Blog

With the inevitable winter snowstorms on the horizon, homeowners must be aware of the necessary steps to prepare your home's HVAC unit for potential large snowfalls. While these units are our saving grace in the warmer months, they are very susceptible to damage during the colder ones, mainly when snow is introduced into the equation. Here are seven tips to help you prepare for that upcoming snowstorm: Check your insulation and eliminate drafts: Energy Star suggests that 9 out of 10 homes are not sufficiently insulated, leading to higher energy costs and inadequate indoor heating. [...]

Hot water is something many of us can’t go without. To protect the luxury of warm showers in the morning and hot baths at night,  it’s imperative that homeowners take care of their water heaters. While water heaters have a general lifespan of 8-12 years, with regular maintenance, you can ensure your home’s unit reaches that 12-year mark. Although often unnoticed, your water heater is one of the hardest working devices in your home. It is working tirelessly 24 hours a day to ensure your home has warm water on demand. As a result of [...]

Replacing your home’s heating system can be a daunting task. With a wide range of options and terminology, even the handiest people can often feel overwhelmed. Luckily, RG Mechanical is here to help. Here are some helpful tips to determine if you may need to replace your home’s heater: Is your system 15 years or older? Traditionally, residential heating systems have a lifespan between 15-20 years. It is suggested that at the 15-year mark, homeowners evaluate their system’s performance and begin to plan for a replacement. Does your system require frequent repairs? Older units [...]

Regular maintenance can extend your water heater’s life, but at some point, all heaters require replacement. Here are some helpful tips to determine if it’s time to consider a replacement:  Your unit is older than eight years old.  A residential water heater’s average life span is between 10-12 years (with gas water heaters generally lasting between 6-8 years). However, most experts recommend you begin the planning process around year eight. An easy way to determine the age of your home’s unit is to reference the serial number.  Your unit is rusting. Rust can come [...]

We hear too often, how someone has chosen a company to do air duct cleaning in the past and they feel that the company didn’t do a good job. So, to help you avoid that, we’ve come up with some handy tips on how to choose a company to do your HVAC Cleaning.  Tip #1: Check references: At RG Mechanical many of our new customers have already checked our references, because their friends have recommended us. Tip #2: Make sure the company you use is licensed and insured. Tip #3: Beware of the $99 [...]

Air duct cleaning is a popular service that came about in response to an increase of air pollution.  So, what is air duct cleaning?  It is the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components. These components can include supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers.  Why is air duct cleaning important? The air ducts help cold and warm air travel throughout your home. When the system components are not maintained than dust, pollen, and other debris build-ups. Air ducts can also collect moisture, which in turn can cause mold.  If [...]

At RG Mechanical, we may use industry terms and have industry knowledge that our customers do not understand. So, to help our customers out, we have created a simple blog to answer some of our most frequently asked questions! If you have other questions that are not on this list, we encourage you to call us at (812) 389-8480 or send us the inquiry on our contact form. 1. What does HVAC stand for?  The answer is simple- it is an acronym that stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. HVAC systems offer those [...]

Updating technology and products to smarter and energy-efficient options helps to save money on energy bills. There are many possibilities to become more energy efficient in your home range from installing Energy Star appliances to buying more efficient windows and doors. More specifically, when it comes to HVAC systems, it has become common practice to have a programmable thermostat, also known as a smart thermostat, installed in homes. For most homes in the United States, heating and cooling costs make up the most significant portion of most household’s total energy usage. Incorporating a smart [...]