Category: General

At City Wide Heating & Cooling, we often get phone calls from KC homeowners that require us to come out to their home and check on a few things. Many times it is for something simple that they could have checked themselves. So to save you from the fee that is often associated with a service call, our technicians put together a list of five things to check on before calling a heating and cooling company.

Double Check That Your Furnace or Air Conditioner Is On

We know that this sounds like common sense, but you would be surprised by the number of times that we have come out to a home to fix an air conditioner or furnace problem just to find out that the system was not even turned on. Switch your thermostat over to “Heat” or “Cool” depending on the season and turn the temperature up or down enough for the system to kick on.

Change Your System’s Dirty Filter

It is recommended that you change your heating and cooling system’s filter at least every three months. This filter is used to collect dust and dirt that could damage your system’s blower and push this debris through your home’s air. When a filter is not changed for a few months, your system can slow down and in some models even stop working. Be sure to take this step to keep your furnace working efficiently.

Related Read: Keep The Air In Your KC Home Cleaner This Season

Replace The Batteries in Your Thermostat

If your thermostat is showing a blank screen and your system is not working, try replacing the batteries in your thermostat. To do this, pull off the cover. Many homeowners forget that their thermostat requires batteries because they do not need to be replaced very often.

Double Check That Your Vents Are Open

Is a room in your home not cooling down during the warmer months or heating up during the cooler months? Chances are that there is a vent closed in the room not allowing that hot or cool air to enter the room. Make sure that vents are open to allow air to flow through your room.

Make Sure Nothing Is Blocking Your Return Air Vent

If your room is uncomfortable, also check the return air vent before calling a professional heating and cooling company. Make sure that the vent is not blocked by furniture in the room. If this still does not help to make your room comfortable, there are options such as temperature zoning or ductwork inspection to find the problem.

Tried all of these tips and still having troubles with your heating and cooling system? Give the City Wide Heating & Cooling team a call today at 913-384-6006.

On Jan. 1, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was extended, which continues tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades to existing homes, including purchases of heating, cooling and water heating equipment made in 2012 and 2013. At City Wide Heating and Cooling, many of our customers will be able to take advantage of tax credits on their 2013 taxes because they installed a new high-efficiency furnace, AC, or heat pump. If you’ve been considering installing a new furnace or air conditioner, now is the time. It could mean hundreds of dollars in your pocket if you act quickly.

How Much Is the Government Offering in Tax Credits?

You must make sure your unit qualifies. Here are the qualification specifications and corresponding tax credits:

• Air conditioners qualify for up to a $300 tax credit and must have a SEER of 16 or greater an EER or 13 or greater if it is a split system. If it is a package system, SEER must be 14 or greater and EER must be 12 or greater.
• Natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces are eligible for up to $150 tax credit and must have an AFUE of 95 or greater.
• Heat pumps are also eligible for up to a $300 tax credit. Split systems must have an HSPF greater than 8.5, an EER greater than 12.5 and a SEER greater than 15. For package systems, HSPF of 8 or higher, EER of 12 or higher and a SEER of 14 or higher.

There are also tax credits for tankless gas water heaters, high-efficiency gas boilers, and heat pump water heaters. So be sure to claim them if you’ve had any of these installed.

The maximum amount an eligible homeowner may receive in tax credits for improvements is $500. If you have already claimed credits of $500 or more from improvements made in any year prior, you are ineligible to claim new credits for any new improvements made during 2013.

Save Energy and Money with Tax Credits

With government tax credits for high-efficiency furnaces and ACs, not only will you save on energy bills, but you’ll save on your taxes too. But you must act quickly. Your new furnace must be purchased before the end of the year, so there are just a few weeks left. Call City Wide Heating and Cooling today and we’ll help you choose the right heat pump, furnace, or AC to install in your home and get you some great tax credits.