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HVAC Tips & Tricks Guides
19 guidesThese practical guides answer the everyday questions Austin homeowners ask about their heating and cooling: what a strange noise means, whether to repair or replace, which thermostat features are worth it and how rebates work. Each one is written to help you make a confident decision.
Start with Why Is My HVAC System Making Noise?, then read Repair or Replace Your HVAC System? How to Decide and Smart Thermostats: Are They Worth It?.
To understand how technicians diagnose common cooling problems, our AC repair page explains what happens during a repair visit.
New tips are added through the year as the seasons change, from spring allergy prep to getting ready for a winter freeze.
Tips & TricksHow Do You Increase Airflow to One Room?How to get more air from the vents in one weak room, from the quick checks you can do yourself to the duct problems…
Tips & TricksCan You Hose Off Your Outdoor AC Unit?Yes: with the power off at the disconnect, a gentle rinse with a garden hose is a safe way to clear dust and debris…
Tips & TricksHow Do You Clear a Clogged AC Condensate Drain Line?Turn the AC off, flush the drain line through its cleanout, and pull stubborn clogs from the outside end with a wet/dry vacuum.
Tips & TricksHow Do You Restart Your AC After a Power Outage?Turn the thermostat off during the outage, wait until power is steady, check the AC breakers, then set it back to Cool and give…
Tips & TricksThe Aerie Smart Thermostat and Aerie Home AppThe Aerie Smart Thermostat is Gold Eagle's own connected thermostat. Along with temperature control and scheduling, it shows real-time indoor air quality readings, lets…
Tips & TricksHVAC Maintenance Plans Explained: What a Good Plan Should IncludeThe Gold Eagle Membership is our home maintenance plan for Austin-area heating and cooling systems. Three tiers build on each other: Wing Watch covers…
Tips & TricksAustin Energy Rebates and Tax Credits for HVAC Upgrades (2026 Guide)In 2026, Austin Energy customers can still get rebates for qualifying AC and heat pump replacements, duct sealing, attic insulation and smart thermostats. The…
Tips & TricksAC Refrigerants Explained: R-22, R-410A and R-454BRefrigerant carries heat out of your home in an AC or heat pump. R-22 production ended in 2020, R-410A is being phased down under…
Tips & TricksHidden Home Hazards: Radon, CO, Asbestos, Lead Paint and FireThe main hidden hazards in many homes are radon, carbon monoxide, asbestos, lead paint and fire. Most can't be seen or smelled, so the…
Tips & TricksSmart Thermostats: Are They Worth It?For many homes, yes. ENERGY STAR estimates certified smart thermostats save about 8% on heating and cooling bills on average, mostly through better scheduling.…
Tips & TricksThe True Cost of Neglecting HVAC MaintenanceSkipping HVAC maintenance usually costs more in the long run: dirty filters and coils raise energy use, small problems grow into expensive repairs, equipment…
Tips & TricksHow to Improve Indoor Air Quality with Your HVAC SystemYour HVAC system filters particles, removes moisture and moves air through the whole house. The biggest gains come from the right filter changed on…
