Hutchins Plumbing & Air Conditioning Blog

Consider a Ductless HVAC System

March 27th, 2017

Female holding a remote control air conditioner at home. Happy young woman on sofa

Spring is the time to take stock of one’s air conditioning options and plan for any replacement that may be needed. It’s also a good time to consider alternative options and look into solutions to your household air conditioning that you might not have considered before. Most of us are accustomed to traditional centralized air conditioners, which cool the air in a single location and distribute it via a series of ducts.

They’re an inexpensive and efficient system but they’re not right for every home. If you’re considering a new air conditioning system this summer – or if your home can’t support centralized air and you’re looking for another option, consider a ductless HVAC system.

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How Plumbers Use Video Pipe Inspection

March 13th, 2017

Plumbing_iStock_000007922687_Full-meOnce upon a time, plumbing was a matter of skill and hard work, and while plumbers had their trusty box of tools ready to go, the basics didn’t change much. But the 21 Century has seen huge advances in technology over a number of fields, and plumbers have taken advantage of that with new exciting equipment that makes it easier than ever to assist their customers. That’s one of the reasons why you should always count on a professional to deal with issues in your piping rather than trying to correct it yourself.

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Get Your Air Conditioner Ready for Spring

February 27th, 2017

Air_Conditioning_Air_Conditioner_Repairing_Energy_Efficiency_Mechanic_Maintenance_Engineer-meTexas winters tend to be milder and last for shorter periods of time than winters in other parts of the country. Chances are you haven’t used your air conditioner much in the past few months, but the weather will soon start warming, and before you know it you’re going to be using your air conditioner every day to keep your home cool.

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Keep Your Well Water Safer and Cleaner

February 13th, 2017

Plumbing_257336_5570-meWe have a number of rural residents in our neck of the woods: people who live off of any civic grids and rely on wells or similar sources for their water supply. It’s an absolute necessity, but it also means that you need to take care of its treatment and cleanliness yourself in many cases. Not to worry. With a trained plumber on your side, you can identify any potential troubles with your water supply and install one or more devices that can keep it safer and cleaner for your family. We’ve provided a brief list of some of the more popular options below.

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How Can You Tell if You Need Duct Repair?

January 30th, 2017

Indoor_Air_Quality_Filters_Duct_Cleaning_dreamstime_xl_31113411Ducts get damaged just like any other portion of your home. In some cases, that can be direct damage, as when rats or squirrels get into the crawlspace and gnaw on the material, or someone inadvertently creates a problem while working on some other part of the house. Other times, it can come from simple wear and tear, such as when two fitted parts lose a bolt and create an opening.

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Two Important Factors When Installing a New Heater

January 16th, 2017

Winter is here in Plano, TX, and if your heating system is on its last legs, you might be looking at a new one before too long. Hopefully, you’re planning for a spring replacement and your existing heater will continue to function normally until then. In some cases, you might be looking at an emergency replacement when you old heater finally breaks down unexpectedly. Either way, you need to plan for your new heater properly, which means paying careful attention to at least two very important details:

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Help! I Need Plumbing Service Now!

January 9th, 2017

A plumbing emergency is nothing to treat lightly. Nothing inspires panic more than a hot water heater that shuts down in the middle of winter, or the sight of water spreading slowly across your kitchen floor. Unfortunately, such disasters rarely choose the most convenient time to strike, and you may be forced to deal with them in the middle of the night or over a weekend when regular plumbing services aren’t available.

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Do You Have a Slab Leak?

January 2nd, 2017

Slab leaks sound ominous, and for good reason. They’re a specialized type of leak, more problematic to deal with than mundane plumbing leaks. The leak itself isn’t any different from any other. It’s the location that presents problems: slab leaks are located beneath the concrete foundation of your house or porch. In some cases, the pipes may actually be embedded in the concrete itself. Because of that, a leak can go undetected for weeks or months, and the dripping water can cause all manner of damage. Eventually, the concrete itself will crack and must be repoured before the building can be inhabitable again.

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Upgrade Your Home to Improve Resale Value

December 26th, 2016

Selling your home is an exciting prospect, but it can also be a time-consuming one. You want to get the best value out of it, and while sales are strongest during the spring, now is an excellent time to make any changes you need to in order to improve the home’s resale value. Along with square footage and basic amenities, buyers pay close attention to specific components in your home – notably the plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems – as well as the utility and aesthetics of key locations such as the kitchen and bathroom.

Knowing the best way to upgrade your home can help you make the most of your given budget and ensure you get the maximum return on the investment when the time comes to put the home on the market. Here are a few suggestions of things to pay attention to.

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Signs of Leaky or Breached Ducts

December 19th, 2016

Your duct system plays a key role in transporting heated air from your furnace to the rooms in your Frisco, TX home, and usually performs the same duties for your air conditioner in the summer. The ducts are usually tucked safely behind the walls of in your attic, which keeps them safe from harm. That can prove a double-edged sword, however. For when breaches do occur — through inadvertent damage, animals getting into your crawlspace, or just bolts or seals that have worn out — it can be very hard to spot them. That’s problematic because they will raise the costs of heating your home, as well as increasing strain on the rest of your system and even leading to further breakdowns if you’re not careful. So how can you spot them? Here’s a quick list of common signs:

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