FAQ
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Maintenance
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Your heating and cooling system gets checked twice a year: a cooling inspection in spring, before South Louisiana heat arrives, and a heating inspection in fall, before the first cold front. Each visit is a full 21 point inspection, including:
- Thermostat operation and refrigerant charge
- Evaporator and condenser coil condition, with condenser cleaning
- Visual refrigerant leak check and temperature drop across the coil
- Drain pan and primary drain line, flushed to prevent the ceiling leaks our humidity causes
- Capacitors, contractors, fan and blower motors, and electrical connections
- Heat exchanger, gas connections, flame sensor, and safety controls on heating checks
Why it matters: in our climate, an AC that skips maintenance loses efficiency every season and tends to fail on the hottest week of the year, exactly when the schedule is hardest to get on. Members never face that line.
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Once a year, a licensed Natal's plumber inspects your home's entire plumbing system, top to bottom. Your 30 point inspection covers:
- Toilets, tanks, and seals at the base
- Sinks, supply lines, emergency shutoff valves, and drain condition
- Tubs and showers, including faucets, drains, and stoppers
- Water heater condition: corrosion, valves, drain pan, relief line, and venting
- Washing machine and ice maker supply lines, the quiet causes of major water damage
- Hose bibs, gas appliance connections, main water valve, and main sewer cleanouts
Why it matters: most plumbing disasters announce themselves months in advance, in places homeowners never look. An annual inspection finds the corroded valve before it becomes the flooded hallway.
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Once a year, a licensed Natal's electrician inspects your home's electrical system for safety, capacity, and code condition. Your 30 point inspection covers:
- Panel and sub panels: grounding, connections, corrosion, breaker and wiring sizes.
- Disconnects, fuses, and weather damage
- Outlets, switches, and lights including GFCI testing and voltage checks
- Internal wiring condition and open or boxless connections
- Warning signs: flickering or dimming lights, warm outlets, odors, overloaded circuits
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Why it matters: electrical problems rarely give a second warning. Between hurricane season surges and the age of much of our area's housing stock, an annual inspection is the cheapest insurance a homeowner can buy.
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HVAC
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Air filters should typically be changed every 1 to 3 months, depending on factors like filter type, indoor air quality, and the number of occupants or pets in the home. Regular filter changes help maintain system efficiency and improve indoor air quality.
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Several factors could cause inadequate cooling or heating, including dirty air filters, refrigerant leaks, faulty thermostats, blocked vents, or issues with the compressor or blower. A professional HVAC technician can diagnose and resolve the specific problem.
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Improving energy efficiency can be achieved by regular maintenance, including cleaning or replacing air filters, sealing air ducts, installing a programmable thermostat, and scheduling annual HVAC tune-ups. Proper insulation and sealing of windows and doors also contribute to energy savings.
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The decision to repair or replace an old HVAC system depends on factors such as the system’s age, the extent of damage or wear, repair costs, and energy efficiency. A qualified HVAC technician can assess the system and guide the best course of action.
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Regular HVAC maintenance offers numerous benefits, including improved system performance, increased energy efficiency, enhanced indoor air quality, early detection of potential issues, and an extended lifespan for the equipment.
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Plumbing
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Either the fill valve or flapper seal has deteriorated, causing water to slowly seep through.
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This typically means a sewer clog is developing.
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Have a basic maintenance performed yearly and a combustion area cleaning every 5 years.
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Drain and refill the tank every 2-3 years. We should change the anode rod every 6 years.
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Where the main water and gas shut-offs are, and how to use them.
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We offer multiple levels of water filtration and conditioning.
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Electrical
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This could indicate poor connections in your panel.
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This can be a fire hazard, and outlets need to be replaced.
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This indicates additional circuits should be added to your home so the existing circuits are not overloaded.
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Surge protection is very important to protect your appliances. In fact, as of this year, by code, if a breaker panel is replaced, it is now mandatory that a surge protector be installed to protect the home.
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