John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

A Brief History of Air Conditioning

history of air conditioning

In this day and age, we interact with so many inventions that have transformed our daily lives without even thinking about it. Few of us stop to consider “Who came up with this idea? How did they create it? What did this look like long ago?” Such is the history of air conditioning. Life radically changed once it became popular. You could argue its importance rivals even that of the automobile! If you want to explore a brief history of air conditioning, keep reading.

In the Beginning

First, the earliest forms of air conditioning can be seen in ancient Egypt and during the Han Dynasty in ancient China. However, modern air conditioning wasn’t invented until 1902 by Willis Carrier. He developed the idea in order to help control the humidity in the printing plant where he worked. Eventually, he created a machine that sent air through water-cooled coils. After some experimentation, he reduced the size of his machine and publicly debuted it in 1925 at the Rivoli Theater in Times Square. Initially, only theaters had air conditioners. So, on hot summer days, people would cram into theaters to cool off and enjoy the latest entertainment, beginning the phenomenon of the “summer blockbuster.”

Modern Popularity

Nowadays, nearly every modern home comes equipped with some form of air conditioning. But it wasn’t always this way. The first window-style A/C unit wasn’t invented until 1931, and cost the equivalent of anywhere between $120,000 and $600,000 in today’s currency. The first home with some semblance of centralized air conditioning was that of David St. Pierre DuBose, in 1933. It wasn’t until after World War II, when mass production on low-cost A/C units began, that air conditioning became widely available to the public. This likely coincides with the suburbanization developing throughout the country, and the growing of the middle-class at this time.

The Future

Third, what the future holds for the HVAC industry is anyone’s guess. However, just as it began as a luxury item that eventually became popular, so this seems to be where the immediate future is headed. Thermostats connected to wifi and controlled remotely through your phone were once only affordable to the wealthy. But now, this feature grows amongst people of all economic backgrounds.

Furthermore, as society becomes more and more environmentally-conscious, inventing units that use less energy is also becoming more popular. Some say, for example, magnetic air conditioners will pave the way in the future.

Contact Kinkaid for All Your HVAC Needs!

If you’d like more information on the history of air conditioning, or need your unit installed, repaired, or replaced, contact us at Kinkaid! We’ve been in business since 1917, almost as long as air conditioning itself! Let us be your go-to business for everything HVAC.

What Are Magnetic Air Conditioners?

magnetic air conditioners

In a recent post, we mentioned how magnetic air conditioners may be the wave of the future. As our world becomes more and more environmentally-friendly, these A/C units seek to help with this. But what are they? How do they differ from traditional air conditioners? How do they help the environment? Find out all of this and more as we examine magnetic air conditioners.

How Do Magnetic Air Conditioners Work?

First, we explained how traditional air conditioners work in a previous blog post. What about magnetic air conditioners? Well, they utilize a phenomenon called the “magnetocaloric effect.” Materials in magnets heat up when they enter a magnetic field, and cool down when removed from it. So, these air conditioners will cool the air by exposing its magnets to a magnetic field repeatedly and quickly to produce a greater amount of magnetocaloric effect. Then, the cool air produced will blow into the room.

Magnetic Air Conditioners vs. Traditional Air Conditioners

Second, consider these basic differences between magnetic air conditioners and traditional ones.

  • Magnetic A/Cs use water to cool an environment, as opposed to relying on refrigerants like HFCs or CFCs (now illegal).
  • Magnetic ones do not need compressors or condensers like traditional ones.
  • Magnetic A/Cs could shortly become less expensive and more efficient than traditional A/Cs.

Cost, Efficiency, and More

Third, as mentioned above, magnetic air conditions could very soon become less expensive and more efficient than traditional air conditioners. Especially since they’ll use less electricity. In fact, magnetic refrigeration was used to reach a temperature even lower than 0.3K (which is -459º F)! Now that’s cold!

However, we’re probably a couple years away from air conditioners like these being available for public use. Furthermore, when they will be introduced, they’ll likely be much more expensive than traditional air conditioners for a few years. Nevertheless, since they do not need refrigerants to make things cool, they’re much better for the environment. Thus, it’s entirely possible they’ll be available sooner than you might think!

Be Cool with Kinkaid!

Although magnetic air conditioners aren’t yet available to the public, you can still keep cool with Kinkaid! Contact us for all of your HVAC needs – whether you want a new unit installed, or need cleanings or repairs. We’d love to have your business!

How Do Air Conditioners Work?

how do air conditioners work

You walk into a hot, muggy, languorous room. It’s so stuffy, you can’t even bear it! But then you pop on the A/C and within a few minutes, the room is as cool as ice. If anyone living centuries ago experienced this, they might chalk it up to magic. So, how does this even happen? How do air conditioners work? Here, you can discover the answer to this question, and more, as we breakdown how do air conditioners work!

What Air Conditioners Do

First, in order for air conditioners to work at all, they have to do four things:

  • Control temperature
  • Manage humidity
  • Control air circulation and ventilation
  • Cleanse the air

Therefore, in order to do these things, air conditioners work in a closed system. In other words, they have to be closed off from the outside. Thus, air conditioners are designed to restrict airflow from the outside so that they can control the temperature, humidity, and circulation in the building. This is what makes air conditioning possible.

What They’re Made Of

Second, let’s take a look at the key components of an air conditioner to understand how it works. For instance, a basic A/C unit consists of three parts:

  • Compressor
  • Condenser
  • Evaporator

Now we can look at how these parts work together to cool air.

How They Do It

Third, if you want to know how do air conditioners work, you have to understand that it’s basically the cycle of taking a chemical called a refrigerant and turning it into a liquid, then a gas, then a liquid again. So, here’s a simply step-by-step breakdown of how this works:

  • Initially, the refrigerant reaches the compressor as a low-pressure gas. The compressor squeezes so it becomes a high-pressure, hot gas.
  • Next, this gas moves to the condenser. A fan pushes the hot air outside and the condenser cools everything down to turn the refrigerant back into a liquid.
  • Then, as the refrigerant makes its way into the evaporator, it becomes a gas again, produces cool air, and this gets pushed into your home or office.
  • Finally, this process makes the refrigerant turn back into a low-pressure gas. It returns to the compressor, and the process starts all over again.

If you’d like a more-detailed visual of this process, click here.

Stay Cool with Kinkaid!

Last, if you’d like more information on how do air conditioners work, or need one installed in your home or office, contact us at Kinkaid! We’ve offered superb service to customers for over a century. So give us a call today!

How Often Should I Get My Air Conditioner & Furnace Inspected?

air conditioning inspection

It’s a common mistake for homeowners to get their air conditioners and heaters inspected only when they detect a problem. Perhaps your air conditioner starts making weird noises or starts blowing warm air, and that’s when you decide to call your technician. This is understandable, since we barely notice these hard-working apparatuses when they’re running efficiently. But if you want to prevent future issues and more costly repairs, then you must get your air conditioner and furnace inspected and cleaned at least once a year — and perhaps right away!

Why Should I?

Some people might argue that it’s a waste of money to get your heater or air conditioner inspected when there’s nothing wrong with it. We strongly disagree! Inspections will improve energy efficiency, which saves money on your utility bills and guarantees a longer-lasting A/C unit and furnace. That doesn’t sound wasteful to us! If your A/C system isn’t inspected regularly, you could lose 5% of its operating efficiency each year due to dust and dirt buildup. Your house will gradually get less and less cooler as the years go on due to a declining A/C unit. Furthermore, a qualified HVAC technician can detect smaller problems by regularly inspecting your units. If these issues go unnoticed, they could turn into larger (and more expensive!) issues.

The same goes for your furnace. The majority of emergency no-heat calls in the winter are due to a lack of maintenance. Uninspected furnaces can also be a health hazard — there could be carbon monoxide leaks, which are colorless and odorless, and can result in dizziness, nausea, and even death.

What’s The Best Time Of Year For Inspections?

You’re going to want to get your air conditioning unit inspected in the spring, so you know it’s fully functioning for the hot summer months, and your furnace should be looked at early in the fall to ensure its efficiency for winter. Do yourself a huge favor and get your units inspected — before it’s too late!

Are you in need of a qualified HVAC company to inspect your air conditioner and furnace? John A. Kinkaid is on it! We offer the highest-quality air conditioning and heating maintenance and repairs at the most competitive prices. Our experts can handle any problem or emergency you might have. Call us today at 215-657-1262 to set up an appointment!

Willow Grove

215-646-5577

Ambler

1-866-HEAT-106

Email: John.Kinkaid.HVAC@gmail.com

The Home Heating Mistake That is Costing You Money

number one home heating mistake

Most of us are looking to save money where we can on bills. You would be amazed how many simple mistakes you might be making that drive up the cost of heating your home. However, there is one mistake in particular that so many people fall victim to. Here is the number 1 most costly home heating mistake you should avoid, explained by the experts at Kinkaid.

The Number 1 Mistake: Cranking the temperature way up when you get home

It is becoming fairly common knowledge that turning the temperature down when you leave the house can save you money. However, it also seems to be a common instinct to crank the temperature up by many degrees as soon as you get home. This is probably the biggest mistake people make when trying to save money on their home heating bills. Some people think that cranking the temperature up to 90 degrees will heat the house faster than setting it at a more reasonable 75 degrees, so it seems more efficient. However, it isn’t!

The speed of heating your home does not increase exponentially according to the temperature you set. No matter what temperature you set the thermostat at, the speed at which your home reaches that temperature stays the same. The only difference is that if you crank it up high, that house becomes over heated, expending all that extra energy as you heat your entire house an extra 15 degrees past what you actually want. Then you crank the thermostat back down and suddenly you’ve bled all that energy out of the system for nothing.

Heat is money. Throwing out an extra 15 degrees every day is the same as throwing that money out the window. It’s even worse if you try to save money by turning down the heat over night, then cranking it back up when you get up in the morning. Now you’re wasting those 15 degrees worth of heat in the morning and another 15 degrees when you come home from work in the evening. The same principle applies to air conditioning in the summer. Energy is money.

It IS reasonable to turn the heat up and down by a few degrees depending on whether anyone is home. A temperature range that is comfortable for many people is between 65 and 72 degrees.

Cranking up your heat too much creates unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system

Extreme, unnecessary fluctuation of temperatures puts more wear and tear on your HVAC system. It is important to get your system a routine checkup every year to prevent any emergencies, so you don’t come home and find yourself with no heat at all. Your technician might identify issues that wouldn’t become apparent to you until it’s too late.

Contact us in the Willow Grove area at 215-657-1262 and in the Ambler area at 215-646-5577. Or, contact us online to request an appointment today!

5 Home Cooling Myths

cooling A/C unit

Looking for some cool energy-saving tips this summer? Here are four home cooling myths put to the test by the energy experts at John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Myth 1: Fans Will Keep the Room Cool

False! Fans will not lower the temperature in the room at all. Fans can only circulate air. When set up properly, this air circulation has the effect of cooling the occupants in the room. However, the actual temperature of the room does not change at all.

Myth 2: If the room isn’t cooling fast enough, it’s time to crank up the A/C

False! Cranking the A/C only changes the thermostat (unless your A/C is equipped with a variable speed fan). This means that the temperature in the room will simply get too cold. However, it will not get cooler any faster.

Myth 3: A/C is the only way to stay cool

False! In the age of instant gratification, many of us have become dependent upon our trusty A/C units. We barely even consider any other options when it comes to cooling off on a hot day. But what did they do before A/C? You might be surprised at how many options there are. A combination of ventilation, dehumidification and fans can work wonders on all but the hottest of days.

Myth 4: When choosing an A/C unit, bigger is always better

False! It is vital to get the size of an air conditioner that matches the size of the space you are looking to cool. An A/C unit that is too large will cool the home too fast, creating fluctuation temperatures and forcing the unit to be turned on and off frequently so the temperature can even out. This creates undo wear and tear on the system as well as uncomfortable temperature fluctuations and hassle.

Myth 5: It is more efficient to leave the A/C unit on all day than to raise and lower the temperature

False! Just like in the winter, it is more efficient to reduce the output of your HVAC system while no one is home. In the summer, this means turning the thermostat up while you are away and programming it to only lower the temperature again in time for it to be comfortable when you return home.

Of course giving your HVAC system an annual tune-up with John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc is another great way to ensure you stay cool and save money this summer! Contact us in the Willow Grove area at 215-657-1262 and in the Ambler area at 215-646-5577. Or contact us online to request an appointment today!

Save Money on Air Conditioning This Summer

save money on air conditioning

Summer is here and we finally have a break from all that cold. But that doesn’t mean homeowners can let their guard down when it comes to their HVAC systems. Many homeowners crank up the air conditioning when the weather gets hot, but this can get expensive. Here are a few important tips for saving money on air conditioning this summer.

Ensure Your House is Properly Insulated

That’s right! Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean insulation isn’t important. In winter, we insulate to keep the heat in. In the summer, that same insulation is vital to keep the heat out.

It is just as important to check all of your doors and windows for gaps that allow drafts through. We spend a lot of money on cooling our homes in the summer, so you don’t want that money steadily draining out through a crack under your door or window.

Seal Off Unused Rooms

Air conditioning is expensive. Depending on your system, you may be able to avoid using the A/C in rooms that you don’t use (or rarely use). If you have an A/C system that can be used to cool individual rooms, close off the rooms that are not frequently used, just like when you are trying to conserve heat in the winter. If there are cracks under the doors, seal them off with rags or towels.

Put Your Air Conditioning on a Timer

There is no need to leave the air conditioner on full blast when you are at work all day. Turning the air conditioning off, or at least significantly lowering the settings, while no one is home will save you a lot of money. If you have a pet that needs air conditioning while you are away, consider confining them to one room to reduce the need for air conditioning throughout the house.

Make Sure Your HVAC is in Working Order

Your don’t want to be in the middle of a heat wave and suddenly lose air conditioning just because you didn’t get the HVAC system inspected properly. Contact John A. Kinkaid Heating and Air Conditioning today to set up an appointment. Make sure your HVAC system is in the best condition, and provide your family peace of mind this summer.

Energy-Saving Tips for Fall

ambler air conditioning company

It’s still warm enough for air conditioning, but you might be starting to feel some cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings. Early fall is a great time to adjust your air conditioning system and give it a little TLC before switching it off for the year. As a trusted Ambler air conditioning company, we have some easy energy-saving tips for getting the most out of your air conditioner and HVAC system this fall.

  1. Adjust your thermostat. Take a look at your thermostat settings and make temperature and timer adjustments with cool weather in mind. You might want to let the cooler weather do the legwork at night and in the early mornings instead of your A/C.
  2. Clean or replace your A/C filter. The average household should clean its A/C filter once or twice a month, and replace the filter every 60-90 days. Clean filters are more energy-efficient and improve air quality.
  3. Clean around the outdoor unit. Debris around the outdoor air conditioner unit can block airflow and make the system less efficient. Take a few minutes outside to clear away any sticks, grass clippings, pollen, and other remnants of summer from around the unit. This will make it easier to clear the area once the autumn leaves start dropping. It’s a good idea to make a note to yourself to clear fallen leaves regularly from the outdoor A/C unit.
  4. Reverse your ceiling fan blades. Pretty soon, you’ll be wishing your home were warmer instead of cooler. If possible, try reversing the direction of your ceiling fan blades. This will help circulate warm air instead of cool air, which will cut down on heating costs.
  5. Test out your heat. Avoid a heating emergency – be proactive by testing your heater before it gets really cold out. If it’s not running properly, you have plenty time to call an HVAC company like Kinkaid to identify and fix the problem.
  6. Stay on track with routine HVAC maintenance. It’s important to service and maintain your air conditioning and heating systems. At Kinkaid, our expert technicians provide full-service preventative maintenance to keep your systems in great working condition. Preventative maintenance helps avoid costly HVAC emergencies and ensures your comfort all year round.

We hope these tips help you stay cool now and warm later! If you’re interested in preventative maintenance for your HVAC system, take a look at our service plans and give us a call. Kinkaid is a trusted family company – we will always give you a prompt, friendly response!

215-657-1262
Willow Grove

215-646-5577
Ambler

1-866-HEAT-106
Toll Free

Email: John.Kinkaid.HVAC@gmail.com

Turn Off Your HVAC: Tips for Staying Cool at Night

Turn Off Your HVAC: Tips for Staying Cool at Night

The heat is here and it’s only getting worse. We in the HVAC business know that cranking the AC all day and night can get expensive. To help you save on your electric bill and sleep a little better, we’ve come up with a few tips to help stay cool at night.

  • Hydrate – While it’s certainly important to stay hydrated throughout the summer, try drinking a glass of water before going to bed. Staying hydrated helps your body regulate its temperature meaning it’ll help you stay cool.
  • Cold shower before bed – A cold shower is always great in the summer, but especially right before bed. Spending a few minutes under cold water will lower your body’s core temperature. Instead of transferring your body heat straight to your bed which will keep you hot all night, you’ll go to bed cool and stay cool.
  • Cotton sheets – While other materials might be a little more luxurious during the rest of the year, switch to cotton for the summer.
  • Feet out – It might sounds a bit strange, but keeping your feet outside of the blankets helps regulate your body temperature. Check it out! It’s scientifically proven. Give it a try for a few nights and see how you like it.
  • Cross breeze – Opening a couple of windows to create a cross breeze will have you sleeping like a baby. Not only does it help cool your room, something about a summer breeze will help you sleep better. If you don’t have two windows, one open window and a strategically placed fan will do the trick.

Give them a try! We hope these tips help keep you cool at night without blasting your HVAC system all night. But at the end of the day, who are we kidding? Nothing beats some nice, cool AC from your HVAC system when it’s really hot.

If you’re interested in cleaning your ducts, installing a new system, or repairing an old one give us a call. Make sure to mention that you heard about $25 off an “Air Conditioner Summer Tune Up” through the blog to receive a discount!

215-657-1262
Willow Grove

215-646-5577
Ambler

1-866-HEAT-106
Toll Free

Email: John.Kinkaid.HVAC@Gmail.com

The Importance of Preventative Air Conditioning Maintenance

Preventative maintenance is something we hear about all the time. Here are a few benefits preventative maintenance will have on your HVAC system. After we go over those benefits, we’ll go into a few ways you can maintain your system on your own.

Energy savings – A study conducted by the National Institute of Building Design Sciences concluded that HVAC maintenance saves between 10 and 40 percent of costs and emissions from those systems. That’s a huge amount! Over time those savings can easily make up for maintenance costs.

 

Protect yourself from big problems – A big problem with an HVAC system can mean a big check to fix it. It could also mean going a week or two without air condition in August or heat in January. Regular HVAC maintenance will prevent those big failures to your system. That means your heating and AC will be running year-round and you’ll avoid the large, unexpected expected expense a major problem can cause.

 

Extend longevity – Regular HVAC maintenance will not only extend the life of the entire system it will help each individual component. Cleaning your HVAC system will allow it to run more efficiently. When a system and all its components are running at peak performance, they don’t have to work as hard.

 

While we specialize in air conditioning maintenance, there’s a lot you can do on your own. Here are three simple, but important maintenance tips.

 

  1. Check, clean, or replace your filter every 60-90 days. Would you use the same water filter for a year? Of course not. An air filter is no different. Once you start doing this you’ll see how dirty they can get, especially if you haven’t changed your filter in a while. Once you see all that dirt, it’ll be easy to remember to change your filter.
  2. Clean debris from the outside of your system. Make sure to clean the outdoor part of your HVAC system. Leaves, twigs, and dirt can block airflow so make sure to remove those anytime you see them. If you want to do a little more of a deep cleaning, you can clean the inside of your system. After making sure to cut power to your unit, remove the access panel—usually on top. Once you’re inside, you can use a vacuum to get all the dirt out and wipe the coils off with a rag.
  3. Annual tune-up. That’s where we come in. If you think your system could benefit from an annual tune up give us a call or send us an email. Through the end of the month we’re offering a $25 discount off air conditioning summer tune-ups so it’s a great time to call!

 

215-657-1262
Willow Grove

 

215-646-5577

Ambler

 

1-866-HEAT-106
Toll Free

 

Email: John.Kinkaid.HVAC@Gmail.com