FAQs

Cooling

Yes. Radiant provides emergency heating and cooling services in Austin, San Antonio, and surrounding Central Texas communities.
Most air conditioners should be professionally serviced once a year, ideally in the spring before the cooling season begins.
Most air conditioners last between 12 and 15 years, depending on maintenance, usage, and installation quality.
The cost of AC repair varies depending on the issue, system age, and parts required.
Most AC repairs can be completed in one visit, often within a few hours, depending on the issue.
AC maintenance includes professional inspections, cleanings, and system testing designed to keep your air conditioner operating safely and efficiently. This typically involves checking refrigerant levels, inspecting electrical components, cleaning coils, flushing drain lines, and testing overall system performance.

Heating

Yes. Radiant provides emergency heating and cooling services in Austin, San Antonio, and surrounding Central Texas communities.
A heat pump is an HVAC system that heats and cools your home by transferring heat rather than generating it, making it an energy-efficient option for year-round comfort.
Heat pumps require regular maintenance, including filter changes, coil cleaning, and professional system inspections.
Yes, heat pumps are often cost-effective in Texas due to the region’s mild winters and high cooling demand.
Modern heat pumps can operate in freezing weather, though efficiency may decrease as temperatures drop.
A home furnace is a heating system that warms air and distributes it throughout the house using ductwork. Most furnaces run on natural gas, electricity, or propane.

Plumbing

Water heaters typically last 8 to 15 years in Austin and San Antonio. Conventional tank models last about 8 to 12 years. Tankless versions can exceed 15 to 20 years with regular upkeep. Heat pump (hybrid) types generally operate for 10 to 15 years. Indirect heaters also last 10 to 15 years if the boiler is maintained. The lifespan of your water heater depends on usage, water mineral content, and maintenance. Hard water can shorten its life without regular flushing and anode rod checks. Our plumbers can evaluate your unit to decide on repair or replacement, ensuring you’re prepared and not left without hot water.
No. Tankless water heater installation should be handled by a licensed professional due to gas, electrical, venting, and code requirements. Improper installation can lead to safety hazards, system damage, and voided warranties.
If your water heater is older, leaking, or frequently needing repairs, replacement is often the better long-term option. Newer units with minor issues may be repairable.
Most water heaters should be professionally maintained once a year to improve efficiency, prevent breakdowns, and extend system lifespan.
In Texas, hot water heaters should be installed by a licensed plumber to ensure the installation meets safety and code requirements.
The cost to install a hot water heater depends on the type of unit, installation complexity, and whether upgrades to gas, venting, or plumbing are needed. Professional installation ensures the system is sized correctly, installed safely, and meets Texas code requirements.

Drains & Sewers

Main line sewer clogs are often caused by tree roots, grease buildup, pipe damage, or accumulated debris affecting the home’s primary drain line.
Clogged bathtub and sink drains are commonly caused by hair, soap residue, or grease buildup and may require professional clearing if DIY methods fail.
Vinegar and baking soda may help with minor odors or light buildup but do not effectively clear most clogged drains.
Most repeat clogs come from residues — grease, hair, soap scum, and mineral scale — sticking to pipe walls and narrowing the passage. That slowdown traps more debris, creating a rinse-and-repeat clog drainage situation. Underlying issues like a partial sewer line clog, improper pipe slope, hard water scaling, root intrusion, or ageing metal that’s turning into a clogged pipe make it worse. Real relief comes from clearing the full run of pipe and fixing the root cause, not just the symptom at the fixture.
Drains often keep clogging due to recurring buildup of grease, hair, soap residue, food waste, or underlying pipe issues that haven’t been fully cleared.
Clearing a clogged drain depends on the type and location of the blockage, ranging from minor surface clogs to deeper pipe obstructions.

Electrical

You may need an electrical panel upgrade if you experience frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, limited breaker space, or if your panel is outdated or undersized.
The cost to replace an electrical panel varies based on panel size, home wiring, permits, and any required upgrades.
Most electrical panel replacements can be completed in one day, though timing depends on the scope of work and inspections required.
An electrical panel is the main distribution point for electricity in your home and is commonly referred to as a breaker box. The terms are often used interchangeably.
You can usually tell your home’s electrical service size by checking the main breaker rating inside your electrical panel.