At Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning we know the value of precision tune-ups, and that’s why we’ve made regular maintenance affordable. Ideally, you will have your system tuned up twice a year, once before the start of the heating season and once before the start of the cooling season.

We estimate that over the course of a year, you will run your heating and cooling equipment more than 3,000 hours. Considering all the moving parts and other key components, it’s nonsensical to neglect your system.

If you fail to provide a precision tune-up for your HVAC equipment for just three years, your system could run for nearly 10,000 hours without ever getting lubrication or a motor check. The refrigerant in your A/C would go without a necessary recharge.

Even in just one year, a lot of dirt can build up in a furnace or A/C, which eventually causes  the internal components to touch and begin wearing out. Buildup is also one of the most significant contributors to high energy costs, as a furnace and A/C must work harder and longer to overcome buildup.

Here’s more proof: With regular maintenance, you’re engaging in a low-cost way to ensure top-dollar, lasting results, such as:

• Fewer repairs
• Higher efficiency
• Increased energy savings
• Longer system life span
• Ensured home safety
• An active warranty

The experts at Jon Wayne have created the Rescue Club Membership to offer you more value for your money. By participating in the club, you’ll get two precision tune-ups every year for one set price. You’ll also get:

• Priority service
• Discounts on HVAC upgrades
• Waived overtime charges
• Loyalty Credits that you can apply toward a purchase

Is that enough proof? If you haven’t scheduled two precision tune-ups for your heating and cooling system yet, call Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. Ask about our Rescue Club membership, which makes valuable annual service all the more affordable. We have served homeowners in the greater San Antonio area since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Tune-up image via Shutterstock

Air conditioning problems should generally be left to the pros, as most homeowners don’t have the expertise to troubleshoot and resolve cooling issues.

Further, you’ve invested a lot of money in your cooling system, and you rely on it day after day to cool your home. If you try to solve an air conditioning problem on your own, you could do more harm than good.

Because most air conditioners operate on the same principles and use similar technology, they generally experience similar problems. There are a few troubleshooting steps any homeowner can try, but there are others that a DIYer shouldn’t attempt.

Often, an air conditioner will shut down because of power problems, and luckily, these are scenarios you can and should try to resolve.

• Make sure the main power supply to the A/C is active. Find your home’s circuit panel, and flip the circuits to the A/C.
• Look at the A/C equipment itself, and ensure that the power switches on the indoor and outdoor units are on.
• Check your thermostat’s setting: It should be 3 to 5 degrees lower than your home’s temperature for the A/C to cycle on.

If these steps do not resolve the situation, you probably have a more serious problem:

• No cooling – If your A/C is running but the air isn’t cool, you might have a problem with the system’s refrigerant charge, which must be handled by a certified professional.
• Air conditioner won’t cycle on – If you don’t hear the A/C running, and the thermostat is set to cool, you might have a faulty thermostat or other defects.
• Water problems – Your air conditioner produces quite a bit of condensation, which should be properly drained. Possible problems include water that has gathered around the A/C, a failed pump, a clogged drain or a low refrigerant charge.

At Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning, our experts are highly trained in air conditioning problems that occur in San Antonio’s climate, and we’ve been helping area homeowners for nearly 50 years. Call us to schedule a service appointment.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Your HVAC equipment requires regular service visits to keep it tuned up and ready to work. By enrolling in a preventive-maintenance service plan with a local, certified contractor, you can ensure that your equipment gets the attention it needs. And annual service membership also can bring additional benefits and perks, on top of your HVAC tune-ups.

Regularly servicing your A/C, furnace, heat pump or other home-comfort system will ensure that it operates at peak efficiency. But preventive maintenance performed by heating and cooling professionals has other benefits, too. With consistent annual service:

• You can extend the life of your HVAC system by taking good care of it, maximizing your investment.
• You will avoid unnecessary repairs, because regular inspections can help ward off problems caused by wear and tear.
• You can increase your energy savings, meaning your energy bills will shrink.

In the San Antonio area, Jon Wayne’s Rescue Club combines a preventive maintenance regimen — to keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape — with a set of perks to make life easier for our loyal customers.

Rescue Club members receive these seven perks:

• Two system tune-ups, one in the spring for your air conditioner and one in the fall for your heating system
• Priority service
• Discounts on repairs, if you should experience a problem with your HVAC equipment
• Discounts on labor costs, when a repair is necessary
• Loyalty credits, which you can apply toward any future purchase of HVAC equipment. You’ll get $50 for every year that you’re a member of the Rescue Club.
• The highest discount we offer when the time comes to replace your HVAC equipment
• Top-quality workmanship that will extend the life of your equipment and lower your heating and cooling bills

Take care of your valuable HVAC equipment, and ensure maximum return on your investments. With annual service membership, you can rest assured that your systems will operate efficiently and provide optimal home comfort.

For expert help or to sign up for our Rescue Club membership, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve served the Greater San Antonio area since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Service image via Shutterstock

Homeowners are wise to evaluate their homes’ ductwork design, whether they are planning for a newly constructed home or assessing comfort problems in an existing home. 

Why does duct design matter? The typical home’s ductwork efficiency often falls well under par, wasting energy and hurting home comfort. An inefficient duct system can lead to a host of problems, including:

• Air leaks, which cause HVAC equipment to work harder and consume more energy
• The installation of oversize systems to make up for energy losses
• Poor home comfort, with some rooms that are stuffy and others that are hot or cold zones
• Improper pressure balance, which creates an uncomfortable home and forces your HVAC system to consume more energy to try to overcome losses through air leaks
• Poor indoor air quality, as a leaky system creates an entry point for humidity and contaminants such as dust to gain access to your home
• Low airflow rates throughout the home, which also can create undue hardship on your HVAC system

Many of these problems result when ductwork is designed as an afterthought. It pays to take the time to develop a well-thought-out plan for your home’s ductwork design. Among other benefits, good ductwork design:

• Allows the ductwork to meet the cooling and heating loads of the home
• Ensures proper equipment sizing and meets airflow requirements
• Optimizes airflow through a well-sealed system
• Guarantees maximum indoor air quality, and prevents contaminants from gaining access
• Ensures that supply and return ducts create a balanced pressure throughout the home
• Prevents energy losses with adequate duct insulation

While you might think that retrofitting ductwork is too costly, many homes can significantly benefit from even minor adjustments in ductwork design. The payoff of energy savings usually makes the service worthwhile.

To get the most out of your investment in your home-comfort systems, and to maximize home comfort and energy savings, your home’s ductwork design should score high marks. If it doesn’t, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We’re happy to visit your home and conduct our comprehensive duct evaluation and develop a whole-house strategy to improve yours. Serving the San Antonio area, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Ductwork image via Shutterstock

As spring heats up in Greater San Antonio, homeowners are wise to take some time to get their homes’ HVAC systems ready for summer. Here are some ways to ensure energy savings and protect your home and cooling equipment during the hot days ahead:

• Check the condition of your air conditioning system’s filter. Start the cooling season with a fresh, clean filter. Clean filters help to ensure optimal airflow through your system as well as energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
• Set up a reminder to change the filter. When you use your air conditioner 24/7, check the filter once a month. If you’re not sure how long it takes your filter to become full, set up a calendar reminder to check the filter four weeks after you install a new one. Take it out and hold it up to the light: If it’s dirty, brown or full of lint-like dust, you know it’s time to change it.
• Schedule a maintenance visit. A cooling technician should conduct a comprehensive inspection of the system to ensure that it can operate a peak performance.
• Check your home’s ductwork. Generally as part of an HVAC tune-up, your cooling technician will also check the condition of your ducts and seal them to close up any leaks. Doing so will ensure that you receive more of the cooled air that your A/C generates.
• Prepare the outdoor A/C unit. Remove the outdoor cover before you fire up the system, and check the area immediately surrounding the unit, removing any leaves or debris that could affect airflow.

In addition, consider upgrading your attic insulation. Texas’ hot climate means that a lot of heat is more likely to build up in your attic, greatly affecting A/C performance. Ensure that your attic’s insulation rates an R-value of 38 or higher to prevent the movement of outside heat into the space, further impacting the temperature of your living spaces.

Don’t let San Antonio’s stifling heat take you by surprise. Get your home ready for summer to maximize your energy savings. For help, contact the experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Energy efficiency image via Shutterstock

When homeowners need to upgrade their air-conditioning systems, they expect the newly installed systems to perform as advertised. However, poor cooling installation methods can lead to a significant drop in efficiency — one that affects comfort, too.

In fact, Energy Star, a government-funded energy-efficiency website, reports that up to half of all cooling installations are compromised, meaning poor installation practices have led to countless homeowners spending more money over the life of their systems to keep them operating well and efficiently.

If you’re looking at new cooling equipment, you should know that its installation counts for a lot. Here’s what you should expect from a quality cooling installation:

• Careful sizing. Expert sizing methods are critical during any cooling installation. Factors that affect sizing include heat gain from the sun through windows, insulation levels and the home’s square footage. Without taking into account all factors that affect sizing, you could end up with a system that’s either too big or too small for your space. And that means your new system won’t operate efficiently or create a comfortable home.
• Well-maintained ductwork. Of all of the factors that affect efficiency, ductwork leaks generally contribute to the largest energy losses. Before you have any new cooling equipment installed, it’s essential that your HVAC contractor performs a comprehensive evaluation of the ductwork and seals all leaks.
• Proper airflow. Your contractor should also evaluate the system’s airflow. Too little or too much will compromise comfort and cause energy bills to soar.
• Precisely measured refrigerant. With an A/C, efficiency rests on the refrigerant’s ability to cool. Improper refrigerant charges can greatly affect your cooling bills, comfort and equipment life span.

With your new, efficient cooling equipment in place, you can expect to see a dip in your energy bills, better comfort and long-lasting equipment — but only if the cooling installation is done right. Contact the experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve been helping San Antonio homeowners since the mid-1970s get efficient results from their systems, built on a solid foundation of an expert cooling installation.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

HVAC technician image via Shutterstock

Smart homeowners know the value of a furnace system tune-up. Regularly servicing your heating equipment helps ensure that it operates at peak efficiency, improves home comfort, and lowers your energy bills.

Without regular preventive maintenance, you could leave yourself vulnerable to several problems, including:

• Lower system efficiency. If you were to never service your furnace, it would eventually operate at a much lower efficiency than it would if it were serviced annually. You see, your system is prone to dirt buildup, because debris that floats around in your home’s air eventually makes its way into the system. When this happens, buildup creates friction within the furnace’s components, causing it to work harder to produce the same level of comfort while consuming much more energy.
• Compromised home comfort. When buildup occurs, you’ll begin to notice that your home isn’t as comfortable as it once was. And that dirt that’s built up inside your furnace? All the air that’s delivered into your home passes through the system, picking up dirt as it goes and sending it into your home, hurting your home’s indoor air quality.
• Higher energy bills. As your system’s efficiency slowly diminishes, you’ll start to see higher energy bills. A furnace consumes more energy when it has to work harder to overcome buildup.
• Safety problems. As part of a comprehensive tune-up, a heating technician will help ensure home safety. A gas-powered furnace should ventilate carbon monoxide, produced as a byproduct during combustion, outdoors. If it’s not inspected regularly, improper venting could lead to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Shorter life span. Over time, furnaces are susceptible to wear and tear, as the system’s parts work hard each season. Without maintenance, however, wear and tear will eventually lead to a system failure, sooner than it would happen if the system were well maintained.

There’s no reason you should have to experience any of the problems listed above. With regular furnace tune-ups, you can rest assured that your system will operate efficiently — and without fail — throughout the winter season. For expert help, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today. Serving the San Antonio area, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Furnace repair image via Shutterstock

Want to see better results every time you open your energy bill? A comprehensive approach to improving home performance and increasing energy savings gets the best results.

Use the following steps to ensure that you leave no stone unturned when evaluating how your home uses energy — and that you use targeted actions that will improve it. For whole-house energy savings:

• Equipment size matters. Every piece of air-conditioning equipment has a specific capacity to cool. If that capacity doesn’t meet your home’s cooling requirements, or “cooling load,” you’ll notice that it will directly impact your overall comfort. Equipment that’s too big or too small will not be able to adequately heat or cool your home, and A/C equipment in particular will not be able to manage humidity levels.
• Know your efficiency. Even if your current equipment isn’t that old, you could still benefit significantly from upgrading. Today, high-efficiency cooling equipment can reach efficiencies far beyond what systems manufactured just 10 years ago can. In fact, the highest-efficiency A/Cs can now reach Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) 23.
• Ductwork impacts your systems. If your ductwork leaks or has loosely connected joints, you’re likely losing valuable conditioned air as it travels through the ducts. Have the system evaluated and upgraded by a professional.
• Keep conditioned air inside. With proper insulation levels, you can be assured that the conditioned air that your cooling and heating systems produce remains inside, because insulation acts as a heat barrier, restricting its movement in all seasons.
• Check the attic. Leaks in the attic allow air to infiltrate the space. In the summer, they will cause your attic’s temperature to soar, further impacting how cool your home feels. Sealing leaks is a fairly simple do-it-yourself job, but it’s important to also evaluate ventilation. A professional HVAC contractor can help you install a solar-powered attic fan, which will remove heat in the attic while saving energy.

Get expert help to assess your home’s performance, and increase your potential for energy savings. Contact your local HVAC professionals at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly served the Greater San Antonio area since the mid-1970s.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Energy efficiency image via Shutterstock

Deciding whether to repair or replace your HVAC system is a big decision. Replacing a heating or cooling system requires a significant investment, but you end up with efficient, durable equipment. Repairing a system can extend its life, but investing any money in an old, inefficient system often runs counter to efficiency and energy savings.

Here are five tips that will help you decide where to invest your money:

• Life span: If your system is at least 10 years old, replacing it is a wise move. Newer systems can reach much higher efficiencies than systems manufactured just 10 years ago, through technological advancements. And the higher monthly energy savings will help you recoup the investment more quickly.
• Efficiency: Along the same lines, if you have an older system with a low efficiency rating, such as an 80 percent annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) furnace or an A/C with a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) below 10, upgrading makes sense. Investing in the repair of an inefficient system might make it last a little bit longer, but you’ll still have high energy bills. And the money you spend on repairs could go toward the purchase of a new system.
• Maintenance: If your system has received annual preventive maintenance, then it’s probably operating at peak capacity. And, in this scenario, investing in a repair makes sense.
• Frequency: San Antonio homeowners generally don’t use their heating systems a great deal, so investing in repairs could be a wise move. However, it might be better to replace an A/C, which gets a lot of use, even if it’s not all that old.
• Duration: Replacing your system might make sense if you’re moving, as it will increase the value of your home.

If you’re thinking about whether to repair or replace an HVAC system, make the best decision possible for home comfort and energy savings by taking the above factors into account. Get expert help by contacting Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today. We will assess your existing system and determine the best course of action. We have served the San Antonio area since the mid-1970s.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Energy efficiency image via Shutterstock

When it comes time to have HVAC equipment serviced or installed, homeowners generally want the best person for the job. But separating expert heating technicians from the pack can be tricky, unless you know what qualifications to look for.

To choose an expert that will do high-quality work, and ensure peak efficiency and energy savings from your equipment, consider the following factors:

• Licensing and training: Always work with a contractor that holds the necessary state and local licenses. Training is important too, so ask about the contractor’s training program for service and installation.
• Certification: Not all certification programs are the same. North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is the most coveted certification available, and it’s the industry standard for expert workmanship.
• Sizing: A contractor should always evaluate your home’s heating needs by conducting a load calculation. This step will enable the contractor to match the appropriately sized system to your home.
• Safety and efficiency: Another step in the installation process should include an evaluation of your home’s ductwork and combustion safety. Ask the contractor what steps are involved in the company’s installation work.
• Employees: The highest quality contractors will conduct background checks and drug tests on their employees. Because expert heating technicians work with dangerous materials, such as natural gas, it’s important that they are clear-minded, as well as highly trained.

Along with these important factors, you should also evaluate a technician’s guarantees. A trustworthy contractor will back up the work performed, ideally with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. At Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re confident you’ll be happy with our work — and we stand behind every job we do with our unparalleled, comprehensive 12-point guarantees, including:

• Two-year test drive
• True pro
• Craftsmanship
• Energy savings
• Right size
• No excuses
• Property protection
• $500 no worries first-year operation
• Lifetime no overtime service charge
• 30-day low price
• No lemon
• Five-year comfort

Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning’s expert heating technicians are highly qualified and trained to help you with all of your home heating and cooling needs. For service in the San Antonio area, give us a call today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Service technician image via Shutterstock