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Electrical Maintenance Program: How to Build One Effectively?

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electrical maintenance program

Electrical maintenance is the general preservation and upkeep of electrical systems within an industrial, commercial, or residential building. Although this upkeep can be performed by on-site personnel, it’s often done by outside contractors. Keeping a building operational from an electrical standpoint is obviously quite important, but electrical maintenance, like many other areas, is considered “non vital” up until the point of failure. After such a failure, equipment and power are immediately considered the highest critical priority. Here’s how to build an electrical maintenance program effectively.

 

How Long Will It Take to Build an Electrical Maintenance Program?

 

Before we begin to dig into physical, pragmatic solutions, it’s important to acknowledge the time investment required. Accepting and properly allocating time and resources to produce an effective and thorough electrical maintenance program is the difference between a one-off inspection and a true maintenance program. How long will it take to build or complete an electrical maintenance program? As much time as it takes to be thorough.

 

Common Mistakes When Building an Electrical Maintenance Program

 

The first point of failure to consider should always be the human element. Monitoring the failure of systems and backup systems is key to preventing or resolving electrical issues in your home or business. Best practices can be developed by restricting access to critical systems, re-organizing physical systems, and simply educating those involved to prevent unintentional abuse of electrical systems to extend their life.

 

What’s Involved in Preventative Electrical Maintenance?

 

Preventative maintenance is the first of a one-two punch to stop single points of failure and crippling shut-downs of a building’s infrastructure. This can range from things as simple as replacing lights to inspections from licensed professionals. Maintaining these systems will keep the lights on and keep the building heated, cooled, and connected to the outside world. Routine inspection and maintenance to spot problems before they become a crisis is always the best course of action.

 

How Often Should Electrical Maintenance Be Performed?

 

Any repair or replacement of electrical systems, such as switches, wires, outlets, etc., that is warranted can be done swiftly and safely during these checks. Having a set schedule for this type of maintenance is the first building block in creating a maintenance program. Detecting and resolving problems isn’t just a headache to deal with, it can be potentially dangerous as well. Electricity failing to get somewhere is drastically better than having electricity somewhere it wasn’t supposed to be.

 

Hazards of electrocution, fire, and expensive overloading of components are all largely mitigated by regulation and proper implementation of equipment. The longer equipment goes with being inspected, the more likely something unanticipated can occur due to wear and tear!

 

On average, electrical maintenance should be performed every 3 years.

 

When Should Electrical Equipment Be Replaced or Upgraded?

 

If you constantly have to deal with electrical repairs, consider upgrading and installing equipment that can be relied upon and meet the current NEC (National Electric Code). Yes, this may cost more in the short term, but weigh your individual circumstances against the potential risks, and you may find it to be a worthy investment. Some risks are not worth taking!

 

Professional Electrical Maintenance Services

 

Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone! Weeks Service Company has licensed and experienced technicians up to date on current NEC standards as well as best practices for residential and business needs. If you’re looking to set up a regiment for your electrical systems, there’s no better place to start than here!

How to Finance an HVAC System?

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HVAC Financing: How to Finance an HVAC System?

Large home improvements and replacements can be expensive. If you need to replace your HVAC unit and you weren’t expecting this expense, it can really weigh on you. Rather than trying to ignore the problem or explore a number of “cheap” short-term solutions, consider your HVAC financing options instead. Here’s how to finance an HVAC system:

Financing for HVAC Replacement

Financing HVAC systems don’t have to put you out of your way. Here at Weeks Service Company, we work with some HVAC financing companies that can help you get through this hard time. Stop searching for “HVAC financing near me”—you found what you were looking for.

How to Finance With Us

If you know you need an HVAC unit, consider financing with Weeks Service Co. The cost of your unit will vary based on the unit you choose. You could go with a more energy efficient model, which may be more expensive upfront (or increase the rate of your monthly payments) but will save you a lot of money on your energy bill. Contact our office to learn more about your financing options with us.

Benefits of HVAC Financing

  • Simple monthly payments you can afford
  • Manageable APR and interest rates
  • Deal with an emergency situation in an instant
  • Peace of mind
  • A trustworthy connection with a contractor

Don’t Wait: Get What You Need Today

If you’re looking for “no credit check HVAC financing near me,” Weeks Service Company has you covered. We know that replacing your HVAC unit is important and that it can be a real burden on your wallet. When you work with us, it doesn’t have to be. You can receive HVAC finance, bad credit or good credit. Don’t pass on these HVAC financing deals. Get what you need today.

Pollen Allergies: The Importance of HVAC Maintenance

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Even people who don’t typically suffer from seasonal allergies have felt the itch this season. Something different is in the air, and apparently, we’re all allergic to it. Besides building immunity in your body for Claritin or its next-best generic equivalent, there are many things you can do to try to quell your pollen allergies. Here’s the importance of HVAC maintenance for seasonal allergies:

On-Time Air Filter Replacement

Your air filter is the one gossamer thing standing between your lungs and the debris-riddled air. Unlike a messy living room, a messy air filter is easy to ignore because it’s not visibly haunting you each time you step into a room. But the dust lining your air filter is haunting your every breath if you don’t change it on time.

We recommend that you change your filter at least once every three months. We also change your filter for you when you schedule HVAC maintenance with us.

pollen-allergies

Duct Cleaning

Your air filter gets clogged and must be replaced every one to three months, so just imagine what horrors await you in your duct system. Dust, pollen, debris, insect droppings, pests—all these things and more are lining the very tunnels through which your indoor air is generated.

 

As part of our HVAC maintenance services, we offer duct cleaning.

HVAC System Cleaning

Where does all the debris from your duct system come from? There are several different sources, namely things that blow in from the outside and dead skin cells (it’s gross, but it’s the truth). However, this debris not only makes its way into the air in your home but also eventually accumulates and rests a thick layer of dust on your HVAC unit, the very source of your indoor air.

As part of our HVAC maintenance services, we clean your HVAC system, which can help reduce your pollen allergy symptoms.

HVAC System Disinfectant

Allergies are birthed from more than pollen and dust, however. Unfortunately, you also have to worry about bacteria. The itch in your throat might not be allergies after all, but the first signs of a cold.

Our HVAC maintenance services not only provide HVAC unit cleaning but also disinfecting. Your hot HVAC unit, complete with condensation, provides a tropical environment that’s perfect for bacteria growth. Let us take care of that for you.

Dehumidification

In warmth and moisture, mold and bacteria grow and thrive. Your HVAC system works hard, and when you work hard you sweat. The unit gets hot, working to heat your home in the winter, and condensation gets created. The air in your home during the winter tends to get dry, but while you’re working to humidify your home, your HVAC unit needs dehumidification services.

We provide these when you call us for general HVAC maintenance services.

That’s the importance of HVAC maintenance for seasonal allergies. If you’re ready to end your suffering from pollen allergies in your own home, call Weeks Service Company to schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment.

Adjust Cooling System for Spring

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adjusting your cooling system for spring

It’s about that time of year again. Spring is just around the corner, and that means you’ve got a lot of spring-related tasks to check off on your list. Other than a spring cleaning around the home, what could be more important than making sure your HVAC unit is ready for the changing seasons?

The answer, to put it simply, is not much. The (official) switch from winter to spring can wreak havoc on your heating and cooling system. If you’re not prepared, you could damage your HVAC unit, or at least see a spike in energy bills as your efficiency decreases. Make sure that doesn’t happen and prepare your cooling system for spring with these tips from Weeks Service Company!

Clean the Debris Around Your Outdoor Unit

The condenser, which probably sits outside on a concrete slab next to your home, is an integral part of the cooling system. To operate effectively, that outdoor unit needs to be clear of debris and free of obstruction.

Take some time to clear anything that might get stuck or clog the condenser, like branches, rocks or random pieces of debris. It won’t take long, and it’ll actually provide quite a nice effect on your cooling system’s performance.

Inspect Your Refrigerant Lines

Periodically, you should take a quick look at the refrigerant lines behind your condenser. Feel them see if they’re cold – as they should be – and to check for any potential leaks. Leaky refrigerant is a serious problem, as your cooling system has to work overtime to work effectively.

And if you ignore it for too long, then you could be forced to pay for a refrigerant charge, which is costly and could be even more expensive depending on the type of refrigerant your unit uses. It’s better to catch these things ahead of time to implement a much less costly solution rather than a full-scale replacement!

Change Your Air Filter

We harp on this a lot, and it seems like one of our most common suggestions is to replace your air filter on time. But there’s a reason we mention it so often – it’s important! When your air filter is fresh, your cooling system can operate efficiently and effectively. When it’s not, though, your energy bill will slowly increase the longer you neglect the dirty air filter.

You should change your filter every 30 days — potentially a little sooner or later depending on what filter you have.

Schedule Maintenance

The best way to ensure your cooling system is ready for spring is to let a professional look at it. An expert’s eye will catch smaller, seemingly insignificant problems you might not think much of. They’ll recommend effective strategies to help your cooling system operate more efficiently.

 

Get in touch with the cooling experts at Weeks Service Company to find out how we can get your cooling system back in tip-top shape for the upcoming spring season. Give us a call at 346-595-7575 for more information!

HVAC Routine Maintenance Reasons

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Routine maintenance may seem like a chore. Your HVAC unit is running perfectly fine, so what’s the point in paying to have someone come tell you that everything looks good? As it turns out, there are quite a few benefits – it isn’t just something that service providers came up with to squeeze an extra buck out of you.

To help drive home the importance of having regular HVAC maintenance on your unit, the heating and cooling experts at Weeks Service Company have a list of 4 reasons why routine maintenance on your HVAC unit is well worth whatever you pay for it!

Your Home Feels Better

One of the main benefits of routine maintenance is that it gives your technician a chance to calibrate your unit. Over time, as the heating and cooling cycles on and off, parts and connections lose their effectiveness. When a trained eye looks at the components lying in your HVAC unit, they’ll make the small adjustments necessary to raise your unit’s efficiency back to normal.

That lets your air system take it a bit easier and still heat and cool your home properly. A regularly scheduled maintenance session from a technician you trust will keep you and your family comfortable year-round.

Energy Bills Take a Dip

As we noted above, routine maintenance keeps your HVAC unit from working too hard. When it doesn’t have to overcompensate to make up for a lack of efficiency, then the energy it expends is well within normal levels. Over time, you’ll be pleased to see your energy bills steadily decrease!

Problems Get Caught Early

Although paying money for an inspection isn’t something you may be thrilled about, the idea of paying for an expensive repair is probably even less exciting. But that’s what can happen when you neglect routine maintenance!

As your unit pumps air through your home day after day, it’ll eventually wear down and need repairs or need to have smaller parts replaced. When a technician inspects it regularly, they’ll conduct a thorough check to see if they notice anything that could be a warning sign. By catching these smaller problems early, you’ll avoid the potential of a catastrophic repair that blindsides you.

You Get a Chance to Ask Questions

To top it all off, when a technician visits your home, you’ll have the opportunity to present any questions you may have about your home’s air system or HVAC unit right then and there. Although you can technically pick up the phone and call them whenever you want, there’s something about having a face-to-face discussion with someone you trust that makes you feel more comfortable.

 

These 4 reasons for routine HVAC maintenance certainly don’t cover the entire list of benefits. There are plenty more that we haven’t touched on, but we don’t want to take up an entire day.

However, you can give Weeks Service Company a call at 346-595-7575, and we’d be glad to go over the other reasons why this is something we recommend for all our League City and Houston neighbors!

Handy Tips for Eliminating Electrical Fire Hazards

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tips for eliminating electrical fire hazards

Everyone is aware of how a fire can potentially spring up at any moment, wreaking havoc before you’re even aware that it’s happening. However, a lot of us probably don’t associate house fires with electrical malfunctions, even though they’re fairly prevalent.

In fact, roughly 6% of all house fires were electrical fires in 2014, according to the United States Fire Administration. These types of fires can happen in the blink of an eye, which is why it’s so important to safeguard your home so you minimize the chance of one happening. Here are some tips for eliminating electrical fire hazards from the trusty electricians at Weeks Service Company!

Consider Replacing Appliances

Although we get attached to certain devices and appliances in our homes, the sentimental value isn’t worth the hazard some of these things present. If you ignore replacing them for too long, you’re putting you and your family at risk.

Things like washers, dryers and heaters should be replaced as soon as they reach the end of their shelf life – if not a little earlier, just to be safe. A rogue spark from one of these appliances’ cords can easily jump to a rug or another flammable material, creating an electrical fire before you know it.

Always Clean Your Lint Traps

Turns out that the little lint screen in the top of your dryer is important. Lint is extremely flammable, and if you neglect to change out the lint trap when you begin drying clothes, you run the risk of it catching fire – and that percentage only increases the more you ignore it.

So, even though you probably do it every time, just make sure not to forget to change it out!

Check Your Outlets

One way that electrical fires get started is when an older outlet gets loose or the wires inside them begin to fray. The electrical connections begin losing their integrity, which makes it easier for sparks to jump around. You’ll usually see discoloration around the outlets when they decline in quality, which means it’s time to call an electrician.

They’ll take a look at your outlets – and the electrical system at large – to see whether it’s just an isolated incident or something that warrants a larger strategy to fix.

Don’t Overload Your Circuits

It’s tempting to plug everything we’ve got into a few outlets, especially in areas like the living room where we’ve got home theaters and the like. Although it’s convenient, this type of strain on your circuits can eventually cause serious problems.

Circuits can only handle so much of an electrical load before they get overloaded and short-circuit. Make sure to space out which circuits you’re plugging things into if you can to avoid this hazard.

Weeks Service Company: Providing League City with Top-Notch Electrical Service

We know how difficult it can be to keep track of all the different ways electrical hazards present themselves. You’ve got a million other things to keep track of every day, and worrying about overloading circuits can be confusing. Leave it to us!

Weeks Service Company has the knowledge and expertise to eliminate electrical hazards in your home. Give us a call at 346-595-7575 to see how we can safeguard your electrical system once and for all!

How Does Refrigerant Turn Into Cool Air?

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Unless you like to spend your free time researching the schematics of HVAC units, you probably don’t put a ton of thought into how your air conditioner generates the cool air into your home. And why would you? You just flip the switch on your thermostat, hear the machine kick on, and boom — it’s cold inside.

But it’s helpful to understand what’s going on, so you’ll be able to identify when something has gone wrong. The key to the whole cooling process lies with something called refrigerant, and the cooling experts at Weeks Service Company are going to walk you through the way this substance helps cool your home!

It Isn’t “Creating” Cold Air

Believe it or not, when you feel the cool air blow across your skin while you’re sitting in your living room, that cold temperature wasn’t created by the air conditioner. Instead, your unit has just taken all the *warm* air that was already indoors and gotten rid of the warm-ness.

The way it works is like this: your air system takes in air from the outdoors and sends it through the cooling cycle in your air conditioner. The refrigerant already in your system moves between a liquid and gas state depending on whether it’s being compressed or expanded, and it absorbs or releases warm air based on which cycle it’s going through.

The refrigerant isn’t ever lost, either. The same amount is in there regardless of what’s happening to it – or at least, it shouldn’t ever get lost. If that happens, your unit isn’t working like it’s supposed to. You should schedule an inspection from a technician you trust!

Refrigerant Can Do It All

Without this crucial substance, your air would just be the same temperature that it is outside. But thanks to the refrigerant, you’re able to enjoy cool air year-round. To recap refrigerant snakes through the evaporator and condenser coils in your home’s air-conditioning system, continually changing states between liquid and gas as it absorbs and releases moisture from the air.

For a significant amount of HVAC units, the refrigerant being used is likely Freon. But because of a government-issued ordinance, Freon is going to be totally discontinued for HVAC system usage by 2020.

If your unit uses Freon, it’s important to keep an eye on the health and integrity of it. If a leak springs and the Freon escapes, then a recharge might not be in your best interest. After 2020, you won’t be able to simply add more Freon to your unit, so keep that in mind.

It may be cheaper to replace your Freon with more of the same. However, that may end up costing you more down the line after it’s been completely phased out.

Weeks Service Company: Here for League City’s AC Needs

In the market for a new air conditioner? Stressed out about replacing your coolant? Just give us a call! Weeks Service Company can walk you through the best strategy for you and your unit, and we’ll provide all the resources and information you need to make the best decision for you and your family.

Call us at
Birmingham – 346-595-7575 to speak to one of our friendly team members today!

 

Should I Clean My Ducts?

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Plenty of home-improvement projects fall by the wayside as we follow the routine of the week. While there are a couple that demand our attention, it’s usually because our home will fall into disarray if we don’t fix them immediately. Cleaning your ducts is not one of them. Sometimes this job goes unnoticed for years before a homeowner discovers something horrifically wrong with the air and decides to do something about it.

Cleaning your ducts is a comprehensive, foolproof way to ensure your family breathes clean, healthy air. It freshens your home and can even produce benefits you might not realize were possible. Here are a few reasons cleaning your ducts is beneficial – all from the friendly folks at Weeks Service Company!

It Reduces Pollutants and Increases IAQ

Since ducts are more or less out of sight, it can be hard to tell when they need work. It’s only when your home suddenly resembles a dust tornado that we realize something needs fixing. However, this doesn’t happen all at once. The factors that create these situations build up over time.

That’s where duct-cleaning comes in. Performing this job will eliminate the pollutants that reside in your ducts, which improves your home’s indoor air quality.

You’ll notice significantly cleaner air – and that especially goes for anyone in your family that may suffer from allergies.

It Also Eliminates Mold

Just like how airborne pollutants take up residence in your ducts, mold can do the same. If your ducts haven’t been cleaned in a while, then moisture collects up there and becomes a fertile breeding ground for mold-producing spores.

But by cleaning your ducts, you get rid of that unwanted moisture. In addition to getting rid of the existing mold, a technician can also help you eliminate the things that led to mold growing in the first place.

It Optimizes Your HVAC System

Cleaning your ducts also has benefits that extend beyond clearing your air – although that’s a terrific thing by itself. When you schedule someone to perform this job for you, you’ll also probably notice a notable improvement in your home’s heating cycle.

When your ducts are cleaned, your furnace is able to funnel hot air through your home more efficiently. There are fewer obstructions in its way, which means it won’t have to work nearly as hard to heat your home. So, your home heats itself easier and you don’t have to pay as much in energy bills? Sounds like a win-win.

Duct Cleaning from Weeks Service Company

Most experts recommend you have your ducts cleaned every 3 to 5 years. That ensures that you’ll keep your home’s air quality at a decent level and your air will circulate without any stressful hiccups.

If it’s about time to have yours cleaned, Weeks Service Company has you covered. With more than 40 years of experience, our team will be able to perform any job quickly and efficiently – and we’ll do it right the first time.

Give us a call at 346-595-7575 to see how we can get your ducts squeaky-clean in no time!

Getting the Most Out of Your Generator

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getting the most out of your generator

Investing in a generator is fairly high up on the list of wise decisions you could make, even though you might not have needed one before. The thing is, we don’t think about a generator most of the time — it’s only when we need one that we realize how essential they can be.

Although there might be little risk of a particularly dangerous storm that could knock your home’s power out for an extended period of time, the cost of purchasing a generator before disaster hits is well worth the benefits of having one when everything goes dark.

That said, there’s more to owning one than simply unboxing it and shoving it in corner of the garage. Like any appliance, it needs careful maintenance and check-ups to ensure it will perform the way it’s supposed to whenever you need it most. Knowing what to do to get your generator running at optimum efficiency can be tough, though. That’s why Weeks Service Co. is here to help!

We’ve got a handy list of tips for you to run through, and by doing so you’ll have the smoothest generator in town. We’re League City’s generator experts, and our technicians can help with whatever generator-related questions or problems you have – just get in touch!

Check On It Often

As we noted above, a generator needs love and care in the same way that other engine-based pieces of equipment do. To make sure it won’t cut out when you need it most, you should perform a quick check on your generator every year or so.

Just turn it on and see if it runs, first of all. After that, check to see if the oil needs to be replaced – and if you want to really be certain it will work, have your generator tuned up as well.

Switch Fuel Types

We commonly associate generators with gasoline because that’s fuel used for most designs. But you might be able to switch that out for a more efficient fuel source: propane. Liquid propane is easier to deal with than gasoline. It doesn’t go bad, so you don’t have to replace it as often, and all you have to do is swap the tank out on the generator. No more messes from trying to pour out of big gas cans!

Don’t Plug It in Directly

One mistake we see often is from generator owners plugging their unit directly into their home’s circuits. Don’t do this! You’re making a dangerous and unnecessary risk by doing that.

  • When you plug your generator in directly, you can suffer from what’s known as “back feeding,” which can be extremely dangerous because it introduces an unstable high-voltage power source into your home’s electrical grid. Not to mention, it’s also illegal.
  • Instead, use a manual transfer switch. It’s more expensive, but it gets rid of the extension cords you might be sick of while safely distributing power.

These tips barely scratch the surface for making the most out of your generator, but there are plenty more where that came from. Whether you’re prepping for a dangerous storm or just trying to add some extra juice to something that needs it, a generator can be a ton of help.

No matter what your generator is for, don’t look any further than Weeks Service Company when the time comes for maintenance, service, installation, or anything in-between. Give us a call at 346-595-7575 for more information!