Month: August 2020

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Broken Furnace: Repair it or Replace it?

Repair or replace furnace title graphic

Steps to Determine Whether it’s Worth Fixing your Heater

Every winter, a lot of homeowners are faced with a big decision. Something has gone wrong with their heating system and they’re left wondering if it’s worth repairing or if this is the year to get it replaced. If this is your situation, you don’t have to be left guessing what the right answer is. There are some very simple ways to determine if your heating system should just be repaired or if you need a new system installed.

Assessing a Functionable Furnace

It does not have to take a broken furnace to be faced with this dilemma. Perhaps you’ve noticed your system is no longer operating as it once did. Does it feel your home just isn’t staying as warm this winter? Have you been wondering if your furnace is getting the job done as well as it used to?

At Tiger Heating & Air, we see this issue frequently each Corpus Christi winter. We are often called out to address issues with aging heating systems. We know how to get to the bottom of a problem and get a functioning furnace repaired and in good running order. And we know how to assess when a heating system is no longer worth repairing.

Some HVAC questions to consider:

  • How old is it? If you remember getting your furnace installed when your college kid was a baby, now is the time for an upgrade. A typical furnace lasts 18-20 years, but even that age is dependent upon whether they have been properly maintained over the years. And even the age of your furnace is not the only determining factor. Even a “young” furnace could need to be replaced if it’s costing you discomfort and unnecessarily high heating bills
  • How high are your heating bills? Have you seen your bills go higher this winter than previous years? Spending extra every month on heating bills is money you won’t see back. Putting that extra money towards a new energy-efficient furnace is an investment into saving on future energy bills.
  • How much is it costing you to repair? Once you are faced with repairs for your furnace, that’s the time to really address whether it should be completely replaced. How expensive does a repair on your furnace need to be before it’s not worth it?

Heating Repair Decision Flow Chart

To make it easy for you, we have this flow chart to guide you through making the right decision. We start with the age of your system as that is a very important factor. To put it simply, they didn’t make heating systems as well as they do now.

Technology in the HVAC industry means that furnaces, heaters, and other heating systems are made to put out heat by using up a lot less energy. That heater you bought 20 years ago is going to be putting a drain on your monthly energy bills. People are often quite surprised to find that after several years, the cost they save with a new energy-efficient system more than makes up for the price of getting it installed.

Not only are furnaces and heaters simply made better now, you also have more options. The type of heating system you need for your home may not be a traditional furnace. Something like a heat pump, which provides both heating and cooling, may be the best solution for your space. Tiger Heating & Air are professional installers and service technicians for handling your new or existing heat pump needs.

Infographic flow chart showing factors to determine whether you should repair or replace your furnace or heating system

Trust Tiger for Heating Service in Corpus Christi

Whether you need a repair or a replacement, you can count on the entire Tiger Heating and Air team for quality, professional service. If you are not sure which option is right for you, we will be happy to check out your system and give you the information you need to make the right decision. We promise that we will not try to sell you on a new system if your existing one can still operate well for your needs.

Schedule an appointment with Tiger Heating & Air online or call us at (361) 852-4450.

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A Warning Before Buying a Programmable Thermostat

1. Programmable thermostat on wall set to 68 degrees

What to Know Before Installing a New Thermostat Yourself

A new programmable thermostat can improve the comfort of your home

The great technological improvements in thermostats means you have many wonderful, modern options to make keeping your home comfortable and energy efficient. There are even programmable thermostats that you can control from your phone.

While you can have Tiger Heating & Air professionally install a new thermostat for your home, it’s very tempting to buy and install one yourself. From Amazon to big-box DIY stores to little hardware stores in and around Corpus Christi, you will find a wide array of thermostat options to help keep your heating and cooling levels and costs under your control.

When thinking about which new thermostat to buy, you may be factoring in such things as the ease of use or the cost. But there is ONE VITAL FACTOR you need to consider before anything else, and that is whether the new programmable thermostat is compatible with your existing heating and cooling system.

A new thermostat can destroy your heating and cooling system

Not all thermostats work with all HVAC systems. In fact, installing a programmable thermostat that does NOT work with your system could actually destroy it. Not only that, replacing your thermostat with a non-compatible one may void any warranties you have on your HVAC units. So that means the great deal you may have gotten on a new thermostat will end up costing you thousands of dollars in replacement or repair of your furnace and/or air conditioner.

How can you know which thermostat is right for your home?

There are some fundamental things you would need to know about your home’s HVAC system before you should even begin shopping for a new programmable thermostat. These include such things as whether your system is gas or electric and if it operates at a one-stage or two-stage speed. Because there is a real risk of destroying your home’s entire heating and cooling system by making a mistake on knowing which thermostat will work, our main piece of advice is for you to rely on an HVAC professional to tell you what system you have and what types of thermostats could be used for it.

Programmable new thermostat on wall set to 68 degrees

Bottom line: contact us. A member of our skilled team at Tiger Heating & Air would be more than happy to help you determine the information you need to know so that you can avoid making a very avoidable, yet incredibly costly, mistake. We service the entire Corpus Christi area – call (361) 852-4450.

corpus christi hvac team of technicians at Tiger Heating & AirTiger Heating and Air has been a trusted name in Corpus Christi since 1984. Whether it’s a repair, installation or maintenance, trust our team of experienced HVAC technicians to be ready to deliver the services you need. We are trained and experienced to service whatever type of heating or cooling system is in your home. We also provide professional indoor air quality services.

We are located off of TX-358, just a few miles from the exit toward Saratoga Blvd from 286 South. Call us for service any time of day or night at (361) 852-4450.

Get a free quote and see why we are the Corpus Christi company homeowners and businesses trust for honest and fair pricing. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!

We are located just off of TX-358. Heading south, take the exit toward Saratoga Blvd from 286 South. Turn left onto Saratoga Blvd, then 3 miles down the road, turn right onto Weber Rd and another right onto Wow Rd just across the street from the post office.

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