10 Tips for Lowering Your Cooling Bill in Katy, Texas Summer heat in Katy, Texas can drive up your cooling bill. Since your air conditioner is one of the hardest working appliances in your home, higher utility bills in the summer are a fact of life along the Texas Gulf Coast and Fort Bend County and far West Harris County. However, if your cooling system is out of whack, your utility bills could be higher than they should be. If that happens to you, read on for our best tips for lowering your cooling bill. What Causes Higher Than Usual Cooling Bills in the Summer? High cooling bills in the sum ..read more

What to Know When Your AC Needs a Blower Motor Replacement When your air conditioner stops blowing air, how do you know if you need a blower motor replacement? Truthfully, there can be many reasons that an air conditioner stops working and the blower motor is but one possibility. This blower motor was replaced and shows how dirt and grime can build up on the fins. What is a blower motor and where is it located? A blower motor in your air conditioner refers to the indoor fan that circulates conditioned air around your home. Sometimes it is referred to as a furnace fan. It is located in what i ..read more

5 Things to Know About Your Heater Before a Cold Front Arrives Have you thought about your heater before the cold front gets to Katy, Texas? If not, you should! A typical Houston winter is characterized by alternating bone-chilling cold and temperate 70-degree, spring-like weather. And like movie, Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks’ character prophetically shares looking at his box of chocolates, “You never know which one you’re going to get.” But when the weather turns extreme, it’s helpful to have a heater or furnace that will keep you and your loved ones cozy until the next warm spell. Here’s what yo ..read more

Don’t Be Misled – How to Be a Smart HVAC Customer Professionals who repair and install air conditioning and heating equipment are licensed by the state of Texas or they are working under a licensed contractor who is charged with overseeing their work. While regulating the temperature in your home is often as easy as adjusting a thermostat, the equipment that makes that possible is complicated and highly technical. Special tools are required, knowledge of how to safely work with electricity, flammable materials, and refrigerant. Yes, it also requires a lot of math skills. But sometimes, there a ..read more

The Latest on EPA Regulations Before Replacing an Air Conditioner The latest EPA regulations affect home and business owners’ decisions on the timing for replacing an air conditioner or heat pump these days. Whether you realize it or not, the U.S. government is working to honor global climate agreements (i.e., the Kigali Amendment) by reducing the industry’s reliance on and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).  What Refrigerants Do Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Use? Certain hydrofluorocarbons are used as a refrigerant in air conditioners and heat pumps. You may have heard of name brands li ..read more

Heat Pump Refrigerants Changing Again: Why Homeowners Should Care We have reported on past phaseouts of refrigerants used in residential air conditioners and heat pumps previously, and another transition is on the way. Refrigerants are used in both air conditioners and heat pumps. Heat pumps have a nifty reversing valve that uses refrigerant to transfer heat in or out of the home depending on the season.  Texas homeowners, living on Houston’s West side and into Fort Bend County, Richmond, Katy, and Fulshear, Texas, will want to keep an eye on these developments because it can affect the d ..read more

Meet Rosenberg Native Hector Sosa: Terry’s A/C & Heating’s Newest Team Member Hector Sosa joined Terry’s A/C & Heating’s team earlier this fall. Make sure you say hello to him when you see him riding out with Rob Terry or Kenny Langford. Read more about our staff and our company’s history. And, if we can be of service to your heating and cooling system, please contact us at 281-495-7830 to schedule an appointment. What is your background and experience? I was born and raised in Rosenberg, Texas, and I graduated from Wharton County Junior College with two certificates from their Air Con ..read more

What is That Odor Coming from the AC? Bad AC Smells Explained Living in Houston, Texas, it is not uncommon for air conditioning units and heat pumps to give off  certain odors during the first few uses each season. While a musty smell from your AC or heater is normal when you first turn it on after not using it for a while, there are other odors that may indicate a more serious problem. Let’s take a closer look at the different air conditioning smells, their possible causes, and when you should reach out to a local HVAC expert for assistance. Common Types of Bad AC Smells 1. Dirty Socks o ..read more

Keeping Cool in Houston During a Summer Power Outage Extreme heat can be especially dangerous during a summer power outage, which means your AC will not be keeping you cool. Fortunately, there are things you can do to stay a little more comfortable while the power is out and/or your AC is being fixed. Enjoy these tips we have used ourselves and compiled from a variety of sources. If you have something to add, drop us a line at office@terrysacandheating.com. Reduce heat gain coming through windows and glass doors Use shades, curtains and blinds to your advantage to block the sunlight and reduce ..read more

How to Protect Your AC or Heat Pump from Theft and Vandalism While we do not see AC theft, heat pump theft or AC vandalism very often, it does happen. And it can be expensive. We see this most often in commercial spaces, especially those that may have less security or traffic around them. What does AC theft or vandalism look like? AC Theft Local Houston, Texas, news stories have documented thieves who have hauled off whole outdoor AC and heat pump condensing units. When that happens, the system will not turn on and the thermostat may show the current indoor temperature (rather than your ideal ..read more