The Hawkins blog
Straight talk on heating, cooling & the West Texas climate
Practical advice from a crew that has worked Abilene homes since 1976 — no fluff, no sales pitch. Just what we would tell a neighbor across the fence.
Latest posts
Tips, seasonal advice & honest answers
Written by the people who actually turn the wrenches. If you would rather just talk to someone, call (325) 692-3645 — Debbie or Amber picks up.
HeatingWinter thermostat settings in Abilene: what actually saves money
Start near 68 degrees, and know that a gas furnace and a heat pump want different handling. What the Department of Energy and Carrier say about winter settings.
Air qualityDry winter air in Abilene: what indoor humidity should be
Once the furnace starts running, many Abilene homes dry out. The humidity range to aim for, how to check it, and when a whole-home humidifier makes sense.
CoolingLeaky ductwork in Abilene: the hidden reason your bills are high
When the bill climbs, people blame the equipment. Often the air is getting lost in the attic on the way to the room. What leaky ductwork looks like and what fixes it.
HeatingHow often should you change your furnace filter in Abilene?
The package says one thing and your house says another. How often a 1-inch or 4-inch furnace filter really needs changing, how to read the size and the arrow, and when to call.
HeatingIs your heat ready for the first hard freeze in Abilene?
The first night in the 20s is when a tired furnace or heat pump gives out. What a hard freeze exposes, a short check to do before November, and what to do if the heat quits.
CoolingHow long does an AC last in Abilene?
Carrier says 15 to 20 years with good care, and an Abilene AC works harder than that average assumes. What wears one out, what stretches its life, and the signs it is near the end.
Our shopHow we use AI at Hawkins, and where we never will
Is a robot going to show up to fix the AC? No. Here is what AI actually does around a 50-year-old family HVAC shop, and the three things it never will.
HeatingWhy your heater smells like burning when it first turns on
That dusty, scorched smell the first time the heat runs each fall is usually nothing. Here is how long it should last, and the smells that mean shut the system off right now.
HeatingHeat pump vs. furnace in Abilene: which one fits your home
Our coldest month tops out near 58 degrees — right where a heat pump does its best work. Here is when that makes it the better buy, and when a gas furnace still wins.
CoolingAC running but not cooling? What to check first in Abilene
The unit is running, the thermostat is set, and the house is still 82 degrees. Here is what to check yourself in the next 10 minutes — and what has to wait for a tech.
Air qualityCutting the West Texas dust: indoor air quality basics for Abilene homes
You wipe the shelf on Saturday and the film is back by Wednesday. Where the dust in an Abilene house actually comes from, and the three fixes that beat it — no gadgets required.
CoolingWhat a new AC actually costs in Abilene
Nobody can price a full changeout over the phone, and the number you found online was written for a different house. Here is what actually sets the price of a new system in Abilene.
HeatingRepair or replace your furnace: a West Texas guide
A furnace in Abilene runs a fraction of the hours one in Amarillo does, which changes the math on repair versus replace. Here is how we walk homeowners through the call.
HeatingFall furnace tune-up: what a check catches before the first cold night
Most no-heat calls happen on the first cold night, not mid-winter. A fall furnace tune-up finds the weak spot in October instead of at 11pm in December.
Buying a systemHow to size and choose a new AC for the Abilene heat
The instinct when your old unit quits is to get the biggest one you can. That is usually the wrong move. Here is how a new AC should be sized for a West Texas home.
TroubleshootingWhy some rooms are always hotter than others
The back bedroom that never cools, the upstairs office you cannot use by afternoon. Uneven cooling almost always has a fixable cause. Here is what is behind it.
Paying for a systemMaking a new AC affordable: financing and maintenance plans
Air conditioning costs money two ways: the big one-time hit of a new system, and the cost of keeping one healthy. Here is how to soften each one at Hawkins.
Summer & ACBeating the West Texas heat: keeping your AC alive all summer
When Abilene hits 105°, your AC is doing the hardest work of its year. Here is how to help it keep up — and what to do the day it quits.
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