admin / Furnace and Air Conditioner repair in Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, and Gardner

Air Conditioner Not Cooling Enough: Simple Checks to Save Money Before Calling a Professional

admin announcements May 11, 2022May 12, 2022ac not cooling well, ac repair, Air Conditioner Not Cooling Enough, air conditioner repair olathe, air conditioner repair overland park, how to fix air conditioner

If your air conditioner is cooling, but not cooling very well or not cooling enough, you want to check a few simple things before calling anyone to fix your air conditioner.

If your air conditioner is not cooling enough, the first thing to check is your air filter.

A dirty air filter can restrict air flow and prevent your air conditioner from cooling enough. The furnace air filter is very easy to change yourself and could be your main problem!

If you see a mat of dust and dirt over the surface of the filter, it is likely causing a problem due to poor airflow.

However…

Even if the filter is a little bit dirty, a safe bet is to just replace it. Typically you change your filter every three months, but depending on the time of year and how much your HVAC system is running, if it looks dirty, go ahead and change it.

The type of filter matters.

Home stores sell filters that can be extremely restrictive to air flow. A “high efficiency” filter with some dust and dirt can almost turn into the equivalent of a piece of cardboard. A restricted air filter can cut down the air flow to the air conditioner to the point where it affects how well it can cool.

We suggest a mid range MERV rating around 6 or 7.

Your air conditioner may not be cooling enough because of trees or bushes blocking the airflow from the outdoor unit.

The next thing to check is the outdoor ac unit. The outdoor unit is called a condensing coil.

You may find bushes or trees that have overgrown and now they are blocking the airflow out of the top of the unit. So, make sure everything is trimmed back at least a couple of feet all the way around the air conditioner. Hot air needs to be ejected off the top of the unit. If you have tree limbs or bushes hanging down over the unit, that causes the hot air to recycle back through the air conditioner. So we want everything cleared away from the top and sides of the unit. Keep everything 6-8 feet away from the unit to allow the discharge of heat and allow a free flow of air.

Is the outdoor coil clogged with dirt and debris?

Another check: is there dirt on the condenser coil? Make sure it is not dirty with dust, dirt, or debris from nearby trees and bushes. How you check the outdoor coil depends on what kind of cabinet you’re looking at. Some outdoor units have little horizontal louvers you can look through to know if there’s dirt on the coil. (Other units are vertical and some don’t have any louvers at all where the coil itself is completely exposed.) Look down and up into the condensing unit. You should see the surface of an aluminum coil. It has little fins.

Dust, dirt, or cottonwood seeds can get inside and completely impact that coil. This cuts down the airflow and that is probably the number one reason why your air conditioner is not cooling enough.

If the outdoor coil is clogged with dirt and debris, the air conditioner will not cool enough. If your outdoor condensing coil is clogged, you can try to clean it yourself. A professional coil cleaning will clean from the inside out. If you wish to clean the outdoor unit yourself, make sure to only use a light stream of water. Too much pressure can damage the coils. A nice, light stream of water at an angle can help remove some of that dirt and debris.

(It is possible to wash out an air conditioner in a way that damages some of the components. Therefore we always recommend a professional perform a through cleaning.)

Watch a professional cleaning here.

Check Air Flow

We also encourage homeowners to walk around the living space and check air flow. Put your hand over a vent and see if the airflow feels normal or not. If there is barely any air coming out of some vents, but lots of air pouring out of others, that may mean you need to adjust dampers.

Adjust Dampers for Summer

Typically dampers can be adjusted manually.

If your dampers are not adjusted properly for the season, you may be moving the conditioned air to parts of the home where it is not needed, leaving other areas uncomfortable. This is very common in two story homes.

Watch this video about changing dampers.

Where are the dampers?

The dampers are generally located in the basement or near your furnace. If you’re looking at the furnace, straight above it is what we call a plenum. It’s the big metal box that comes off the top of the furnace. The plenum separates out throughout your home.

Right where it starts to branch out is usually where you will find some manual dampers.

There’s usually a handle to grab a hold of to rotate the damper. The direction of the metal handle is the direction of the damper. If it’s parallel to the duct it’s wide open and it’s letting all the air through. If the handle is straight up and down and it’s perpendicular to the ductwork, it’s completely shut off. You are not allowing air to that part of the home.

Is your air conditioner leaking water?

If you see any water or condensation on top of the furnace, that is a problem. If you see water on the unit or on the floor around the furnace where there shouldn’t be water, it can usually mean one of two things.

1. One possibility is the drain is plugged up. Your air conditioning system is trying to remove heat and humidity out of the house. The condensation is designed to go down to the floor drain. If something gets clogged up it starts overflowing and there will be a large volume of water where it does not belong.

2. Your coil could have ice on it. The coil is a big box that sits above your furnace. Ice can block the airflow and cause the air conditioner to function poorly.

The coil can actually become a huge block of ice. When it thaws it will drip water all over the place so it ends up on top of the furnace or on the floor. A dirty filter can cause that. This is most likely an indication that you need maintenance on your system. Dirty filters or an improper refrigerant charge can cause the unit to not cool well.

If your coil is frozen, turn it off. The ice needs to be completely thawed before you can turn on your air conditioner again.

What is the best way to prevent air conditioner repairs?

Ultimately the best way to reduce the likelihood of having an air conditioner problem (and paying for a costly repair), is to have regular maintenance and cleaning. We recommend a professional cleaning twice a year to keep your HVAC system running efficiently for many years to come!

One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning in Olathe, KS specializes in air conditioner repair in all of Johnson County, KS.

Quick and Easy Checks To Fix Heating Problems During Snow

admin announcements February 3, 2022February 3, 2022

There are some quick and easy things to check on your heating system when a snow storm hits. These may help you fix a problem with your furnace or heat pump if you have had an accumulation of snow or ice.

1. If you have a high-efficiency furnace, make sure that there is nothing blocking the vent on the outside of your house. Snow or ice can block the vent causing the furnace to malfunction.

2. If you are heating your home with a heat pump, make sure there is not an accumulation of ice or heavy snow on the outdoor fan. If you notice your heat pump having extremely long defrost cycles (like it is not able to keep up with the ice accumulation) or you notice any strange noises, just turn on the emergency heat so no damage is done to your heat pump.

3. Unhook any outdoor water hoses.

4. Make sure you are using a clean filter. A dirty filter will cause the HVAC system to run harder. Change your filter to make sure your heat will be running at full capacity during extreme temperatures.

High Efficiency Furnace Winter Snow Tip:

When we’re anticipating snow accumulation, and you have a high efficiency furnace, (it vents to the outside) you want to make sure the outdoor vent stays clear of snow or ice. Many times high efficiency furnaces are vented out the side of the house and depending on what kind of clearance you have over ground sometimes drifting snow can accumulate on on the pvc pipe on the outside.

Some 90% furnaces have an exhaust and air intake that just look like exposed pvc pipes two to three inch diameter. Others are called a concentric which has kind of a funnel-shape. Others have kind of a plastic cover where it’s more of what you would call a grill. All of them are set off of the outside wall and they draw air in the back side. If there is snow or ice blocking the back of the vent, it will not be able to vent properly.

In some cases the high efficiency furnace will discharge straight up out of the roof. These spots can also be blocked by snow or ice on the roof. (Please do not go on your roof, instead higher a professional.)

Heat Pump Winter Snow Tip

Snow and ice accumulation on primarily the top of the heat pump unit is something you want to avoid. Your heat pump has a defrost cycle to fight against this, but sometimes it cannot keep up. If there is a really wet, heavy snow ice can build up on the outdoor fan. If this happens you may hear a strange noise coming from the outdoor unit and notice the outdoor cabinet is shaking or vibrating.

You could also notice your heat pump defrost cycle coming on constantly or lasting longer than it should.
What should you do?

If you’re getting to a a place where you think there is ice out on the unit or you’re hearing it go through rather long defrosts cycles, it does not hurt a thing to just put your thermostat setting to the emergency heat mode. This setting will turn off the unit outside. It turns off the heat pump and turns on your supplemental heat. Your supplemental heat could be strip heat or electric heat or a natural gas furnace. It depends on your area what kind of supplemental heat you have.

Feel free to use the emergency heat for a couple of days especially when conditions are really extremely snowy and cold.

Change Your Filter for Maximum Heat

If you are expecting that your heat is going to be running non-stop during the next few days, go ahead and swap out that air filter. If it is dirty, it will make your HVAC system run harder than it needs to.

Give it a nice clean filter.

Which direction does your filter face?
When you change your HVAC Filter, the arrow always points toward the furnace.

Your system is now able to work at its maximum capacity. Plus, a dirty filter can cause your HVAC system to just completely malfunction so it’s always a good idea to make sure that you have a clean filter.

Unhook Your Outdoor Water Hoses During Freezing Temperatures

This is just a reminder but it’s a very real one: Make sure your outdoor water hydrants are free of any hose attached to them. This can cause serious water leaks and damage to your home.

I hope these tips help you stay warm! Below is the full video discussion where we go over all of the tips listed above.

How to Adjust Dampers

admin announcements January 26, 2022February 1, 2022are dampers in every home, How To Adjust Dampers, where to find dampers

Where do you find the dampers in your house?

how-to-adjust-dampers-plenum — In a typical basement, there is a furnace with a cooling coil on top. Coming off the top of the cooling coil is the plenum where the ductwork splits off.

If you live in an area like us (Olathe, KS) that has drastic changes in the seasonal temperatures, your home probably has dampers. Dampers allow you to push more (or less) air to a specific part of your home.

In most homes there is a damper on the ductwork “run” that goes to the upstairs portion of the home and a separate run that services the lower levels.

The dampers are going to be in the ductwork near your furnace.

Above your typical furnace there is a plenum. That is the sheet metal that goes straight up off the top of the cooling coil. From there you can see that there is a duct going to the right and there’s one going to the left.

The damper is commonly located close to the plenum in the center of the ductwork.

What does the damper look like on the ductwork?

When you go to the plenum near your furnace, look up at the ductwork and see if you can find something that looks like a screw or a wing nut. Some may have a little handle attached, but others just have what looks like a wing nut coming from the center of the ductwork.

The wing nut and the stem is the very center of the damper. In the center of the wing nut you should see a flat spot. The flat spot is indicating the position of the damper.

Inside the duct work there’s a damper that is turned either horizontal or vertical. The damper is just a piece of sheet metal that can block airflow.

The position of the flat spot in the middle of the wing nut is indicating if the damper is in a horizontal or vertical position. If it is vertical the damper will be blocking airflow and if it is horizontal it will be “open” allowing air to freely pass through.

In order to adjust the damper position, loosen the wing nut. You may need a pair of pliers. After you loosen the wing nut, get ahold of that flat stem and adjust the position. Hold it in the new position and tighten the wing nut back down until it feels solid and in place.

Are dampers in every home?

Typically, yes there are dampers in most homes. However there are times where they don’t install them when the home is originally built. They can be added later to allow for the capability of adjusting the airflow.

If you are in the Olathe, KS area (anywhere in Johnson County, KS) and are interested in installing dampers in your home, please schedule an appointment for a FREE ESTIMATE here: SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT TO ADD DAMPERS

Goodman Recall Announcement

admin announcements January 20, 2022

Announcement: We have been made aware of the Goodman/Amana recall and are in the process of looking at which homeowners have equipment that qualify for this recall and the recommended repair. Once we have more information we will reach out to those clients and set up a follow up appointment to do the necessary repairs.

For more information: https://www.goodmanmfg.com/product-recall

Why Is A Heat Pump NOISY In Cold Weather?

admin announcements January 20, 2022January 4, 2023heat pump, heat pump has ice, heat pump is loud, heat pump noisy, loud heat pump

The other day my Dad sent me a video of his heat pump making a loud noise and vibrating after a snow storm. The video is about why your heat pump can be loud or just making a strange noise in the winter time. This is due to a build up of ice on your fan blades and can cause serious damage to your heat pump. It is best to turn the unit off and run your emergency heat such as a furnace until the ice has melted off the outdoor fan. Your heat pump also has a defrost mode and we explain how the defrost mode works and why it is a problem if the defrost mode is not working properly.

What is happening when the heat pump is noisy

If your heat pump is noisy after a winter snow, the likely cause is due to an accumulation of ice on the fan blade outside. Much like when the wheel on your car makes a noise and vibrates when it is even a little bit out of balance. When there is ice on your fan blade, you will also notice your heat pump cabinet vibrating.

Noisy heat pump example

Here is an example of what it looks like and sounds like when a heat pump has an accumulation of ice on the fan blade outside: Example of an actual Heat Pump with ice on the fan blade.

What to do when your heat pump has ice on the fan:

Turn off heat pump when it makes a loud noise in cold weather.

Sometimes the noise from your heat pump can be subtle, but ice on your fan blade is extremely hard on your motor. You can lose and completely tear up your fan blade because of the extreme build up of ice.

So, turn off the heat pump to let it thaw. Use emergency heat instead. This should run your supplemental heat such as a gas furnace.

What is defrost mode on the heat pump?

Defrost mode is a normal cycle that the heat pump will go into. Every 60-90 minutes the heat pump will ask itself “do I have ice?” If it does, it will basically put itself into emergency heat mode on the inside of your home and turn the air conditioner mode on the unit outside.

You will hear a whoosh sound when it is defrost mode.

You may feel a bit of a cool draft since the air conditioner is actually turning on for a few minutes before going back to heat mode.

Is it normal to have frost on your heat pump?

It is normal to occasionally have a little bit of frost on your heat pump, but not an extreme accumulation of frost, snow or ice.

Watch the video below for the full explanation about what to do when you have a noisy heat pump in the winter:

For more information on heating problems in the winter, we hope you enjoy this article: Quick and Easy Checks To Fix Heating Problems During Snow

How to Become an HVAC Technician in Olathe, KS

admin announcements November 26, 2021How to Become an HVAC Technician, hvac apprentice, hvac apprentice olathe, hvac apprentice program, HVAC Career

HVAC Apprentice Program at One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning in Olathe, KS

Here at One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, we have an apprentice program where we hire and train people to become HVAC Technicians. It is a great opportunity to begin an HVAC career without the expense of trade school.

The program, however, is difficult to enter. We are very protective of our clients so we only want to spend the time training people with integrity. We only want HVAC Technicians who will do the right thing for our clients.

What Is The Apprentice Program Like?

Our Apprentice Program last for one year and we typically begin classes 3-4 times per year. Before you are accepted into the Apprentice Program you will go through a series of interviews. During the Apprentice Program you will learn the basics of residential HVAC in a classroom setting as well as “riding along” with our experienced technicians to get hands-on training.

How Long Is The Apprentice Program Before You Become An HVAC Tech?

We have found that after one year in our Apprentice Program you are ready to begin doing solo maintenance appointments as an official HVAC Service Technician.

If you are interested in the HVAC Apprentice Program, this video will introduce you to the people involved and share what we are looking for.

THIS IS HOW YOU CLEAN AN AIR CONDITIONER!

admin Air Conditioner Problems, front page August 1, 2021

This is how you clean an air conditioner!

We were called to a new customers home because of a noisy furnace blower motor. However, after fixing the noise, Jordan recommended a cleaning of their air conditioner in order to better get through the summer! You can see why!

This poor air conditioner was unable to breathe and function properly with so much dirt and debris. Jordan washes the outdoor unit and gets it working like new again. This dirty air conditioner had not been cleaned in 5 years! This customer signed up for our Club Membership program and will now get full HVAC cleanings twice each year!

Getting a regular cleaning and maintenance done on your air conditioner is the best way to keep it running longer and at a higher efficiency.

As a Club Member ($19.95 per month) You Receive:

2 Maintenance visits each year for thorough HVAC system cleaning.
20% off all repairs.
FREE Service Calls
Guaranteed service within 24 hours
Refer a friend and we waive their initial service fee.

Can a Power Outage Hurt Your Air Conditioner?

admin announcements May 4, 2021May 4, 2021Can a Power Outage Hurt Your Air Conditioner, how to protect your air conditioner during a power outage, should i turn off my ac during a power outage, steps to restart your ac after a power outage, what kind of damage can be done to your air conditioner due to a power outage

does-power-outage-damage-air-conditioner

Can a Power Outage Hurt Your Air Conditioner?

Yes. If your air conditioner is running during a power outage, it can hurt the system as a whole. We’ve even seen power outages damage a furnace. When your air conditioner is running along normally and it abruptly shuts off due to a power outage, it can damage multiple components of your HVAC system.

The big motors in air conditioners are not designed to be running, quickly shut off, then quickly turn back on again.

What Kind of Damage Can Be Done To Your Air Conditioner Due to Power Outage?

We have seen total compressor failure, blower motor failure, and variable speed motor failure. Ultimately, if your air conditioner is running while the power goes out…many very expensive problems could result.

Steps to Restart Your A/C After A Power Outage

What are the steps you can take to see if there is damage to your air conditioner? Also how do you get it going again after a power outage?

If your air conditioner was abruptly shut off during a power outage, turn everything off for a little while. Let things settle down and even turn the breaker off, and unplug or switch off your furnace. Wait about 5 minutes and then try resetting everything by turning it back on. Sometimes this reset can help get your air conditioner going again. If it doesn’t come back on, you may have larger damage that needs to be addressed by a professional.

How to Protect Your Air Conditioner During a Power Outage

These new systems are much more sophisticated than they used to be. The sophistication is great for normal operation, but the new circuit boards and high end motors can’t anticipate quick power outages. That’s why surge protection and voltage monitoring detection is recommended.

You can purchase a surge protector specifically for your air conditioner. The surge protector goes outside by your ac unit and monitors voltage issues and will protect your ac if it detects a problem.

Should I Turn Off My AC During a Power Outage?

One simple piece of advice we give homeowners is that if you have a really bad storm, go to the thermostat and turn everything off. This could potential save your system from a major motor failure. Hopefully the storm passes before your home gets uncomfortable, but we’d say it is worth it to turn off your system during a thunder storm that is making your lights flicker.

Usually the major damage occurs when the unit is running.

Of course make your own decision on whether or not you want to turn off your air conditioner.

If your air conditioner is not working after a power outage and it is not coming back on, we hope you’ll schedule an appointment with us here.

Does Furnace Have To Be Off To Change Furnace Filter? Which Way Does Furnace Filter Go?

admin announcements February 25, 2021April 29, 2021Does your furnace have to be off the change the filter, furnace filter direction, furnace filter replacement

Does your furnace have to be off the change the filter?

Yes. It is best to turn off your furnace before you change your air filter.

There are a couple of reasons for this.

1. When you take out your dirty filter, it knocks off and disrupts dust and dirt that will then be sucked into your HVAC system. (Which is the point of having a furnace filter.)

2. Due to the air pressure of your furnace blower when your furnace is on, the filter will be easier to move and change out when the furnace is off.

How do you turn off your furnace?

Turn the blower off at the thermostat and then turn the power switch to the furnace off. Then be sure to turn the power to the furnace back on as well as the thermostat when you are finished.

If you do not have a switch near your furnace, it may be powered with an electrical plug into the wall.

Which way does your furnace filter go? Is there a right way or wrong way to replace your air filter?

Yes. Look at your air filter. There should be a small arrow on the edge. The arrow points toward the furnace.

Everyone’s filter is in a different location so the important thing to keep in mind is airflow direction.

How often should you change your filter?

Honestly it depends on a variety of factors. Let’s assume you use a standard one inch filter. According to Better Home Guides, “in a home occupied nearly all year round, most professionals recommend changing your home air filter every 60-90 days depending on a number of factors …including pets, allergies, etc.”

They go on to say that “every home is slightly different in its makeup, which can alter the answer to this commonly asked question…A good rule of thumb is to change your air filter every ninety days. You should be replacing your air filter with a fresh and clean version at least once a quarter. However, that rule of thumb may not be the safest option if you have pets, allergies, or even a vacation home.”

How To Have Less Static In Your House

admin announcements February 18, 2021how to have less static, humidifier, static, whole house humidifier

How To Have Less Static In Your House

Static is electrostatic discharge. It commonly happens especially in houses that have carpet. When I was growing up I thought it was normal to “shock” yourself. I grew up in a house without a humidifier, without any kind of moisture control whatsoever. When I got into the HVAC industry, I learned why I had static in my house. I also learned it is possible to get rid of it. It was just brutally dry. Adding moisture into the air in the wintertime can help reduce static. It also eliminates many of the problems that go along with low humidity.

Which Humidifier Is Best To Get Rid Of Static?

When we first moved into our home I was shocking my hand on light switches. The humidifier just couldn’t keep up. I got a different humidifier and now we just don’t have static. I changed from a bypass humidifier to a steam humidifier. Our house was just a little too large for the bypass to humidify enough.

See the photos to the left for a view inside and outside of a steam humidifier.

Is It Bad When Your House Has Static?

Typically the static itself is not bad for your health. The problem is that static is a signal that your house has very low humidity. Low humidity does lead to dry skin, nose bleeds and makes you susceptible to colds and other illnesses.

To me the biggest advantage of a humidifier is is health benefits. Oftentimes we don’t contribute humidity to health. However having a good humidity level in your home all throughout the year, is good for your skin and protection against illnesses.

According to an article in Environmental Health Perspectives, a review of the health effects of relative humidity in indoor environments suggests that relative humidity can affect the incidence of respiratory infections and allergies.

The majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%. This would require humidification during winter in areas with cold winter climates.