July 17, 2017

What Could Be Wrong With Your Air Conditioner

The heat of summer has descended on Kansas City, which means our air conditioners are working overtime. As a result, this additional run-time can lead to breakdowns and issues.

There are a couple of common issues that can lead to a breakdown, but with a little care can be avoided.

Check That Air Filter By Your Furnace

Air conditioner filter photo for KC homes. Pretty much every air conditioning system in Kansas City has an air filter. Usually they are located to the side of your furnace and filter the air blowing through your home.

But, that filter can get dirty. And if you do not change that filter on a regular basis, they can really impact the air flow for your air conditioning.

When that air flow starts to slow down, your air conditioning coil can freeze up because there isn’t enough air blowing through your system.

So make sure you check and change your filter on a regular basis to keep cool. That way you can avoid a costly repair to the air conditioner in your KC home.

Your Air Conditioner Outside May Be Really, Really Dirty

Dirty air conditioner in KC When your air conditioner runs, it brings air through the system when the fan runs outside. As a result, dirt and dust get into the air conditioner coils, much like the picture to the left.

Over time, that dirt can restrict how well that air conditioner operates. It can also freeze up the system because that air conditioner works too hard to keep up with your thermostat.

The outdoor air conditioner needs to be washed out on a regular basis to keep it working efficiently. If you choose to do it yourself, just make sure you shut off the power to your air conditioner and let it dry before you flip the breaker back on. Otherwise you can call a HVAC technician and schedule planned maintenance for your AC.

19May

May 19, 2015

Top 3 Ways to Keep Your AC Running this Season

Your air conditioner is getting ready to start working full time to keep you cool this summer. But what have you done for your air conditioner lately? We depend on our AC to keep us cool on the hottest of days, but there are some things you can do to help it get ready.

The air conditioner experts at City Wide Heating and Cooling have created an AC Prep Checklist to make sure your air conditioner is ready to do battle against the Kansas City heat. Follow these tips to give your AC a fighting chance.

Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips:

Give it some room – Make sure nothing is within one foot of your air conditioner. Trim back any trees or bushes around your outdoor AC unit. Your air conditioner needs air to circulate through the outdoor coil, so if there are obstructions in the way it has to work harder. This leads to earlier breakdowns and a loss of efficiency. Don’t plant any plants within a few feet of your air conditioner.

Give it a bath – Rinse off your AC unit to clean off dirt & dust that has accumulated over the months it spends outside. Make sure the power is off to the air conditioner, either by flipping the breaker on your electrical panel or removing the disconnect on the outside electrical box. If you are not comfortable with this, call a professional to handle it for you. Do not use any chemicals or soap when rinsing it. Don’t use a pressurized nozzle or turn the hose on full blast. Just rinse any dirt, leaves, or debris off of it. And, once you are done, let it dry for 30 minutes before turning your air conditioner back on.

Replace your filter – Make sure your indoor air filter is clean so your entire air conditioning system can work as efficiently as possible. Your furnace blower is responsible for blowing that cool air around your house, and a dirty filter makes it work harder. This leads to higher utility bills and a potential for earlier breakdowns.

Help Your Air Conditioner Help You

Your air conditioner is a machine designed to do one thing – keep your home cool. If you want to get the most out of it, these simple tips will help keep it running at peak efficiency. If you have any questions about air conditioner maintenance, give the heating and cooling experts at City Wide Heating and Cooling a call and one of our AC technicians will be happy to help. Call us at (913) 384-6006 or (913) 236-5555.

April 1, 2015

Benefits of the City Wide Maintenance Agreement – Sign Up and Save

Maintenance Plan Icon Just like your car needs a tune-up occasionally, your furnace and air conditioner benefit from regular tune-ups as well. There are many benefits to an annual tune-up, but did you know there are even more benefits to signing up with City Wide Heating and Cooling for our Preventive Maintenance Agreement? It’s true. At City Wide, we believe having a tune-up is so important, we offer some extra perks when you sign up to automatically schedule a furnace and AC tune-up every year. Check out the details below.

Be First in Line

When you sign up for our PMA (Preventive Maintenance Agreement), you’ll not only get two tune-ups a year, you’ll get priority service. That means that if you have any trouble with your furnace or air conditioner at any time, you’ll get to go to the front of the line and receive service before any other customers who don’t have the PMA. It’s always great to be first in line.

Save on Parts & Labor

Besides being smart and keeping your equipment in tip-top shape by having a tune-up twice a year (one furnace, one AC), you’ll also save on repair costs. If you should require any repairs on your system you’ll get a 10% discount on all parts and labor. Not to mention that your chances of a breakdown are greatly reduced by having an regular maintenance.

Save on Energy Bills

A system that runs efficiently will use less energy to achieve the desired results. That means lower utility bills for you. Considering that heating and cooling your home accounts for over half of your energy bills, that can be a significant amount of money that’s staying in your pocket.

Sleep Easier Knowing Your Home Is Safe

Having your furnace and AC checked each year may also catch problems before they start. This not only reduces the risk of breakdowns which can be a hassle, but it also reduces the risk for fire or carbon monoxide hazards which can be a lot more than a hassle…they can be deadly.

Less Expensive Than Two Tune-Ups a Year

If you were to schedule two tune-ups a year (one for your furnace and one for your air conditioner), it would cost you more than becoming a Preventive Maintenance Agreement customer. With our PMA, you’ll get those tune-ups, and priority service. Plus, we include free air filters and humidifier pads. There are no extra charges unless something is broken. And then you get a discount on the parts and labor!

The City Wide Preventive Maintenance Agreement (PMA) is the most cost effective way to maintain your system. So if you’re going to get regular tune-ups every year anyway, why not take advantage of all of the extras you’ll get by signing up for our preventive maintenance agreement. It will cost you less. Call us today for information on how to sign up! For the best heating or cooling services, call City Wide Heating and Cooling at (913) 384-6006 or (913) 236-5555. For special deals and promotions, be sure to check out our website!

17Mar

March 17, 2015

3 Benefits of a City Wide AC Tune-Up

Your air conditioner sits idle all winter long. Not only is it dirty, it’s been neglected for months after a long, hard cooling season. AC tune-ups are a good idea for every homeowner. The heating and air conditioning experts at City Wide Heating and Cooling recommend an AC tune-up at the beginning of the season. An AC tune-up is a smart investment that will save you money in more ways than one.

Help Prevent Unexpected Air Conditioner Breakdowns

The number one reason to have an air conditioner tune-up is to avoid AC breakdowns. It gets pretty hot during the summer in Kansas City and on those blistering days, your AC works its hardest. It stands to reason that if it’s working its hardest, that’s the most likely time it will break down if it is not in peak condition. During a tune-up, our technicians clean the entire system, tighten any loose parts, lubricate any stiff parts, and replace any broken parts. There’s not much left to break when you’ve made sure everything is working properly. We can’t promise your air conditioner won’t break down, but the chances are greatly reduced with a pre-season tune-up.

Lower Your Utility Bills

Tune-ups keep your air conditioner running at peak efficiency. When a machine is cleaned, parts are lubricated, loose parts are tightened and broken parts are replaced, everything will run smoothly and easily and you will get the best performance with the least resistance. When a machine runs efficiently, it uses less effort to perform and therefore less energy. If your AC bills are high, look into getting a tune-up. You just may recoup your entire tune-up investment over a hot KC summer.

Extend the Life of Your Air Conditioner

Just like changing the oil in your car, regular maintenance will extend the life of your air conditioner. Considering that air conditioner replacement is not a small-ticket item, it makes sense to invest a little along the way to get your money’s worth out of your AC. Tune-ups make sure you get the most out of your entire system.

Freshen It Up for Efficiency

Winter tends to drag on, especially here in the Midwest. Your furnace has probably been running for several months now and could use a little TLC. In just the few months that your furnace has been running, it has probably accumulated a lot of dust and debris, clogging up many of its vital parts. Keep things humming along by freshening up your furnace system with a late season tune-up.

What Is Good for Your Furnace Is Good for Your Air Conditioner

A late season furnace tune-up is actually a great way to prepare your heating and cooling system for the warmer months. Your furnace and air conditioner share a lot of the same parts when they operate, so taking care of the basics doesn’t just help one system, it helps both!

Both systems use air filters, ductwork, your furnace blower and condensing unit to pump fresh air through your home. Our ultimate furnace tune-up will take care of and refresh each of these heating and cooling parts as well as so many more.

Keeping your furnace efficient for the rest of winter can also translate to a more efficient air conditioner in the spring and better efficiency means lower heating and cooling bills.

Call City Wide Heating & Cooling today at 913-384-6006 to keep your furnace efficient now and your air conditioner efficient later.

April 10, 2014

5 Things to Know Before Kansas City’s AC Season Is in Full Blast

It’s finally spring in Kansas City, and summer is close behind. But before it warms up too much, there are some things you should know about your air conditioner. Like, did you know that out of all the appliances in your home, your air conditioner is the biggest consumer of energy? City Wide Heating & Cooling wants to help you, so we compiled a list of ways to help you keep that energy bill down this season:

Avoid Turning Your Air Conditioner Off

This mistake could cost you some big bucks. Many people think turning your air conditioner off when you’re not home saves you money, but it’s actually costing you more! Your air conditioner uses a lot more energy to start back up and re-cool your home, than it would to continue keeping your home at a steady temperature. That brings us to our next bit of advice . . .

Keep Your Thermostat Steady

Instead of turning off your air conditioner when you leave your home, adjust your thermostat. Turn your thermostat up 7 to 10 degrees when you are away, and if you can, keep your air conditioner somewhere between 75 and 78 degrees at all times. These small changes can save you up to 10 percent on your annual heating and cooling bills.

Get an Annual AC Tune-Up

Scheduling an annual tune up for your air conditioner can keep your system more efficient, which can result in great savings. Air conditioners that don’t receive a regular tune-up can lose up to five percent efficiency a year. And the cost of regular maintenance is much cheaper than having to pay for a new air conditioner when it breaks down.

Don’t Rely Too Heavily on Your Air Conditioner

Don’t rely solely on your air conditioner. There are other ways to keep cool. Try drawing the blinds before you leave the house. By doing this during the hottest part of the day (between 12-4 p.m.), it will prevent the sun’s rays from sneaking into your home and raising the temperature. Also, make sure you’re using your ceiling fans to their maximum potential. They can help make a room feel cooler when used to supplement your AC unit. Adjust your ceiling fans so they spin counter clockwise, which will allow for a downdraft of cool air. This little trick can make a room feel up to eight degrees cooler!

For more money saving tips when it comes to your energy bills, read our article on Top 8 Tips to Save Money on Energy Bills While You’re On Vacation.

To schedule your air conditioner tune-up this season, call City Wide!

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Category: Cooling