Nobody wants to replace their air conditioner before they absolutely must.
Power outages, even for a few seconds can sometimes destroy your air conditioner or severely damage it. By installing a surge protector, upgraded contactor, and a hard start kit, your air conditioner will be protected from lightning strikes and power outages that wreck havoc on your most expensive appliance: your air conditioner.
We can get some wicked storms in the Midwest.
In 2011 our office building was struck by lightning and caught fire. We experienced a total loss of our office and had to rebuild. While nothing could have stopped the fire from happening, we did become aware of how often lightning and simple power outages can severely damage your furnace and air conditioner. After our experience and realizing that many of our customers would have problems with their air conditioners after power outages, we put together a simple package of products that will protect your hvac system in case of lightning strikes or power outages.
There are three things we recommend to protect your air conditioner:
1. Surge Protector
Be honest. Do you have a surge protector to protect your $300 television, but not to protect your $8,000 air conditioner? We see it all the time. Here’s what happens: it is the middle of summer with about 1000% humidity so your air conditioner is working overtime. Your lights go off for a brief moment then come back on. All clear? No. If the power outage happens while your air conditioner was running the power outage forced the hard-working air conditioner to stop suddenly then immediately turn itself back on.
2. Hard Start Kit
Starting up is hard to do.
The compressor is the heart of the air conditioner. When it tries to start, it uses a lot of amps which is very hard on the components used to start the system. The more difficult it is for a compressor to start, the more wear and tear is happening to your air conditioner. If a compressor fails to start altogether, no air conditioning for you. A Hard Start Kit is a type of capacitor that gives your air conditioner extra help when it is struggling to turn on. This is a component that does not come standard on most air conditioners so we recommend adding one to your system.
3. Upgraded Contactor
The contactor is a switch for the air conditioner that turns the system on. Most standard contactors are not capable of monitoring the amount of power going into the air conditioner. Your cooling system needs sufficient power to turn on and if it tries to turn on without sufficient power, this can hurt the system. A better, upgraded contactor will automatically stop the air conditioner from trying to come on if there is not enough power to do it harmlessly.
As we said before, the hardest task you ask your air conditioner to do is to start. The easier you make the starting process with a hard start kit, and ensure it does it with enough power by using an upgraded capacitor, your air conditioner will last longer and run better.
Why does my furnace turn on, but then not heat? There could be a variety of possible problems. Most furnaces will default to just running the blower if it senses a malfunction. Furnaces have an array of sensors that will detect overheating and automatically shut off the heating element if it senses a possible safety problem. This is why you will experience your furnace “running” but not heating.
This is one of the most common questions we hear. Although it is a common problem, there could be many possible reasons why your furnace would turn on, but not heat. Ramon Blachly, an industry expert for more than 35 years, discusses in the video below how and why this may be happening to you.
Gas pressure: a possible, but very rare problem
On extremely bitter cold days, during a time of day where most people would be home, gas pressure could suffer. Lower gas pressure could cause your furnace to lock itself out and stop heating. If you turn everything off, then ask your thermostat to call for heat again and it comes on, this may have been the problem.
Check your filter
High efficiency air filters do a great job at collecting dirt that would otherwise be sent into your furnace and out into your home’s air. However, if they get too dirty, they could cause a malfunction with your furnace. If your furnace stops working, it may be due to overheating caused by your dirty furnace filter. If you find that your filter is packed with dirt, that may have been the problem. We recommend you change your filter every month if you use a disposable filter.
It is probably not the pilot light
While a pilot light going out used to be a very common reason for your furnace to run, but not heat, it is not a typical problem anymore. If you have a furnace that was installed in the last 15 to 20 years, chances are your furnace does not ignite with the use of a pilot light at all. Instead most furnaces today use electronic starters that eliminate the need for a standard pilot light.
It is possible your thermostat got reset
We’re not going to point any fingers, but it is possible your thermostat got reset without you being aware that it happened. If you wake up and it is cold in your house, it could be that your thermostat was accidentally put in a mode where it is not calling for heat when it usually does. Try resetting your thermostat and see if that was the problem.
Listen for the sequence of operation
If you suspect your furnace is not operating properly, you can listen to the following sequence of operation to determine which component of your furnace is malfunctioning. Note: This is how most furnaces function. Yours could be different.
1. Your thermostat will call for heat
2. Your inducer fan should come on. The inducer fan is tied to your venting components. If the inducer fan doesn’t come on there could be a variety of venting issues. Maybe there is a bird nest somewhere or an ice block somewhere…it would take some detective work to figure this out.
3. After about 20-30 seconds your ignitor will light. You’ll see a glow like a lightbulb.
4. Then the gas will come on. You’ll see burners light and then the ignitor will go out. The furnace will warm up for about 30 seconds.
5. Then the main blower will come on.
6. At the end of the heating cycle, the opposite will happen.
If you listen for all of the above you can loosely diagnose what the problem is. Does the inducer fan come on, but the ignitor doesn’t light? Bingo we’ve narrowed it down.
Is this a serious problem?
Sometimes a freak problem will happen and your furnace will function properly after resetting the thermostat. However, most often, if your furnace malfunctions once, it will probably do it again. Furnaces are made to detect safety issues before they become dangerous and shut off the furnace. It may be safer and more convenient to have a professional come out and fix the problem before it happens again.
How to help your furnace help you in the winter months
Your furnace is already working extremely hard to maintain a comfortable temperature while the temperatures outside feel arctic. There are a few things you can do to be more friendly to your furnace while it is working overtime.
Don’t let your house cool off while you are not there or at night.
Many of us economically-minded folks try to have our furnace run as little as possible so our utility bills will be lower. Oftentimes while we are not at home we will let our house get colder and then heat it up more when we get home. Ordinarily that is not a bad idea. However when it is frigid outside, it is best to just leave your thermostat at a comfortable temperature even when you are not there. Your furnace will struggle to make up the difference in temperature and may it be impossible to recover the temperature in the amount of time you expect.
Open cabinet doors to let the heat in. This will warm up your plumbing and make your house a more comfortable and consistent temperature.
Winter in the Kansas City area can be brutal on your skin. You are probably just used to always being a little itchy, a little uncomfortable, and constantly applying chapstick or lotion. Under normal conditions, skin’s outer layer has a water content of 10 to 30 percent. Water content in the skin comes from sweat, the underlying layers of skin and the atmosphere. Skin’s natural oils act as moisturizers, allowing it to seal in water. Dry skin occurs when its outer layer loses water faster than it can be replaced, and the outer layer’s water content falls below 10 percent.
Many things can cause dry skin: harsh soaps, frequent bathing, sun exposure and low humidity levels. The prolonged use of indoor heat accelerates water loss from skin cells and the outer layer of skin tends to reflect the level of humidity around it. Those nice healthy skin cells you have in the summertime can shrivel causing rough, scaly and itchy skin. In its most severe cases, skin’s lack of moisture can lead to cracks or bleeding. How can a humidifier solve more than just dry skin in winter?
It’s all about humidity
So here’s the secret: make the air in your home feel like summer. It is all about humidity. Ever notice when you travel to warm, humid climates you never need lotion? A room heated by a furnace can have as little as 10 percent moisture, but a humidifier keeps moisture circulating, which can help skin retain its natural moisture. Let’s make your home a little tropical haven in the winter.
The best way to improve the humidity in your entire house, so you have prolonged exposure to humid air, is to professionally install a whole home humidifier and set it to around 60%.Whole-home humidifiers connect permanently to your water supply, so they don’t have be filled with water every day or two as with tank-style humidifiers.
Isn’t that expensive? Not if you consider the alternative. A whole home humidifier can run between $450-$850 installed. For about $1-$2 per day you can feel more comfortable, run your furnace less and improve your overall health. (See below).
Why Not Just Use a Cheap Humidifier For Each Room?
There are many reasons why a whole home humidifier is superior to a small humidifier you can buy at any local store.
Individual, small humidifiers can make you sick: If you don’t replace the water in your humidifier daily so bacteria and mold don’t grow, you can get very ill. Then, you’ll have a much bigger problem than just dry skin or a stuffy nose. Whole Home Humidifiers use a fresh stream of water from your home’s plumbing system so there is not old, moldy, standing water that is then sent into your air. Gross.
While the portability of individual humidifiers is nice, it is much more effective to use a whole home humidifier that sends equal amounts of humidity to each room at the same time. This save you a ton of time from needing to move units, cleaning them regularly and also it provides the whole house with equal levels of comfort.
Too much humidity can be as much of a problem as too little humidity. Mold growth in your home may contribute to health issues, as well as cause potential damage to your home. Unlike individual portable humidifiers, a whole home humidifier constantly monitors humidity levels and then sends the perfect amount of moisture into the air throughout your entire home. (Quick tip: If you see moisture collecting on the inside of your windows, drops of water running down the kitchen tile, or mold growing anywhere in the house, you know you have too much moisture. We recommend every home use a humidistat to monitor the levels of humidity.)
Maintenance of a whole home humidifier is easy and infrequent in comparison to a portable humidifier. Whole home humidifiers require cleaning and maintenance once or twice a year while portable room humidifiers require constant maintenance and are often messy and ineffective. If you have an individual, portable humidifier for a single room, it is recommended you change the water daily, clean it weekly, and use only distilled water. Who has time for all that?
Even More Reasons to Install a Whole Home Humidifier
1. Preventing influenza- Some researchers believe humidifiers might reduce the risk of catching the flu. After adding the influenza virus to the air with a simulated cough, researchers found that humidity levels above 40 percent rapidly deactivated virus particles, making them much less likely to be infectious. The reason we get more colds in the winter season is due more to the dry air indoors, where airborne viruses live and circulate, than the cold weather itself.
2. Helps plants and floors- Any houseplants (cactus not included) may become more healthy looking, and wood floors or furniture may last longer. The slats of a wood floor can separate and leave gaps that fill with dust, which keep them from closing back. Humidity can also help to prevent wallpaper from cracking and static electricity from building up.
3. Speaking of static- Static electricity is exponentially higher in dry winter months. This is annoying when dealing with your laundry or frizzy hair. More importantly, built up static can damage sensitive electronics; even create sparks which could potentially be dangerous. Properly humidified air has the ability to limit, and most often prevent problems that come from static.
4. Save your electricity- In the cold winter months, you probably spend more on heating than you would like. Humid air can also feel warmer than dry air, which could help you save money on utility bills when it is cold outside.
Don’t just take our word for it
The National Institutes of Health recommends the use of humidifiers to help relieve congestion from the common cold, flu, and sinus infections. And humidifiers can also help alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes, eczema, itchy skin, dry nasal passages, cracked lips, and nose bleeds due to dry air, allergies, or asthma.
Here’s an opinion from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency –Humidifiers are commonly used in homes to relieve the physical discomforts of dry nose, throat, lips, and skin. The moisture they add to dry air also helps alleviate common nuisances brought on by winter heating, such as static electricity, splitting woodwork and cracks in paint and furniture.
A quote from Miguel Wolbert, MD, a board-certified allergist in Midland, TX – Having a humidifier can do wonders for your nose, sinuses, and airways — if it’s used properly, humidifiers can help prevent nasal irritation and nosebleeds, and keep your airways from becoming inflamed. And that’s a good thing, because once the nasal passages are more lubricated, then it becomes easier to blow out the irritants, pathogens, and of course allergens that accumulate in them.
Need more information? We understand.
You want to spend your hard-earned money wisely. Give us a call and you can speak with one of our expert technicians who install these humidifiers every day. They have the experience to answer any questions you might have.
Also, if you make the excellent decision to install a home humidifier and for whatever reason you would like your money back, we have a no-hassle guarantee.
We invite all active or former military for our Veteran’s Celebration! RSVP for your FREE Fantastic Filter by November 2nd and join us for coffee and donuts on Friday, November 9th at our office at:
You may have already met Brittney as she has been answering our phones and delivering gifts to our installation customers for a number of years. We have created a new role that Brittney will be entering into as our Club Member Concierge!
She is now your designated contact person for anything related to your Club Membership. She’ll schedule your maintenance appointments on a day that is convenient to you and make sure your Club Membership is meeting all of your home comfort needs. Also a new perk of being a Club Member…if you have a friend, neighbor or family member who needs help with their air conditioner or furnace, and we have never been to their home before, you can tell them to call us and drop your name. We will then waive the diagnostic charge and do an evaluation at no charge since they are a friend of yours.
Brittney is a wonderful advocate for our Club Members and loves getting to know each and every person she speaks to on the phone and wants to impress your socks off with amazing service! We hope you enjoy this new benefit to your Club Membership!
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. (epa.gov)
In a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency titled “Monitoring and reducing exposure of infants to pollutants in house dust,” it was concluded that early contact with pollutants among the very young is associated with higher rates of chronic illness such as asthma, loss of intelligence, ADHD, and cancer in children and adults.
Since babies ingest more dust, they are up to ten times more vulnerable to indoor air pollution exposures commonly found in households such as pesticides, PAHs, Gram-negative bacteria, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, phthalates, phenols, and other EDCs, mutagens, and carcinogens. Reducing infant exposures, at this critical time in their development, may reduce lifetime health costs, improve early learning, and increase adult productivity.
One recommendation to reduce infant exposure to duct and other pollutants, was to use a HEPA air filter in your home. Other recommendations included included using a vacuum cleaner with dirt finders and HEPA filtration, replace sheets with allergy control bedding covers, and use high-quality door mats.
ThePureSept® Bypass HEPA Air Cleaner sold and installed by One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning is a true bypass High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter just like those used in hospitals, clean rooms and microchip manufacturing plants. The PureSept HEPA filtration system uses a unique combination of three filters to purify and scrub the air in your home. It works with any home HVAC system and provides the optimum air purification solution for those who suffer from allergies or asthma, while controlling smoke, pollen, dust, and other particulates.
If you are interested in HEPA Air Cleaners, or other Indoor Air Quality solutions, and would like to speak with an indoor air quality professional, please call 913-829-1505.
Question: My house feels very humid and the drain line is dry. Is it likely clogged? The unit about 3 years old.
Answer: This has been an extremely humid summer and your situation is not unique. While a clogged drain may increase humidity levels in your home, it certainly wouldn’t be the #1 culprit. Since you said it appears that your drain is clear, this probably isn’t the issue anyway. Humidity enters the home whenever doors are opened, or wherever the smallest crack or crevice can be found. No opening is too small!
Many times we will find gaps underneath decks, around siding, windows….etc, where hot, sticky air is infiltrating your home. As far as removing humidity that is already in the home, depending on your system’s set-up, running your air conditioner in low speed to help dehumidify may or may not be an option. Whole home dehumidifiers are our most popular product this time of year. They are typically ducted into your system and can provide the most effective results. We can send out a tech at no charge to speak to you more in detail about dehumidifying your home. Just give us a call anytime at 913-ONE-HOUR if you would like to schedule an appointment.
In less than a month we will once again be loading up our Big Yellow Truck with more than 50 POUNDS of candy and heading to downtown Olathe. Why? One of the best events of the year: The Johnson County Old Settler’s Parade. The Johnson County Old Settlers Parade is the largest parade in the state of Kansas and never disappoints as a fun, family-friendly event for all ages.
The parade takes place on September 8, 2018 and begins around 8am, but get there early to get a good seat and to get goodies like the candy our technicians will be giving out along the route. The parade route begins at the corner of KANSAS and LOULA Streets, goes EAST to CHESTNUT then NORTH to PARK then EAST and ends at BUCHANAN Street.
This is without a doubt one of our favorite events along with the Jared Coones Pumpkin Run where we get to meet and connect with our clients at a fun event and just give away free stuff!
Imagine waking up to see that your house is on fire—and then to find out later that the fire could have been easily prevented. The culprit: You needed a dryer vent cleaning! According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2010-2014, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year.
These fires resulted in annual losses estimated at 13 civilian deaths, 440 civilian injuries, and $238 million in direct property damage.
So how do you know if your dryer vent system is clogged and perhaps a ticking time bomb?
Check out our list below of 5 Warning Signs that it’s Time to Clean Your Clothes Dryer Vent.
1. Drying time for clothes takes longer and longer.
When a dryer vent is clogged, the drying cycle can double or triple in time. You’ll notice that clothes are not completely dry at the end of a regular cycle. A dryer is designed to push out the hot moist air for clothing to dry. If your vent is blocked by lint, the air will stay in your dryer keeping your clothes hot and moist. And when it takes twice as long to dry clothes, your dryer runs longer, putting more wear and tear on it and therefore cutting the machine’s life in half.
2. Your clothing and the outside of the dryer are very hot.
Do you notice that your clothing is very hot at the end of a cycle or the dryer is hot to touch? This warning sign means the vent is not exhausting properly. If your system is clogged, it not only wastes energy, but can cause the heating element and blower in the dryer to wear out faster.
3. You notice a burning smell.
When you run your dryer do you smell a burning odor? Lint, which is very flammable, can build up in the exhaust tube, lint trap and even in the drum casing. If it gets too hot, it can catch on fire, causing a burning smell.
4. The vent hood flap doesn’t open properly.
Another visual red flag that you’re due for a cleaning: You can see lint or debris around the dryer hose or outside vent opening: or the duct hood flap does not open as it is designed to do. An outside vent that doesn’t open when the dryer is running means air flow has been restricted due to lint buildup.
5. It’s been longer than a year since your last inspection.
Dryer vent ducts should be inspected at least once a year to reduce the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
For the month of March One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning is offering Dryer Vent Cleaning Specials that vary on the size of your home. Please call 913-829-1505 for details and pricing.
One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning is proud to announce that it has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award (SSA). This award honors service professionals who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews on Angie’s List in 2017.
“The service providers that receive our Angie’s List Super Service Award demonstrate the level of excellence that members have come to expect,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “These pros are top-notch and absolutely deserve recognition for the trustworthy and exemplary customer service they exhibited in the past year and overall.”
Angie’s List Super Service Award 2017 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include maintaining an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade and review period grade. The SSA winners must be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check, record a current trade license attestation and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.
“We are very proud to have won the Angie’s List Super Service Award again this year.” Said Ramon Blachly, Owner of One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning of Olathe. “We focus most of our time on training our technicians in technical ability as well as communication. We want to make sure that we are sending the best possible people with the best possible training into our customer’s homes. That focus on training is noticed by our clients and we are humbled that they take the time out of their day to write a complimentary review of us in order to make this award possible.”
Service company ratings are updated continually on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.
