Austin's summer temperatures stay above 95 degrees for months, and overnight lows rarely drop below 75. Your air conditioner runs 12 to 16 hours per day from June through September. That constant runtime exposes every efficiency problem in your system. A small refrigerant leak that would not matter in a milder climate becomes a major energy drain here. Ductwork that lost 15 percent of its airflow to leaks in the attic now loses 40 percent because the system runs so much longer. Many homes built in the 1980s and 1990s have original ductwork that was never sealed properly. Foundation shifts in Austin's expansive clay soil pull those ducts apart at the seams, creating gaps that dump cooled air into your attic while your living space stays warm.
We have worked in every Austin neighborhood, from older homes in Hyde Park and Tarrytown to newer construction in Brushy Creek and Bee Cave. We know which builders used quality duct installation and which ones cut corners. We understand how local electric rates work and how tiered pricing amplifies the cost of inefficient systems. Austin Energy customers pay more per kilowatt-hour as usage increases, so fixing a system that wastes 500 kilowatt-hours per month saves more than just the cost of those kilowatt-hours. Local expertise matters when diagnosing energy problems because the climate, housing stock, and utility rate structure all affect the solution.
