D'Spain Sales and Service Blog

AC Maintenance Is a Critical Job for Spring, and Here’s Why

April 24th, 2023

technician-greeting-a-customer-at-the-door

There’s nothing we like in Texas more than an air conditioner breakdown during a heatwave in July.

Wait, what’s that you’re saying? You don’t actually want your air conditioner to fail in the middle of the summer? You want to have your home be a cool, comfortable sanctuary all summer long? Then why haven’t you scheduled AC maintenance yet?

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DIY vs. Professional Plumber: When to Call a Plumber for a Clogged Drain

April 10th, 2023

plumber's-gloved-hands-unclogging-a-bathroom-sink-drain

Clogged drains can be so frustrating, especially when you’re not sure what to do about them. Should you use liquid drain cleaner? Should you call a plumber? We’ve got a primer for you on what you can safely do at home to unclog your drain, and how to know when a plumber is actually necessary.

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Airflow Maintenance: Why Air Filters Are So Important for ACs

March 27th, 2023

man-with-a-clean-air-filter

Your AC unit has an air filter to catch particles like dust, grit, and pet hair and prevent them from getting into the components of the unit. You can imagine that a motor or a fan would not work as well if it was caked with a layer of lint. But when that layer builds up on the air filter, it needs to be changed. A dirty air filter can be almost as bad for an air conditioner as no air filter at all, because in order to work, your AC unit needs good airflow.

What can happen to your air conditioner if it doesn’t have enough air flowing through it? Once you read about all the potential problems, you’ll be sure to clean your air filter regularly so you can avoid them.

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Is It a Plumbing Emergency? 5 Ways to Know

March 13th, 2023

smiling-plumber-with-tool-box-and-plunger

Being hesitant to call a plumber because you aren’t sure whether your situation qualifies as an emergency is understandable. You should never be afraid to ask for some help determining exactly how serious your situation is.

Putting off getting professional help when you have a plumbing concern can lead to much bigger problems, like extensive water damage. We’ve got five questions to ask yourself that will help you assess whether your problem is serious enough to warrant emergency plumbing service.

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These 3 Sounds Mean Your Furnace Might Need Repair

February 27th, 2023

woman-listening-to-a-strange-sound-from-her-furnace

Oh, no! What’s that noise? Is there a problem with the furnace? Many issues that furnaces encounter do cause them to make unusual noises. Hearing a strange sound is often the first sign a homeowner gets that it is time to schedule furnace repair.

We’ll go over three of the most important things to listen for.

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How to Tell if You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade

February 13th, 2023

plug-in-electrical-outlet-catching-fire

The electrical panel (or circuit breaker box) is like the nervous system of your home. It directs all the electrical traffic and makes sure energy gets where it needs to go. It also lets you know when there’s a problem, and tries to prevent disasters in your home, the way your nervous system sends pain signals to tell you that something’s wrong.

All of the work that your electrical panel does is critical, so you need it to be working properly. How can you tell when that system needs to be replaced? Here are some signs that you shouldn’t ignore. If you notice any of these things, it’s time for an electrical panel upgrade.

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How Tankless Water Heaters Save You Money

January 30th, 2023

tankless-water-heater

If you’re thinking about replacing your water heater sometime in the near future, you might be wondering about some of the different options that are on the market these days. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the various types? What will work best for your home? How much hot water do you actually use? And why are there such significant differences in cost?

We’d like to discuss tankless water heaters today, and one of your top concerns might be that they are more expensive than tank or storage water heaters. It’s true! What if we could demonstrate that you would actually save money with a tankless water heater, even though the system is pricier? Give us a chance, and we’ll lay out our case.

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What Repairs Do Electric Furnaces Need?

January 16th, 2023

technician-working-on-an-electric-furnace

There are so many reasons to love your electric furnace. It doesn’t require you to connect to a natural gas line, which can be very expensive if your home has never been connected. It is perfectly efficient, converting all the energy it uses into heat for your home. It will never cause you concern about carbon monoxide or fuel leaks.

Another major benefit of electric furnaces is that they require fewer repairs than gas furnaces. However, everything requires repair occasionally. We’ll be covering some of the main problems that can occur with electric furnaces as well as some tips for decreasing the likelihood that repairs will be needed.

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How to Care for Your Tankless Water Heater

December 19th, 2022

tankless-water-heater-system

If you’re more familiar with tank water heaters but have transitioned to a tankless system, you may have some questions about the differences between the two and how to meet the needs of your new system. Although the two approaches to heating water for your home are obviously different, you may be surprised to hear just how similar their maintenance needs are.

The first thing to know is that your tankless water heater does require professional maintenance, just like a tank system. It is usually done annually, but your plumber may have specific recommendations based on your system and the water in your home.

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4 Signs That Your Furnace Is Struggling

December 5th, 2022

technician-repairing-furnace

As you think about using your furnace for the first time this winter, you might be concerned about whether it’s working as well as it should be. It’s common to be unfamiliar with the signs of a furnace in need of repair, so it can be helpful to learn about how your furnace tells you that it’s in trouble.

First, there are two things that you can do to lower your chances of encountering furnace problems, so before you get cozy and settled for the winter, you should do these tasks.

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