Top HVAC Tips for Homeowners or Beginners

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.

You need to know about these Tax Credits…

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New Tax Credits in 2023 for HVAC Improvements.

We want to inform you about some tax credits that are new in 2023 that may save you money on your heating and cooling improvements.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, new federal income tax credits are available.  These provide up to $3,200 annually to lower the cost of energy efficient home upgrades by up to 30 percent.

Improvements such as:
 – installing heat pumps, 
 – high efficiency central air conditioners (SEER2 > 16 is eligible),
 – high efficiency gas furnaces (AFUE > 97% are eligible), 
 – as well as electrical panel upgrades and more!

These energy efficient upgrades can also help you save money on monthly energy bills for years to come. 

Link to more information about tax credits for homeowners.

Here’s some good news:

If you were at all considering replacing any piece of your heating and cooling system, the upgrades could qualify for the new tax credits.  Now is a great time to schedule free estimate to understand your options. 

Have you noticed the price of HVAC Equipment has gone up? Here’s a video to explain why:

What Is The Correct Furnace Filter Direction? How to Replace Furnace Filter

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which direction does filter go

Which way does the furnace filter go? Is there a wrong way to put in the furnace filter?

The short answer is yes, there is a wrong way to replace your furnace filter, but never fear. We show you exactly how to replace your furnace air filter and why your furnace filter direction matters.

which direction does filter goThe Correct Furnace Filter Direction

First of all, if you’re changing the filter, even if you put it in wrong, it’s better than not changing it all.  So good job!

There is an arrow on the filter, sometimes they are very tiny.  The arrow is an air flow indicator.  What you want to remember is that this is the furnace’s filter.  So, the arrow always points toward the furnace.

You could be in a basement where the return air comes down the left side or you could have a house where the return air comes down the right side. Always remember whether it’s coming from the left side, the right side, the arrow always points towards the furnace.



Why Is It Important For The Filter To Be Put In Correctly?

The reason they put those the airflow arrows on the filter is because the filter is constructed in a certain way to withstand the air pressure that will be going through the filter.  When you know the airflow will be going in a certain direction the filter can be reinforced so it doesn’t pull apart or be sucked into the blower compartment.

Many filters have a side that is reinforced with the cardboard and the other side is open to actually filter the air.  When the filter is replaced correctly with the arrows pointing toward the furnace, it will have proper reinforcement and will ultimately be longer lasting and more efficient.

 

How To Get More Air Upstairs And Increase Airflow In 2 Story House

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HowTo Get More Air Upstairs

The options for solutions to get more air upstairs range dramatically.  You can start simple with registers and damper solutions, all the way up to some high-tech solutions like zoning. What you wan to think about with the airflow in your home is that air will always take the path of least resistance.  We’ll show you how to make the path of least resistance the upstairs.

Experiment With Opening And Closing Room Registers To Get More Air Upstairs

The first and easiest thing you can try to get more air upstairs is to just simply shut off registers in rooms.  Shut off registers in the lower levels that will sill be comfortable if they don’t have as much air flow, and make sure the registers upstairs are open.  You would be surprised how many people complain that they don’t get enough air upstairs and they have closed registers!

They key here is you are trying to manipulate the air to go where you want it to go.



How to tell if dampers are open or closedAdjust Dampers

Most homes have dampers near the furnace area.  You can usually find your dampers on runs that go to the upstairs.  Most homes have at least two dampers, however that is not the case for every home, so you home may not have them.  We made another video about how to find your dampers and adjust them how you like.

Dampers do need to be manually adjusted, but they are a fantastic way to control where you are pushing the air in your home.

The down side about dampers is typically there are two options.  You can open or close the dampers that go to the upstairs.  This will help tremendously, however you have to remember to change them with the seasons and sometimes you may need another person to help you open or close them properly.

hvac zoningHVAC Zoning To Get More Air Upstairs

We also have a more high-tech solution to get more air upstairs.  You can install a zoning panel.  You can take a home that only has one heating and cooling system, (one furnace and one air conditioner) and you can zone different areas in your house.

And those zones would have their own thermostat.

You can adjust those thermostats however you want.  For example, you could create a “zone” that only includes your home office with its own thermostat while using your same heating and cooling system.

We are breaking your system up into multiple systems where we can have two three and four thermostats in the home and utilize control panels.  Those panels are connected to dampers that have little actuators on them (little motors) which will adjust on the fly.  They can open and close at the touch of a button to get the proper airflow to where we want.

The results are phenomenal

Many people are loving zoning, and you might be pleasantly surprised by the price.

Run Your Furnace Blower In The “On” Position

Another really great trick to get your upstairs more comfortable is continuous airflow.  Turn your thermostat blower to the “on” position. This will run the blower continuously.

By running the blower constantly, we are now pushing air upstairs constantly.  We are  constantly mixing things up in the return air that will make a huge difference.

Just try that.

The blower is going to run continuously. It’s not like you’re running your air conditioner non-stop, and just see if that doesn’t make a difference.

Easy Tips On How To Adjust Dampers Plus How to Tell if Dampers are Open or Closed

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How to tell if dampers are open or closed

Do you have rooms that are too hot or too cold?

Recently we received a question from our “ask an expert” page on our website.  Yevette asked: “I was wondering if you could tell me how to switch my dampers now that we have the heater on because it’s set for summer right now, and is pushing all of the hot air upstairs and it is stifling up there.”  Yes, we can help you with some easy tips on how to adjust dampers plus how to tell if your dampers are open or closed.

Where are HVAC dampers located?

Supply duct where dampers are locatedTypically in most homes, your HVAC dampers are located in the main supply trunks.  The supply trunks are the parts of the ductwork that are blowing warm air or cold air depending on the season.  How many dampers are you looking for?  Every house is different.  Some homes have no dampers at all.  Hopefully most homes have a damper in each one of the supply ducts.  Your home may have a supply duct go to the right and you might have one go to the left off of your furnace. You’ll also typically have a damper in the supply duct going to your upstairs. If you have exposed ductwork, look at all the runs and check which ones have dampers.  Some homes have dampers in every run, which is great for air balancing.

How to tell if HVAC dampers are open or closed?

Dampers are made of sheet metal.  These sheet metal dampers have a little wing nut on them. The very center of the bolt that goes through that wing nut has a flat spot on it and that tells you the position of the damper.  When you look at it and it’s been smashed in a certain direction, that means the damper is in that position.  As you rotate it you visualize that a damper is attached to the part you can turn.  It moves in the same position as the direction you turn the wing nut.  If you look at it and it is horizontal that means it is open.  If you turn it at an angle it will cut down the amount of air going through the duct.

How to tell if dampers are open or closedWhen you loosen the wing nut to adjust the damper, you may need a pair of pliers to loosen it. Turn it, then hold it there and tighten the nut back down to keep the damper in position.

To summarize, if you are looking at ductwork going horizontal over your head and the little wing is in a horizontal position that means it’s open.  If you are looking at a duct that is coming off the furnace and going straight up like it is going to the upstairs, and the wing is in the same direction as the duct, it is open. If the wing is in the opposite or vertical position to the ductwork, then the damper is closed.

When should you adjust a balancing damper?

You’ll notice a need to adjust your dampers when you are changing seasons.  When the temperatures get cold enough that you turn on the furnace, you will notice your upstairs feeling too hot.  Personally I wouldn’t adjust the dampers until you are routinely using either the furnace or air conditioner so you can better understand where you want the conditioned air to go.



How to test if your dampers are open or closed?

If you have someone to help you, an easy way to check if the dampers are open or closed is to get someone to go upstairs and place their hand over each vent.  By placing your hand over the vent in a bedroom, you can test each damper to make sure it is open or closed.  It takes some teamwork, but it is a great and easy way to get maximum comfort for hot spots and cold spots in your home.

HVAC Damper Open Or Closed In Summer/Winter

In most homes, dampers going to the upstairs are open in the summer and closed in the winter.  By closing the dampers to the upstairs in the winter, it allows for the heat to rise naturally after first being introduced into the lower levels of the home. In the summer, the downstairs is naturally cooler and most people complain of hot bedrooms.  Opening the dampers to the upstairs and closing as much air to the downstairs as possible allows maximum cool air to go to the bedrooms in the summertime.

Still have hot spots or cold spots after adjusting dampers?

Dampers are great, but they may not be enough to completely end hot spots or cold spots in your home.  There are several reasons you may still have air balancing issues.

  1.  Poor air flow.  Have you changed your filter recently?  Dirty air filters can block necessary air flow to keep your home comfortable.
  2. Blocked air vents.  Make sure you don’t have furniture or personal items blocking the vents where you are feeling hot or cold spots.
  3. Air leaks in your duct work.  Most homes leak a significant amount of air through unsealed portions of their ductwork.  Ductsealing is a great option for fixing hot spots and cold spots in your home.



Where to Put Carbon Monoxide Detector in Your House? Homeowners Guide for Carbon Monoxide Detectors

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What Causes a Carbon Monoxide Detector To Go Off?

Your carbon monoxide detector can be set off by any gas burning appliance.  Gas burning appliances include your water heater, furnace, fire place, and gas stove.  All of these appliances can give off trace amounts of carbon monoxide. However, if these appliances are not burning correctly, they will set off the carbon monoxide detector.  Often times, if there is not adequate ventilation for your gas burning appliances, this can be a cause of the detector to sound an alarm.

How Can You Check for Carbon Monoxide in Your Home?

The best way to continuously check for carbon monoxide in your home it to have a low level carbon monoxide detector.  If you do not have a detector, you can have an HVAC professional check it for you during their routine maintenance.  Most HVAC professional wear a carbon monoxide detector on their belts since they commonly work with gas-fired furnaces.  However, having an HVAC professional check will likely cost money, so you could also call 911 or the fire department if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak in your home.

If you suspect you currently have a carbon monoxide leak, please leave your home and call 911.

Is One Carbon Monoxide Detector Enough?

One carbon monoxide detector is great, but you want to have one in the hallway outside of bedrooms.  If you have bedrooms on more than one level in your home, it is a good idea to have more than one detector.  Why you want to have it in the hallway outside of bedrooms is so you will be able to hear it, wake up, and safely exit your home if there is danger.

Where is the Best Place to Put a Carbon Monoxide Detector?

The best place for a carbon monoxide detector is in each hallway outside of bedrooms.  It is often recommend to place it 5 feet off the ground and on every level of your house.  Place at least 5-20 feet away from any gas-fired appliance so you do not get false alarms.  Another great place for a carbon monoxide detector is near your attached garage, since the fumes from a running car can be dangerous in your home if not monitored properly.

According to epa.gov: Keep the detector out of the way of pets and children. Each floor needs a separate detector. If you are getting a single carbon monoxide detector, place it near the sleeping area and make certain the alarm is loud enough to wake you up.

What To Do If Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off

Call 911 or call the fire department and leave your home.




How to Check if Your Humidifier is Working

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How do I know if my humidifier is turned on?

If you go look at your humidifier you should see water running out of it. You should see water running down the hose and into the floor drain.  That is how you check if your humidifier is working.

The biggest question is water could be running through the humidifier and the humidifier it is technically working, but is it functioning at the correct efficiency and capacity?  If it isn’t running at the right efficiency or capacity, is your humidifier really working?  If it is not serviced or maintained regularly it really needs to be. Whole home humidifiers need a little TLC every single year in order to make sure that they are working properly.  If you don’t maintain the humidifier and change the water panel on a regular basis, you’re just not going to get the capacity and the efficiency of the humidifier that you want. However, if you see water running down to the floor drain, is it definite good sign that it is running. Whether it’s working at its potential…that’s where it needs maintenance every year.

How do I know if my humidifier is working or not?

That’s actually a really good question. We get asked alot about how to know if your humidifier is working. A couple of symptoms that people see in their homes and feel in their homes if the humidifier stops working are:

1. The electrostatic discharge as you walk across the carpet or you touch a light switch or you touch your kids or the dog or the cat and you zap them. That’s typically a sign of dry air in a home so that’s usually the first one that gets noticed.

2. Another common one is sinuses.  Many people get nosebleeds if their humidifier stopped working. When we breathe dry air it evaporates the moisture that we do have in our sinuses and the only thing we have left is exposed blood vessels. So if you continue to breathe that really dry air it actually causes an irritation to those blood vessels and causes those blood vessels to rupture. You end up with a nosebleed.

3.  Finally, dry hair, dry skin, these are all typical symptoms of dry air.  These are signs of a humidifier that is not working. a

Does the humidifier need to be serviced more than once per year?  How often should you change the humidifier filter?

Usually just once a year. If you notice something is not working correctly, or you’re getting those symptoms mentioned above, that’s a situation where you probably need to have somebody come out and check the humidifier. Maybe something stopped working. But as far as water panel changes and maintenance, that’s a once-a-year thing.

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