John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Spring A/C Maintenance Tips

Spring is on the horizon, which makes now the perfect time to get ahead with annual A/C maintenance. In this post, the experts at Kinkaid provide 5 tips to help prepare ac for summer before the warm weather hits.

It’s easy to forget about our A/C units until we need them. That’s why it’s wise to perform routine spring maintenance before you have to rely on your A/C unit for comfort. By doing so, you can avoid the headache and inconvenience of scheduling repairs mid-summer, when prices are higher and HVAC companies are flooded with repair request. In addition to scheduling an annual tune-up and inspection, the following 5 tips will go a long way toward keeping your unit efficient:

1. Change or Clean Filters

This one is simple, but we can’t overstate how important it is to keep filters clean. As a rule of thumb, HVAC filters should be replaced every 2-3 months. If you have pets in the home or live in an area prone to air pollutants like dust or pollen, you’ll likely need to change filters more frequently. Reusable filters should be cleaned just as often.

2. Check Your Outdoor Unit

Your outdoor condenser unit should be free of debris with roughly 2ft of space around it. Spring is an excellent time to inspect and clean your outdoor unit and trim back any nearby bushes, trees or shrubbery.

3. Check Duct Work

It’s wise to inspect ductwork for debris, air leaks and insect or rodent infestations prior to running your A/C for the first time in the season.

4. Clean out Your Condensate Drain Line

Your unit’s condensate drain line transports the moisture it removes from indoor air to the outside. Drain lines can become clogged with debris, causing water to flow back into your drain pan. This can overflow and cause water damage. Before running your A/C unit, try flushing the condensate drain line with a solution of 50% bleach and 50% water. 

5. Check Refrigerant Levels

Low refrigerant levels can indicate a refrigerant leak and lead to problems like frozen evaporator coils and decreased system efficiency. Be sure to check and adjust refrigerant levels and replace any necessary parts before running your unit.

Schedule Annual Maintenance with Kinkaid

The best way to prepare your A/C unit for the spring and summer is to schedule an annual tune-up with a professional HVAC company like Kinkaid. Our qualified technicians will clean your unit top-to-bottom and inspect it for loose or worn parts. We proudly serve Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Philadelphia, and Chester Counties. Contact us today to get started!

Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, many of us spend more time than usual indoors or at home. Indoors, we rely on the air cycling through our HVAC systems. Although we tend to think of HVAC systems in terms of heating and cooling, we also depend on them as means of air quality control. In this post, we share tips to improve indoor air quality in your home.

Air Quality Matters   

Poor indoor air quality can cause health issues like headaches, allergy symptoms, asthma symptoms, fatigue, rashes and difficulty concentrating, as well as eye, nose, throat and lung irritations.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Our heating and cooling systems are responsible for both filtering AND cycling air throughout our homes. As a result, inadequate HVAC maintenance is a major contributor to poor indoor air quality. To help keep air quality-related health issues at bay, consider the following:

  • Filters––change or clean reusable HVAC filters often. If you live in a home with pets or in an area prone to contaminants like dust or pollen, you’ll want to perform this task even more frequently. Air filters trap contaminants and keep them from reentering your home, but a dirty air filter can impede airflow. This causes your unit to run less efficiently and prevents ongoing air filtration. HEPA filters are specially designed to help improve air quality.
  • Clean Air Ducts––as air travels through air ducts, pollutants like dust, pollen and bacteria can be deposited along the way and build up over time. Insect or rodent infestations can lead to odors and decreased air quality. Additionally, if moisture enters ductwork, mold and mildew can cause health concerns. Having air ducts cleaned frequently helps avoids all of these problems.
  • Clean Coils––dirty coils inside of your unit will impede system efficiency. This not only costs you money and eventually leads to breakdowns, it also prevents air from properly cycling through your system and the filters you have in place.

Work with Kinkaid!

The best way to keep up with HVAC maintenance is to work with a professional. Annual tune-ups and inspections help keep your system clean and efficient. A qualified technician can also advise on how often to clean or replace air filters, depending on your situation.

Kinkaid proudly serves Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia and Chester Counties. We offer residential and commercial installation, maintenance and repairs on all makes and models of HVAC equipment. Contact us today to get started!

5 Tips to Lower Your Heating Bill

Keep cozy with blankets and socks for a lower heating bill!

Time to bundle up! Winter is fast approaching. Are you hoping for a lower heating bill this season? We all are! In this post, the experts at Kinkaid share five tips to help homeowners in Bucks County, PA save on heating costs when temperatures drop this fall.

1. Thermostat Settings

It sounds simple, but starting with a lower thermostat setting can reduce energy bills by up to 3 percent––per degree, per day. You can lower the temperature even more during the night for additional cost savings and opt for long sleeves, layered blankets and cozy slippers to stay warm. A programmable thermostat is a great way to save by allowing you to set a schedule for your system––simply program a lower temperature overnight and when you’re away from home for an extended period of time during the day. Of course, always ensure the environment remains comfortable for pets, children and the elderly.

2. Use Fans to Circulate Hot Air  

Heat rises, but a ceiling fan on a low setting can help circulate hot air back down and throughout the home.

3. Windows, Curtains, Shades and Blinds

Windows can contribute to up to 25% of heat loss in the home. It’s a good idea to open curtains, blinds or shades on south-facing windows during the day to let natural heat from sunlight in, and to close them at night to help insulate your house against the cold. Placing blankets over uncovered windows at night, or over drapes when temperatures drop (during a cold front, for example), can provide additional insulation. Lastly, installing heavy duty clear window treatments is a great way to help keep the cold out, especially on single pane windows.

4. Change Air Filters

Clean air filters promote proper air flow throughout the home and reduce strain on your system. This can extend the life of your furnace and improve indoor air quality.

5. Regular Maintenance

Scheduling a tune-up before you need your system most is a great way to save on energy bills. A certified HVAC technician can clean and evaluate your system. This helps ensure there are no loose or damaged parts, air filters are clean, and your system is operating at maximum efficiency.

Call on Kinkaid

John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning proudly serves Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia and Chester Counties. We offer residential and commercial installation, maintenance and repair on all makes and models of HVAC equipment. Contact us today to set up an appointment!

Prepare Your HVAC System for Fall

Kinkaid is the most trusted in HVAC Montgomery County, PA has to offer.

Your A/C unit worked hard all summer long to keep you cool, but now fall is upon us. In this blog post, the most trusted experts in HVAC Montgomery County, PA has to offer share tips on how to prepare your HVAC system for fall.

Change Air Filters

One of the most important things you can do is also one of the easiest. Air filters need to be replaced frequently or cleaned if they are reusable. Dust, pollen and other contaminants can build up and clog filters. This impedes airflow. Dirty filters also decrease indoor air quality and make your unit work harder than it needs to. Changing/cleaning filters before switching to heating ensures maximum efficiency, reducing strain on your unit.

Not sure whether it’s time to clean or replace an air filter? Hold it up to the light – the light should pass through easily. If your filter is blocking out light, it’s likely also blocking airflow. How often you need to replace/clean filters can vary depending on your household, where you live and how many pets you have. Doing so at least once every 90 days is generally a good rule of thumb.

Clean Air Vents and Registers

Air vents and registers can become clogged with debris like dust build-up and nesting materials from insects or rodents. Like dirty air filters, this can impede airflow and decrease indoor air quality. It’s a good idea to check these and wipe them down to clean off any contaminants that might end up circulating throughout your home.

Check Your Outdoor Unit

The fall may be adored for the way trees change color and shed leaves, but this presents potential problems for your outdoor unit. Debris from foliage can clog your system, which greatly impedes efficiency. In the fall especially, it’s important to clear away dead leaves, twigs or branches and cut back surrounding shrubbery to allow enough space around the unit for proper airflow. You can also rinse your unit off with a garden hose, just be sure it’s fully turned off at the source.

Schedule a Tune-Up

It’s a good idea to schedule a system tune-up in the fall, before you really start depending on your unit to heat your home. A professional HVAC technician can clean your system, inspect it for potential problems and replace worn parts before they cause problems.

Kinkaid proudly serves Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia and Chester Counties. We offer residential and commercial installation, maintenance and repair on all makes and models of HVAC equipment. Contact us today to get started!

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.