Category: Seasonal

Water droplet falling from a faucet into an outstretched hand, symbolizing water conservation and efficient usage in home maintenance.

3 Simple Tips For Saving Water (and Money)

Posted on | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Commenton 3 Simple Tips For Saving Water (and Money)

In the hot Texas summer, it’s really easy to use a lot of water. From the pool to the house – Texans are looking for anything to offer some relief. But we all know that we don’t have an endless supply of water. Not only isconserving water good for the environment, but it’ll also save you money!  In this post, we’ll take a look at a few ways you can start saving today!

USE THE DISHWASHER

Appliances like your dishwasher use a lot of water, right? Actually, you may be surprised to know that running your dishwasher typically saves more water than washing dishes by hand. Leaving your sink faucet running for several minutes while thoroughly washing a sink full of dishes often uses more water than a full cycle on the dishwater. Give your dishes a quick rinse to get rid of grease, crumbs, or other stuck-on food, then place them in the dishwasher rack and wait for it to fill up. An ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher only uses about 5 gallons of water per load, but washing by hand takes up to 25 gallons! As an added bonus, you’ll eliminate the clutter caused by leaving dirty or drying dishes sitting around your kitchen.

LOOK FOR LEAKS

If pools of water start appearing in your kitchen or bathroom, you know you’ve got a leak. Those types of leaks can show up in any place water is used, including the toilet, bathtub, sinks, showers, and the laundry room. Many fixtures have an emergency shutoff valve that can also leak. Even if you don’t notice a leak, occasionally check your water meter. If the reading ever seems unusually high, you’ll know there’s an issue. Call an expert like ours at The Bosworth Company who can get to the root of the problem!

WATER HEATER MAINTENANCE

Your hot water heater is the heart of all the water that pumps through your home. Making sure it’s running efficiently can save water, and is easy to accomplish with a little maintenance. This can include making sure all valves are working properly, and draining it about once a year.

WORTH THE CALL

If your water bill is inexplicably going up, The Bosworth Company in Kerrville can help. Schedule an appointment online or give us a call today at 830-428-2764. It’s Worth The Call. Always.

Air conditioning unit with exposed coils, fan, and rust; HVAC system needing maintenance by The Bosworth Company.

How Your Air Conditioner Works

Posted on | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Commenton How Your Air Conditioner Works

Fall has arrived, but here in Texas, we’ll still need to run our air conditioning for the next couple of months. In this post, we’ll discuss how your air conditioner works. Knowing how it works will help you know when it needs service and how to keep it running strong. We’ll even tell you how The Bosworth Company in Kerrville can help!

THE PARTS

Remember – an air conditioner is different from a fan. It doesn’t just move the air, it removes the moisture, making a humid Central Texas afternoon a lot more comfortable. This process requires taking the air that’s inside your home and forcing it outside. It’s much more complicated and scientific than this, but here are the five primary “ingredients”:

  • Refrigerant is the cooling agent. It’s pumped through the system and changes the warm air in your home to liquid as it’s moved outside. It also keeps your HVAC unit from overheating.
  • The Compressor is the heart of the system that pumps air throughout your home and the air ducts.
  • The Condenser is the part of the compressor that transforms the refrigerant. Once the refrigerant is pumped into the compressor, the condenser helps turn it into liquid. This all happens when your exterior unit is running.
  • The Expansion Valve is where the refrigerant basically re-cools the refrigerant. When the liquid expands (expansion valve, remember), it cools down and is ready to be pumped back into your home.
  • The Evaporator Coil is the final step. The cold liquid is “evaporated” in the plenum (the metal box in your attic) before it is distributed into the ducts as cool air.

WORTH THE CALL

This could have been much, much more scientific and detailed, but we just wanted to cover the basics. Here’s the good news: you don’t need to know it all, because our experts do! Let the Bosworth Company in Kerrville maintain your A/C by investing in our Fall Clean & Check. It’s a great way to give your entire unit a tune-up! You can make an appointment today by calling 830-428-2764 or scheduling one online. The Bosworth Company. Worth the Call. Always.

Cold weather readiness graphic featuring frosted pine branches and text asking, "Is your home cold weather ready?" with Bosworth Company branding.

Is Your Home Cold Weather Ready?

Posted on | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Commenton Is Your Home Cold Weather Ready?

Though we’re experiencing unseasonably warm weather for fall, it’s never too early to get your home cold weather ready. In fact, we’re expecting a 30° temperature drop mid-week! The Bosworth Company prefers preparedness over panic, so be sure to follow these steps on getting ready for chilly winter temperatures.

Get Your Home Cold Weather Ready with These 4 Tips

Prep the Plumbing

Though many people expect cold weather problems to come from their furnace, they often forget about frozen pipes! It’s important to get your plumbing ready for cooler temperatures, including sealing off outdoor valves and insulating exposed pipes. Not only can these freeze when the temps drop, you also risk them bursting when water expands.

Seal the Deal

Prevent cold air from entering your home by sealing drafty windows and doors. As your home settles with age or seals begin to wear, your home may not be as protected from air leaks as you’d like. Additionally, keep your garage above North Pole temperatures by installing weather stripping along the garage floor.

Invest in a Nest®

Have you heard about the Nest WiFi Thermostat offered by Bosworth? It’s a high-tech way to save on your energy bills each month. With the Nest, you’re able to take control of your thermostat, no matter where you are! Not only does it help keep your home toasty warm, on average, the Nest saves consumers between 10% and 12% on their monthly heating bills.

Prepare, Prepare Prepare

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” -Benjamin Franklin

Maintaining your home is critical – and we aren’t just talking about cosmetic improvements. When you include our fall electrical and heating services as part of your home maintenance plan, it can help you avoid a catastrophic event when it starts to really get cold. You should also consider adding a Kohler backup generator to your home, if you’re worried about electrical outages this winter.

Are you worried your home isn’t going to pass the cold weather test? Don’t fear – Bosworth is here! Whether you need plumbing, heater, or electrical service for your home or business, we’re available to help. Schedule your service today!