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One Hour Heating and Cooling Helps to Get Your Air Conditioner Ready for the Summer

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com Air Conditioning, BLOG , ,
air conditioner maintenance service

How do I get my air conditioner ready for the summer?

Hey friends! With summer just around the corner, I wanted to share some tips on getting your air conditioner in tip-top shape to beat the heat!

Clean the filters:

dirty filter

Did you know that a clogged or dirty filter can actually cause your air conditioner to freeze up and stop working? When your air conditioner’s filter gets clogged with dust, dirt, and debris, it restricts the airflow. Reduced airflow means less warm air flowing over the evaporator coil, which is responsible for cooling the air. As a result, the coil gets too cold, and moisture in the air starts to freeze on its surface.

Clear the area around the outdoor unit:

Ensure that there are no obstructions like plants, debris, or furniture around your outdoor unit. It needs proper airflow to function optimally. We recommend trimming back trees and bushes at least 6-8 feet from your outdoor unit.

Check for leaks:

Inspect the ductwork and connections for any leaks. Leaky ducts can waste energy and reduce cooling efficiency. We seal gaps from the inside with our duct sealing services.

Schedule a professional maintenance check:

air conditioner maintenance service

Consider scheduling an HVAC professional for a thorough inspection. Just like any other mechanical equipment, air conditioners require regular care and attention to ensure they last as long as possible. Neglecting maintenance can lead to wear and tear, which may result in major breakdowns or the need for premature replacement. Routine maintenance helps identify potential issues before they escalate, allowing technicians to make necessary repairs and adjustments that can extend the lifespan of your air conditioner.

Adjust the thermostat settings:

Get familiar with your thermostat and program it to your desired temperature settings. We recommend leaving your temperature settings at what feels comfortable for the entire day. If you let your home warm up too much during the summer months it is difficult for your system to cool down the home in a short time.

Consider smart technology:

Upgrade to a smart thermostat that allows you to control your AC remotely. This way, you can adjust the temperature even when you’re not at home, ensuring a comfortable environment whenever you arrive.

Don’t forget about regular maintenance:

Throughout the summer, it’s essential to keep up with basic maintenance tasks. Regularly clean the vents and coils, and keep an eye on any unusual sounds or smells coming from your unit.

Remember, a well-maintained air conditioner keeps you cool and saves energy! Stay comfortable during the scorching summer days ahead. If you have any problems with your air conditioner or would like it cleaned up for the summer, you can schedule your appointment online anytime right here.

Best Whole House Humidifiers: Bypass Humidifier vs Power Humidifier vs Steam Humidifier (which is best?)

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com BLOG, Humidifiers , , ,
bypass vs power vs steam humidifiers

Which is the best whole house humidifier?

What is the difference between the types of whole house humidifiers? In this video we give you all the pros and cons of and differences between bypass humidifiers, power humidifiers, and steam humidifiers. Each type has good things and bad things that you need to know about before you install a whole house humidifier with your HVAC system. We hope this helps you choose the best humidifier for your whole house.

Bypass Humidifier

Bypass humidifiers are kind of the entry-level humidifier in our industry.

Pros of a Bypass Humidifier

1. Less expensive. Bypass humidifiers are the least expensive of all the humidifiers. Bypass is also the most common humidifier we see in the field.

2. Small size. Typically a humidifier needs to be installed in a tight space in a basement. Sometimes due to size, a bypass is the only option a homeowner has for a whole house humidifier.

Cons of a Bypass Humidifier

1. Water waste. Bypass humidifiers use around four parts water for one part humidity. There is quite a bit of waste that gets flushed through a bypass humidifier that is not used as actual humidity.

2. Bypass humidifiers are also dependent on the blower in your heating system. In order to put humidity into the air they need the heating system to be operating at the same time. When the heating system is on, it will blow the air across the humidifier water panel and humidity will be put into the air flow.

The humidifier only works when the furnace is on. Thus, there is a limited capacity. The bypass humidifier will put moisture in the house but will it ever reach certain levels such as forty percent humidity.

Power Humidifier Pros and Cons

Pros of a Power Humidifier

1. The Power Humidifier does not require the blower to be running in order to humidify.

The power humidifier has its own fan. The built-in fan blows and pulls air across the water panel and allows the humidity and the water to evaporate off of that water panel. It then is put straight into the air stream and does not require the blower to be running at the same time.

2. The power humidfier’s output is about a gallon more per day of humidity (compared to the bypass humidifier).

Cons of a Power Humidifier

1. It’s big. The physical size of the humidifier is sometimes a problem. Ideally we want the humidifier to be installed on the supply duct. The supply duct is right above the furnace. Oftentimes in tight spaces there’s not enough room for the power humidifier so it is not an option for that home.

2. Cost. The power humidifier is a little more expensive than a bypass humidifier. A power humidifier has more moving parts and a larger capacity so it ends up being a little bit more expensive of a humidifier.

Steam Humidifier Pros and Cons

Pros of a Steam Humidifier

1. Capacity! A steam humidifier can, according to the humidifier manufacturers, humidify over 6,000 square feet. Steam humidifiers were designed to work in large warehouses before they ever put in a residential home.

Steam humidifiers are really a separate appliance designed to humidify your home, whereas the bypass humidifier and the power humidifier are accessories that attach to your duct system.

Steam humidifiers have a very a high capacity and are extremely efficient. They work independently creating steam, however they need air movement from your furnace blower to distribute the humidity throughout the house. They work great when your blower is set to continuously blow.

Cons of a Steam Humidifier

1. Steam humidifiers are more expensive. They need their own circuit in the breaker panel just like other major appliances.

Other than price, that is really the main “con” of a steam humidifier. We really love them!

They humidify even large homes with ease. They keep your home much more comfortable in the winter so if humidity is important to you, we think you’ll love it.

How To Adjust Your Dampers Plus How Zoning Works

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com BLOG, Dampers/Zoning ,
how to find and adjust dampers

Today we show you exactly how to find your HVAC dampers and how to adjust them.

If you find adjusting your dampers to be a bit inconvenient, you may be interested in a zoning system like the one Ramon shows.

This home has a single heating and cooling system, however the home is divided into four different zones.

The dampers are adjusted automatically after the thermostat is set. This is a convenient way to make sure the dampers are always in the correct position and it makes your home so comfortable!

HOW TO GET YOUR AIR CONDITIONER READY FOR THE SUMMER

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com Air Conditioning, BLOG
get-ac-ready-for-summer

Today we share four simple steps for how to get your air conditioner ready for summer. Getting your ac ready for the summer is simple, but can save you money when you need to turn on your air conditioner.

Step 1

First, make sure you have a clean air filter and set your thermostat to “cool” mode.

Also, now that mowing season is here, when you are mowing your lawn, be aware of the direction you are blowing your grass clippings. Try to blow them away from the ac unit if at all possible.

Step 2

Open any vents and dampers you had closed for the winter. Also, if you cover your outdoor unit, make sure to take the cover off before you turn your air conditioning on.

Step 3

If your outdoor unit looks like it has an abundance of dirt and debris on it, a gentle rinse can help it perform better. Watch this video on how to properly wash your outdoor unit.

Step 4

Schedule a professional air conditioner tune up or maintenance. Many times your equipment’s manufacturer requires annual maintenance by a professional to keep your equipment’s warranty valid. As long as maintenance is done once per year, it is not necessarily important when in the season it gets done.

Preparing your air conditioner for the summer is simple but important to make sure your air conditioner runs well when it gets hot outside. If you need to schedule your annual air conditioner maintenance, please click here to schedule at your convenience.

Thanks to Blaine from One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning in Springfield, MO for contributing today! If you need Air Conditioner repair in Springfield, MO you can find Blaine here.

Furnace Blows Cold Air: Three easy tips for when your furnace does not heat.

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com BLOG, Heating
furnace-not-heating

What to do when furnace is not heating:

I’m going to give you three simple things to check if you’re experiencing a problem with your furnace. If your furnace does not heat there are some simple checks you can do yourself that may fix the problem.

First let’s check the thermostat.

Don’t touch it. Don’t make any adjustments. Just look to see, is it properly set on heat? There is a heat/cool/off system switch that should be in the heat mode.

Check your thermostat to make sure it is set to “heat” mode.

Is the temperature setting set above the recorded room temperature? The term for that is is it calling for heat. Is the thermostat telling the furnace, yes I need you on? Sometimes your programmable thermostat will make a change and you weren’t aware of a change.

Next, do you have power to the furnace?

If your furnace is not working, you want to make sure you have power to the furnace. There’s a real simple way for you to check to see if you have power to the furnace. On your thermostat there is another switch for your fan. It will either be marked “fan” or “blower” and it has two settings: Automatic and on. Some have a “circulate” mode but typically just two.

Set your thermostat to the “on” position.

Set your thermostat to the on position. You are telling the blower to come on and run non-stop.

Set your thermostat to the “on” position to check for power to the furnace.

When you switch your thermostat to “on” you should hear the furnace blower come on. If you go to a nearby register you should feel air blowing out of the register. If you do not hear the furnace come on or feel air blowing, we know that there is a power issue. We gave it a direct call for the blower to come on, and if nothing happens, there is a power issue.

Do a hard reset of the furnace if your furnace is not heating.

The third thing you can do yourself if your furnace is not heating is to do a hard reset of your furnace. Many furnaces today have multiple circuit boards on them. These appliances have many safety controls that can sense whether your furnace is having a problem or not. If it is sensing a problem, the furnace can lock itself out. What we can do is we can reset that by simply removing power from the furnace.

There should be a power switch, an external power switch on the side of the furnace. It looks much like a light switch that would be on the wall. If you don’t see a switch, your furnace may be powered with a service plug. Power it off and count to ten seconds. Plug it back in and see if it comes back on. (If your furnace is powered by a plug, you can test the power by plugging in something else such as a lamp to check the power.)

Try doing a hard reset of your furnace if it is not heating.

After you have done a hard reset of the furnace it should have cleared out any faults that could have been triggered that kept the furnace off. Now that we have “cleared” the furnace so to speak, we should have a good call for heat.

You should hear action in the furnace now.

If after all these checks and your furnace is still not heating, it’s best to call a professional. You checked the simple issues. You can tell your service technician what you have done for troubleshooting thus far that will help them with diagnosing the problem from there.

How Women Can Be Great At The Trades: Different Careers for Women

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com BLOG, HVAC Career
how women can be great at the trades

Why more women are considering a career in the trades and how women can be great in the trades

Recently I rode along with Samantha. She’s a perfect example of how women can be great in the trades. Samantha worked in the restaurant industry for years before she decided to pursue a career in HVAC. As a single mom, she wanted a high-paying job, with daytime work hours, that didn’t break the bank to get training.

Her dad recommended looking into the trades.

Without knowing anyone in the industry, she looked into her local community college and found an HVAC training program that worked for her schedule.

In about a year, she was an HVAC Technician working in the field.

HVAC is an in demand skilled trade

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Commercial and residential building construction is expected to drive employment growth, and job opportunities for HVACR technicians are expected to be good.

Why HVAC is a great trade for a woman

During our conversation, Samantha voiced a few reasons why she thought HVAC is a great trade for a woman.

First, in her experience, she thinks residential customers are more comfortable with her in their house than with a man. Especially if a parent needs to leave children alone for a bit. They don’t worry that she is also in the home.

FYI: One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning has an extensive hiring process that includes background checks and drug testing for all technicians. We understand that when you invite someone into your home, it can be a stressful situation. We only hire technicians who we feel comfortable with in our own homes.

Ok back to Samantha…

Another reason Samantha thinks women are particularly great in the trades is because in general, many women are very attentive to detail. Women are able to squeeze into tighter places. They have good communication skills.

Is HVAC Physically Demanding?

I was curious if she had any modifications to share with women interested in the trades but might be scared off by the physicality of the job. Samantha said she doesn’t over-pack her tool bag so that it is not very heavy, and she prefers doing maintenance work.

The physical stuff takes practice. “The first blower wheel i ever pulled… I thought I’m never going to be able to do this like, this is insane! I have to do this every time? But, now you saw how easily I took that in and out. It comes with practice for sure.”

Interested in a career in HVAC? Women can be great at the trades!

We have apprenticeship opportunities! Click here for more information.

Aprilaire Bypass Humidifier Installation: Whole House Humidifier Installation

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com BLOG, Humidifiers
bypass humidifier installation

Today’s video was such a treat to show you a complete installation of an Aprilaire Bypass Humidifier Installation. This is a whole home humidifier or whole house humidifier installation done by an HVAC Technician with One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning in Olathe, KS. This video is fun for homeowners to understand how a bypass humidifier works. It can also be used as an HVAC training video to show a very clean and professional whole house humidifier installation.

How to Check if Your Humidifier is Working: Plus how often to change humidifier filter

andrea.blachly@onehourair.com BLOG, Humidifiers
matthumidifier

Today Matt answers frequently asked questions we get concerning your whole house humidifier. He answers how to check if your humidifier is working, how to know your humidifier is turned on, and how often you should change the humidifier pad or humidifier media.

How do I know if my humidifier is working? If you go downstairs look at your humidifier you should see water running out of it and down the floor drain.

However, even if you see water running through the hose, if it hasn’t been maintained and had the humidifier filter changed regularly, your whole home humidifier may not be working at maximum capacity and efficiency.

But definitely seeing water running down to the floor drain is it definite sign that it is running. Whether it’s working at its potential…that’s where it needs to be serviced.

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