John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Home Ventilation Strategies

home ventilation strategies

We all know the feeling. You walk into a room and you can just feel the still air. It’s uncomfortable, icky, and makes you want to leave. Yet, at the same time, no matter the temperature, a well-circulated room can feel so much better. But besides a fan or two, what are the best ways to ventilate your home? In this week’s post, we’ll discuss some of the best home ventilation strategies that you can use.

Home Ventilation Strategies: Ceiling Fans

First, ceiling fans serve as one of the best tools to ventilate your home. Fans you plug in can help circulate air in and out of windows, but do little to really help entire rooms. So how can you use ceiling fans to make the most of them? Well, you can use a ceiling fan in conjunction with your air conditioning. If you raise your set temperature by 4 degrees, the ceiling fan can help make up the difference. Furthermore, remember that fans cool people, not rooms. So, turning off the fan when you leave the room can help reduce costs. This is especially helpful for home ventilation strategies since circulating air doesn’t take nearly as long as actually raising or lowering the temperature.

Home Ventilation Strategies by Room

Second, let’s cover some key home ventilation strategies room-by-room so you can make the most of them.

  • Bedroom – Like we said above, turn off your fans when you’re not in the room. Additionally, if you can, install a ceiling fan in your bedroom.
  • Bathroom – When you shower or take a bath, use the fan to remove the heat and humidity from your home. Keeping the door open might also help.
  • Kitchen – Always use your vent fans when you cook and DO NOT use your appliances to heat your home.
  • Laundry room – Spot ventilation can be particularly helpful here. Your dryer, for example, can make the area stuffy. So be sure you have a proper fan installed.

Each of these home ventilation strategies will not only help individual rooms feel better, but also your home as a whole.

Learn More with Kinkaid

Finally, if you’d like to learn more about home ventilation strategies, or need a fan or unit installed, contact us at Kinkaid Heating and Air Conditioning! One of our friendly experts would love to help you.

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!

Home Heating Myths That Cost You Money

home heating myths

Most of us are looking to save a little money this winter. There are a lot of myths out there about how to save money on your home heating bills. Some of them are true, but some of them will actually cost you more money than they save. Here are 3 of the most costly home heating myths you should never test yourself, explained by the experts at Kinkaid.

Home Heating Myth 1: Use a fireplace to help heat your home

Yes, it is technically possible to heat part of your house with a wood burning fireplace. However, that beautiful fireplace you sit around with your family every winter won’t work as your main source of heat. It’s decorative, so it’s not actually designed to do anything practical. Even if you do have a practical wood burning stove, it would take an atrocious amount of wood to heat even one room of your house to a comfortable temperature for any reasonable length of time.

Wood burning stoves take constant care and maintenance above and beyond any other heating system. Open flames also require oxygen to burn. So, you’re taking what little warm air your home already has, burning it up, and shooting it out the chimney. There is also the added safety risk of the open flame. Dealing with any type of fireplace or wood stove is always riskier than any other heating method.

You really end up paying money to “save money.” Better to just pay a few extra dollars for a safer and more modern heating system.

Home Heating Myth 2: Changing the temperature constantly costs more money

This one might seem to make sense on the surface. The argument is that you shouldn’t turn the temperature down at night or when you are out of the house because it will take more energy to bring that temperature back up once you get home. For most home heating systems, this isn’t true. Turning the temperature down overnight and while you’re out of the house gives the system a break and makes it work less hard for long periods of time. This not only saves you money in the short term, it also reduces wear and tear on the system, potentially saving you money in the long term as well.

Home Heating Myth 3: If your HVAC is running fine, it probably doesn’t need a tuneup

The last thing you want is your HVAC system breaking down in the middle of the winter, leaving your family stranded in the cold. It is important to get your system a routine checkup every year to prevent any unnecessary emergencies. 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!

6 Tips to Prepare for the Winter Cold

cold snow flakes

It may still be fall, but some of us are already donning our winter coats! It’s time to start preparing for the harsh, cold months ahead. Here are six simple tips to stay safe and warm this winter:

1. Replace furnace filters

Dirty furnace filters should be replaced on a monthly basis to ensure maximum furnace efficiency. This will also lower heating bills and extend the life of a furnace. When checking your furnace filter, you should hold it up to the light. If you can’t see through it, you should replace it.

2. Check furnace ducts for leaks

Leaky furnace ducts waste a lot of heat. Leaky ducts mean higher utility bills and a colder house. Sealing the leaks reduces the risk of dangerous gases like carbon monoxide. Some of your ducts are hidden in walls, ceilings, and floors. These obviously will be out of your reach, but sealing the ducts in the attic, crawl space, basement, and garage will go a long ways towards improving the performance of your system. Be sure to focus on the places where ducts, vents, and registers meets floors, walls, and ceilings. Mastic sealant or metal tape is more durable than duct tape for sealing the seams.

3. Insulate attics, basements, and crawl spaces

Attics, basements, and crawl spaces are parts of the house most often overlooked. Insulation keeps these parts of the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Attics, basements, and crawl spaces should be professionally insulated as these portions of the house are far trickier to insulate. It will not be cheap, but the savings are more than worth it.

4. Close the damper on the chimney to keep out the cold

The fireplace chimney is another part of the house that is so often overlooked when weatherproofing the house. Air escapes up the chimney when the fireplace damper is left open. After the fireplace has cooled, be sure to shut the flue. Leaving this open will leach heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. Either way, you will be losing money year round.

5. Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat can automatically lower the temperature in the house when you are away so you are not wasting money heating the house while you are not home. It can also raise the temperature again in time for you to come home to a nice warm house.

6. Get your HVAC system serviced by your local HVAC experts

Be sure to get your HVAC system serviced in time for the winter cold! The last thing you want is your family being left in the cold when your heating system breaks down.

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!

4 Home Preparation Tips For Fall

While the heat of summer is still in full swing, the cool fall weather is not far off. The days are getting shorter and school is starting up again. Before you know it, winter will be here! It is always good to get a jumpstart on preparing your home for the colder months ahead. Here are some great tips for preparing your home for fall, brought to you by the experts at John A Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning.

1. Clean the Fireplace and Chimney

Most of us love a big roaring fire on those cold winter evenings, especially during the holidays with our family and friends. But cleaning out your fireplace and chimney before using it is a vital safety precaution. You never know what can get stuck up in the chimney and if there is a blockage somewhere, it can easily become a real fire hazard.

2. Check Your Weather Proofing

Heating your house during the winter can get expensive. One easy way to cut down on the cost is to check the weather proofing around your doors and windows. The last thing you want is for all that expensive heat to be seeping out through cracks around your doors and windows. So, check your weather stripping to ensure there are no drafts.

3. Home Safety Check

Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. The risk of fire increases over the holidays due to increased usage of candles and fireplaces in many households. Keep your family safe by being proactive. Always be sure that you have an emergency evacuation plan in place in the event of an emergency. Be sure to account for small children, elderly, handicapped, and pets when drawing up your emergency plans.

4. Get Your HVAC System Serviced This Fall by Your Local HVAC Experts

Now is the perfect time to get your HVAC system serviced to ensure that it is ready for fall. Don’t wait until the last minute! The last thing you want is for your HVAC system to fail in an emergency and leave your family out in the cold.

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!

For more advice on heating your house, check out our blog Four Common Heating Myths Put to the Test.

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