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THE Most Important Thing a Homeowner Can Do To Make Sure Their Air Conditioner Doesn’t Stop Working in Olathe, KS

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one hour heating and air conditioning performing air conditioner maintenance

Regular maintenance for your air conditioner is the most important thing an Olathe homeowner can do to ensure your air conditioner doesn’t stop working. Here are some key maintenance tasks:

a dirty filter can cause your air conditioner to not cool enough

Clean or replace air filters:

Clogged or dirty air filters restrict airflow and reduces the efficiency of your air conditioner. Clean or replace them regularly, typically every 1-3 months. If you have a pet, you’ll want to change your furnace filter more often.

Also, dirty furnace filter can also cause the air conditioner or coil to freeze up and stop working.

Most air filter have an arrow on the outer edge. To install the filter correctly, the arrow always points toward the furnace.

bad-ac-example

Clear debris around the outdoor unit

Ensure that the outdoor unit is free from leaves, grass, dirt, and other debris. Adequate airflow is essential for the proper functioning of the system. We recommend trimming back bushes and trees at least 6-8 feet.

Check and clean the condenser coils

Over time, the condenser coils can accumulate dust and debris, reducing their efficiency. Clean them every year or as needed to ensure optimal heat transfer. That warm air you feel coming off the top of your air conditioning unit is all the hot air from inside your home! It needs space to get rid of all that heat!

For a brief explanation of how to check if your condenser coil is dirty, view this video.

Keep the area around vents clear

Make sure your furniture, curtains, or other objects do not obstruct the vents. Obstructions can disrupt airflow and affect the cooling performance.

one hour heating and air conditioning performing air conditioner maintenance

Schedule professional residential HVAC maintenance with One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning

Consider hiring a One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning Technician to inspect and service your air conditioner. They can identify potential issues, clean the system thoroughly, and perform any necessary repairs or adjustments.

Monitor refrigerant levels

With routine air conditioner maintenance, the One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning Technician monitors refrigerant levels. Low refrigerant levels can indicate a leak or other issues. If you notice a decline in cooling performance that could be a sign that the refrigerant level has dropped or there may be a leak that needs to be repaired.

If you encounter any significant issues or suspect a malfunction, it’s best to contact a qualified One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning HVAC professional in Olathe for proper diagnosis and repair of your air conditioner.

Why Every Homeowner Should Know About Combustion Air

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combustion air

What is combustion air?

Combustion air is a source of oxygen needed to burn fuel such as natural gas. Your gas-burning appliances cannot produce a flame without proper combustion air.

Why does a homeowner need to know about combustion air?

Recently we were in a home where the homeowner finished the basement himself. It was a 100% DIY project, and may I say, he did a great job. The project included closing in a small room where the gas furnace and hot water heater were located. At first we were concerned that he had not accounted for combustion air, until we saw the door to the “furnace room”.

combustion air

The homeowner provided a way to get combustion air to he gas burning appliances by adding this louvered door to the enclosed room.

There are calculations you can use to make sure you are getting enough oxygen to your gas-burning appliances.

What if you don’t have enough combustion air for your gas appliances?

You need combustion air for two reasons:

1. Safety: A lack of adequate combustion air may cause deadly carbon monoxide (CO) to build up in your home. If it’s severely short of air, the negative indoor pressure can draw the CO back down into your house.

2. Operation: If your furnace is starved of air, it simply will not function properly. If you see yellowish flames, or flames that are not uniform and almost look like they are “dancing” your unit may need more combustion air. Also a sign of a unit that needs more combustion air is soot around the opening of the burners.

How do you calculate how much combustion air an appliance needs?

You should always consult the code requirements for your area. In general, there should be two openings between the room where the combustion appliances are located and the adjacent rooms that contribute to combustion air, one within 12” (305 mm) of the floor, the other within 12” of the ceiling. Each opening should have a minimum of 1 sq. inch of net free area for every 1,000 BTUs/hr

Here is a short video showing the enclosed area where a homeowner added combustion air while finishing the basement:

How Does a Steam Humidifier Work? The BEST Whole-Home Humidifier

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The steam humidifier is truly an independent appliance.  It’s a moisture making machine, a small boiler. We’ll explain how a steam humidifier works in the article below.

Installing a Steam Humidifier

Installing a steam humidifier requires a little more work than your typical humidifier. The most difficult part of the installation is getting an electrical circuit to the humidifier. It requires a 20 amp 240 volt circuit. If you don’t have that already set up we’ll need to do some electrical work to guarantee power to the humidifier.

the inside of a steam humidifier
The inside canister of a steam humidifier.

We run our circuit to the humidifier unit and next to it will look like a typical light switch. It’s actually a double pole switch, so we can kill the power to the humidifier if we need to.

We need a space to mount the unit. It can be a wall or space near the furnace where there is room for serviceability. Typically we will install a piece of plywood up on the wall so we have a nice secure place to mount it.

It also requires water so we run a water line to it and and outlet that comes off the top and injects steam into the home. The steam gets injected straight into the supply plenum.

When the furnace blower is on a circulation mode we will inject steam into the air and spread it throughout the house.

How Does the Steam Humidifier Work?

When you call for humidity at your thermostat, water will begin boiling inside the steam humidifier and will be immediately injected into the airflow. It is much like if you have a pot of boiling water on the stove.

Inside of the steam humidifier there is a canister. Inside the canister there is are probes that goes down into the water. Two electrical probes literally boil the water inside the canister.

The humidifier constantly adjusts itself to the hardness of your water. It may take several days for the humidifier to figure out what it’s going to take to both boil the water to and keep the water as low as possible.

As the humidifier is in use, the canister will collect residue on the sensors. The water level will rise to overcome the residue.

Since the steam humidifier is constantly finding the optimum water level, it will occasionally need to drain hot water. We don’t want to drain hot water into the floor drain, so it will actually mix cold water into the water that needs to be drained so it will be able to be drained through a plastic tube.

It helps to have the plastic hose secured to the floor drain so the water does not end up on the floor.

Please enjoy the video below as Ramon explains the installation and operation of a steam humidifier.

Does A Heat Pump Save Money In The Winter?

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Does A Heat Pump Save Money In The Winter?

Today we answer a question about heat pumps. A subscriber from our Youtube channel asks the question:

“I currently have a ducted HVAC with gas furnace I’d like to address heating costs during the winter. Can I retrofit a heat pump in my current system, reuse not only existing duck work, but also the outside condenser? It’s in good condition. Thanks.”

Yes, you can fit a heat pump to operate with your gas furnace. We call that a dual fuel system: two different fuels being used to heat the home. The heat pump would replace the outdoor cooling section.

As far as the cost comparisons…that is going to be a local question. You’re going to have to weigh the efficiency of the appliances to what you are paying for your utilities. It could be propane it could be natural gas versus electricity. The amount of utility savings with this kind of system really depends on the cost of gas or power in your area.

Air Conditioner Not Cooling Enough? Here Is What You Can Do

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air conditioner cleaning

If your air conditioner is not cooling enough, there are a few simple things you can do to make it cool better. Here are the steps to take to fix your air conditioner when it is cooling, but not enough:

  • 1. Make sure there is a clean air filter

The filter is usually something that is easily overlooked but has big impact on the performance of the air conditioner…especially if it’s a higher efficiency filter. (Higher efficiency filters block more airflow.)

  • 2. Gently clean the outdoor unit. If the outdoor coil has a layer of dirt on the surface, that can cause the air conditioner to not cool enough.
air conditioner cleaning
First turn the unit off. Then spray water (using just your regular household hose-end sprayer) and simply wash it down.

Pay close attention to the side of the unit that faces the house. The airflow is a little different and can tend to get dirtier than the other three sides.

  • 3. Trim back trees and shrubs 8-10 feet from the outdoor unit.

The HVAC system needs to breathe. The outdoor unit is trying to take all the heat from inside the house and move it to the outside. If something is blocking the airflow above or around the outdoor fan, it can cause your air conditioner to not cool enough inside.

Bonus Tip: Make sure your dampers are open for the cooling season. Learn how to find and adjust your dampers here.

If you do all of the above and your air conditioner is still not working well, we would recommend scheduling an HVAC professional to come check out your air conditioning.

Checks For Your Air Conditioner: Save Time And Money This Summer

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These three easy checks will save you time and money this summer.

Before the weather turns hot and everyone in your neighborhood starts turning on their air conditioners, let’s turn your ac on and test it out.

By checking it before it gets hot, you can schedule an appointment at your convenience instead of waiting for days because every HVAC company is booked.

  1. The first check is to go outside and check your outdoor unit. Remove any covers. Also remove any debris that has collected around the unit during the winter.
  2. The second check is to change your filter next to your furnace. The third step is to turn your thermostat to cool and run the air conditioner for about 15-20 minutes. That gives the unit enough time to run and you can decide if it is working properly.
  3. The third step is to turn your thermostat to cool and run the air conditioner for about 15-20 minutes. That gives the unit enough time to run and you can decide if it is working properly.

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

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ac not cooling enough

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

adjust dampers for summer if your air conditioner is not cooling enoughTypically 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.

a frozen coil can cause the ac to not cool enough and it will leak water2. 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

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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.

furnace-filter-direction

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

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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?

dampers-off-the-plenum

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

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