Resources
Learning Center
Know your system before you call. Straight answers on how heating, cooling and plumbing work, how the options compare, and what happens when you book.
Learn, compare, act
Where do you want to start?
Every guide fits one of three steps. Learn how your equipment works, compare your options side by side, then see exactly what happens when you book with Central Arkansas Service Company. Guides are reviewed by Brandon Wilson, President, Central Arkansas Service Company.
Learn: How does it work?
Plain-English explainers on how your heating, cooling and plumbing systems work.
- How central air and heat pumps work A central air conditioner moves heat from inside your home to the outdoors using refrigerant, an indoor coil, an outdoor compressor and a blower. A heat pump uses the same parts plus a reversing valve, so it can run the cycle backward in winter and bring heat inside instead.
- SEER2, HSPF2 and AFUE explained SEER2 rates how efficiently an air conditioner or heat pump cools over a season. HSPF2 rates how efficiently a heat pump heats. AFUE rates how much of a gas furnace's fuel becomes heat in your home. Higher numbers use less energy, but only when the system is sized and installed correctly.
- The refrigerant change: R-410A to R-454B Federal EPA rules are phasing down high-impact HFC refrigerants like R-410A, so new home AC and heat pump systems now use lower-impact refrigerants such as R-454B. Your working R-410A system does not need to be replaced, and it can still be serviced, but the two refrigerants cannot be mixed.
- Manual J load calculations and right-sizing A Manual J load calculation is an industry method for figuring out how much heating and cooling your home actually needs, room by room. It looks at insulation, windows, sun exposure, air leakage and local weather. CASC uses Manual J when needed, not on every replacement, because many swaps can be sized from the existing system.
- How ductwork affects comfort and bills Yes, your ducts can be the reason some rooms stay hot, the house gets dusty or bills climb. Leaky ducts lose cooled air into attics and crawlspaces, undersized or crushed runs starve rooms of air, and missing returns choke the system. Sealing, airflow corrections or duct changes often fix it.
- How a tank water heater works and how to make it last A tank water heater stores and heats water in an insulated tank using a gas burner or electric elements. Cold water enters at the bottom through a dip tube, and hot water leaves from the top. Flushing sediment, checking the anode rod and testing the relief valve help it last longer.
- How tankless water heaters work A tankless water heater heats water only when you open a hot tap. A flow sensor fires a gas burner, and water passes through a heat exchanger on its way to your faucet. Output is limited by flow rate and how much the water must be warmed, so sizing, gas supply and periodic descaling all matter.
- Sewer lines and camera inspections explained A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera through your main sewer line so a plumber can see roots, cracks, sags, grease and blockages instead of guessing. You need one when several drains back up or gurgle, clogs keep coming back, or you smell sewage indoors or see soggy spots in the yard.
- Backflow preventers and testing A backflow preventer is a valve assembly that keeps water from flowing backward out of your plumbing and into the drinking water supply. Water providers and local authorities often require testable assemblies on irrigation, fire sprinkler and commercial lines, and those assemblies need periodic testing because their internal parts wear over time.
- Indoor air quality options explained Start with the problem you want to solve. A whole-home dehumidifier handles muggy, musty air. Better filtration or an air cleaner targets dust. A UV light helps keep the indoor coil cleaner. Fresh-air ventilation brings outdoor air into a stuffy, tightly sealed home. Many homes need only one of these, not all four.
- The brands we install and service Central Arkansas Service Company installs Rheem heating and cooling systems, Mitsubishi ductless systems, Bradford White tank water heaters and Rinnai tankless water heaters. CASC is a Rheem Pro Partner and a Rinnai PRO. We also service all major brands, so you don't need to own one of these to call us.
- Rheem heating and cooling systems Rheem builds central air conditioners, heat pumps, gas furnaces and air handlers in a range of efficiency and comfort levels. CASC is a Rheem Pro Partner and installs Rheem systems across Central Arkansas, with a 10-year parts and 2-year labor install warranty and manufacturer registration on every new system.
- Rinnai tankless water heaters Rinnai makes gas tankless water heaters that heat water as it flows, so you don't run out the way a tank can. CASC is a Rinnai PRO and installs Rinnai tankless units across Central Arkansas, sizing the unit to your fixtures, checking gas and venting, and registering your equipment.
- Bradford White tank water heaters Bradford White makes gas and electric tank water heaters sold through plumbing professionals. CASC installs Bradford White tanks across Central Arkansas, sizing the tank to your household, bringing venting and safety parts up to current requirements, pulling required permits and registering the equipment. We also service all major water heater brands.
- Fixes for the problem rooms in your home Most comfort and plumbing complaints come from specific spaces: a hot upstairs or bonus room, an addition or garage the ductwork doesn't reach, a house that feels muggy, or a slab floor hiding a leak. Each has its own causes and fixes, from airflow corrections and ductless systems to whole-home dehumidifiers and slab leak detection.
- Hot upstairs bedrooms and bonus rooms Upstairs rooms and bonus rooms run hot because heat rises, roofs bake in summer and the ductwork serving them is often long, leaky or undersized. The fix is usually airflow: duct modifications, sealing and better returns. When ducts can't deliver enough, a ductless mini-split dedicated to that room is a reliable option.
- Heating and cooling additions, garages and sunrooms The cleanest way to heat and cool a garage, sunroom, workshop or addition is usually a ductless mini-split. It works on its own, so you don't overload your existing system or run new ducts. CASC installs Mitsubishi ductless systems sized to the space, with an outdoor unit and one or more indoor heads.
- Sticky air, humid homes and crawlspaces A house feels muggy when the air conditioner cools without removing enough moisture. Common causes are an oversized or short-cycling AC, leaky ducts pulling damp air from a crawlspace or attic, and long humid Arkansas summers. Fixes include correcting the AC and ducts, and a whole-home dehumidifier, which CASC installs.
- Slab-foundation homes: spotting and fixing slab leaks A slab leak is a leak in a water line under or inside a home's concrete foundation. Warning signs include warm spots on the floor, a rising water bill, running-water sounds with every tap off and damp flooring. CASC uses leak detection to pinpoint the leak, then explains repair options before any concrete is opened.
- Commercial HVAC and plumbing by building type Different buildings stress HVAC and plumbing in different ways. Restaurants push drains, grease traps and rooftop units hard; offices and shops need steady comfort and working restrooms during business hours. CASC serves business owners, property managers, landlords and facility managers with commercial HVAC and commercial plumbing service across Central Arkansas.
- HVAC and plumbing for restaurants Restaurants work their plumbing and HVAC harder than most buildings. Grease, food solids and hot water stress kitchen drains and grease traps, while cooking heat and constant door traffic load the rooftop units. Planned drain care, grease trap service and quarterly HVAC maintenance help prevent the breakdowns that close a dining room.
- HVAC and plumbing for offices and retail Offices and retail spaces need steady comfort and working restrooms during business hours. Most run rooftop units or split systems, sometimes with mini-splits for server rooms or add-on spaces. Quarterly HVAC maintenance, planned repairs and attention to restrooms, water heaters and backflow devices keep small problems from closing the doors.
- Symptom guide: what your system is telling you Most heating, cooling and plumbing problems announce themselves with a symptom: no heat, no hot water, warm air from the AC, water around the unit or weak water pressure. This guide covers what each usually means, the safe checks you can do yourself, and when it's time to book a CASC repair visit.
- Heat not working? Furnace and heat pump troubleshooting When the heat stops working, start with safe checks: thermostat mode and setpoint, batteries, the breaker and furnace switch, the filter and the furnace door panel. Heat pumps also run normal defrost cycles. If the simple checks don't fix it, or you see an error code, book a CASC heating repair visit.
- No hot water: what's going on and what to check No hot water usually comes down to the heat source: a gas water heater whose pilot or ignition has failed, an electric heater with a tripped breaker or bad element, or a tankless unit showing an error. Not enough hot water often points to sediment, a broken dip tube or a heater too small for the household.
- Permits and code for HVAC and plumbing work in Central Arkansas Many HVAC and plumbing jobs in Central Arkansas cities, like equipment replacement, water heater swaps, gas line work and sewer line work, commonly need a permit and an inspection. Your city building department issues most permits, state agencies license the trades, and a licensed contractor usually pulls the permit for you.
- Do you need a permit to replace an AC, furnace or heat pump? Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, heat pump or ductless system commonly needs a mechanical permit and inspection in Central Arkansas cities, because the job involves refrigerant, gas, venting and electrical connections. A licensed HVAC contractor usually pulls the permit. Check with your city building department before work begins.
- Permits for water heaters, gas lines and sewer lines Replacing a water heater, running or changing a gas line, and repairing or replacing a sewer line commonly need a plumbing or fuel gas permit and an inspection in Central Arkansas cities. A licensed plumber usually pulls the permit. Requirements vary by city, so confirm with your local building department before work starts.
Compare: Which option fits?
Side-by-side comparisons and straight answers on plans, pricing and options.
- Heat pump vs gas furnace in Central Arkansas A heat pump uses electricity to move heat and also cools your home. A gas furnace burns natural gas to make heat and pairs with a separate air conditioner. Both can work well in Central Arkansas. The right choice depends on gas service at your home, your ductwork, your utility rates and how you like your home to feel.
- Tank vs tankless water heater A tank water heater keeps a set amount of water hot and ready, while a tankless unit heats water only when you open a tap. Tankless gives you a steady supply and saves space; a tank is simpler to install and handles several fixtures at once. Your household's hot water use and your gas and venting setup decide the fit.
- Ductless mini-split vs extending central air For a room your central air does not reach well, like an addition, garage or bonus room, a ductless mini-split is often the cleaner fix. Extending central air can work when your system has spare capacity and ducts can reach the space. The deciding factors are your system's size, your duct layout and how the room is used.
- Good, Better, Best: how CASC lays out replacement options When you replace your heating or cooling system, CASC shows you Good, Better and Best options. Each step up changes the equipment, efficiency rating, comfort features and price. Sizing, installation quality, permits and our warranty stay the same. You pick the option that matches your comfort goals, how long you plan to stay and your budget.
- Drain snaking vs hydro-jetting Drain snaking uses a spinning cable to punch through a clog and get water moving again. Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to scrub grease, sludge and buildup off the inside of the pipe. Snaking handles most simple clogs. Jetting fits repeat clogs, heavy grease and main lines, as long as the pipe is in good enough shape.
- Is a maintenance plan worth it? For most homes with central air, a heat pump or mini-splits, yes. CASC's Residential HVAC Maintenance Plan is $189 for the first system and $99 for each additional system, plus tax. It includes a spring cooling visit and a fall heating visit, plus 10% off qualifying repairs and service-call fees. It does not auto-renew.
- How our pricing works Repairs start with a service call: $99 on weekdays and $149 on weekends and holidays, for HVAC and plumbing. That fee is not waived or credited toward the repair. HVAC replacements, larger plumbing projects and commercial HVAC projects get a free estimate instead. There is no travel fee within our normal 50-mile service area.
Act: What happens next?
What to expect when you book a repair, an estimate or a commercial quote.
- Get a free replacement estimate CASC gives free estimates on HVAC replacements, larger plumbing projects like water-heater installs, repipes and sewer replacements, and commercial HVAC projects. A technician visits, looks at your current equipment and home, sizes the job and walks you through options. Request yours through our contact form or call 501-307-1310.
- What to expect from a CASC repair visit To book a repair, send the contact form with your preferred day and time or call 501-307-1310. We confirm the actual appointment with you. Repair visits start with a service call: $99 on weekdays and $149 on weekends and holidays. We're open Monday-Sunday, 7:00 AM-6:00 PM, with same-day service when availability allows.
- Request a commercial HVAC or plumbing quote Businesses can request a commercial HVAC or plumbing quote through our contact form or by calling 501-307-1310. CASC handles rooftop units, split systems and mini-splits, plus commercial plumbing, drains, grease traps and backflow. Commercial HVAC projects get a free estimate, and our quarterly Commercial HVAC Maintenance Program is quoted per building.
Collections
Browse by topic
Which brands do we install?
What to know about the equipment brands Central Arkansas Service Company installs.
The brands we install and serviceIs one room or space giving you trouble?
Hot bonus rooms, muggy houses, garages, additions and slab homes.
Fixes for the problem rooms in your homeWhat does your business need?
HVAC and plumbing guides for restaurants, offices and retail spaces.
Commercial HVAC and plumbing by building typeWhat does this symptom mean?
Start here when the heat quits or the hot water runs out.
Symptom guide: what your system is telling youDo you need a permit?
General principles on permits and code in Central Arkansas.
Permits and code for HVAC and plumbing work in Central ArkansasGlossary
What does that term mean?
SEER2, AFUE, backflow, hydro-jetting: our glossary explains the words you will hear from a technician in plain English.
- A2L refrigerant
- AFUE
- air handler
- anode rod
- auxiliary heat
- backflow preventer
- BTU
- cleanout
- compressor
- condenser
- cross-connection
- descaling
The blog
Looking for seasonal tips?
The Central Arkansas Service Company blog is our dated stream of seasonal advice and how-to posts from the crew. The Learning Center holds the evergreen guides.
Heating · Cooling · Plumbing
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