, is treated, and is recycled through the system. 

What doesn’t (or shouldn’t) get through the filter is the bad stuff. That means particles, bacteria, dust, pet dander, etc. The things that dirty the air and can negatively impact your health.

OLD FILTERS

Take a look at the filter on the left in our featured image. Doesn’t look very healthy, does it? This is an actual photo of a filter that Darville technicians removed from a heating and cooling system last month. As you can see, the old filter looks disgusting.

As your filter ages, all those old particles start to clog up. The clogged filter restricts airflow and keeps the bad air in your home. It also makes your HVAC unit work harder to not only pump air but also maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.

BENEFITS

Replacing filters every month is a win-win. It keeps you healthier by keeping your air clean, and also keeps your wallet fuller by reducing the stress on your HVAC unit.

THE HIGHER STANDARD

It’s a good time to get that heating system cleaned and checked before cooler weather starts setting in. The Darville Company offers a variety of services, including our classic Clean and Test to make sure your Heating and Cooling unit stays running strong through the chilly days ahead. If you find a filter that needs replacement, we’ll take care of it. Call us to make an appointment at 432-580-9675. The Darville Company is The Higher Standard.