Safety Archives - Page 2 of 2 - John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Severe Weather Preparedness

03.23.18

severe weather While spring is almost here, winter is not necessarily ready to let go. It is important to remember that the danger of severe winter storms hasn’t passed yet. Here are some helpful tips from your friends at John A. Kinkaid Heating and Air Conditioning on being prepared for what winter — and early spring — storms might throw your way.

Make a plan

Talk to your family/household members about what to do in the event of a severe weather emergency. This is especially important for families with young children who many become frightened in a stressful emergency situation. Know if anyone in the household has any medical concerns that may become a problem during a severe weather emergency and ensure you have the necessary emergency supplies in the event of a worse case scenario.

Have backup power sources

If you or a loved one has a condition that requires medical equipment, be especially sure that you have sufficient alternative power sources, as emergency personnel may not be able to get to as quickly as usual. Also, have an alternative heat source on hand, such as a fireplace.

Get your vehicle winterized

You or a mechanic you trust should check over at least one family vehicle to ensure that you will not be stranded in an emergency. Check your battery, antifreeze, wipers, windshield washer fluid, ignition system, thermostat, lights, flashing hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster, and oil. Also make sure the vehicle’s gas tank is full in the event of a storm warning.

Stock up on non-perishables

Ensure you have a stock of food items such as cans of soup and other easy-to-make food items that do not necessarily require strict temperature controls. If you have a pet, also ensure that you have a sufficient supply of pet food, litter, medications and whatever else your pet needs to weather the storm with you.

Keep your HVAC system serviced and in good repair

Always make sure that HVAC system is up and running smoothly so there are no nasty surprises in the middle of an extreme weather emergency. Contact John A. Kinkaid Heating and Air Conditioning today to get your system inspected and serviced for your family’s safety and peace of mind.

For more winter storm safety tips, check out a few of our other informational blogs including:

How to Stay Warm During Power Outages This Winter

6 Tips To Prepare Your Home for Winter

7 Ways to Save Money and Stay Warm This Winter

6 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Spring

02.23.18

spring prep

Winter is fading fast and spring is just around the corner! Here are 6 awesome tips from the experts at John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc for preparing your home for spring.

1. Check the Gutters Before the Snow Melts

When the snow starts melting, all that water needs somewhere to go. That’s what your gutters are for. But, gutters tend to get clogged during the winter. Leaves, twigs, and other debris build up and create blockages. So when the snow melts, the gutters get backed up and start overflowing, and all of that runoff ends up running down the sides of your home. Water on the outside of your home can get into the walls and create mold, mildew, and structural damage. It can also erode your foundation and cause thousands of dollars of damage. So just clean those gutters and save yourself a lot of money and hassle.

2. Check Your Roof Shingles

If you have shingles on your roof, you need to check to make sure none came loose during those winter storms. With spring just around the corner, more storms are on their way. You don’t want to get caught with a leaking roof! Water gets in your attic and brings with it mold, mildew, and thousands of dollars of structural damage.

3. Check the Chimney

This should be done even if you didn’t use the chimney. Check for damage and have the flue cleaned by a certified chimney sweep. Fix any small problems before they become big problems.

4. Make sure firewood isn’t stored too close to buildings

If you use a wood-burning stove of any kind, it is convenient to have a stack of firewood as close to the house as possible. But, as the weather warms, it is important to get that wood away from any buildings because it can be a fire hazard. Firewood should be stored at least eighteen inches off the ground and two feet from the nearest structure.

5. Check Outside Faucets

If you did your homework in the fall, your outside faucets should have been turned off and drained, preserving them during the cold of winter and preventing freezing. However, it is still good to double check for damage and signs of freezing before turning them back on again. Turning them on prematurely without fixing any damage could result in burst pipes and a huge mess, in addition to a pile of bills to pay for water damage.

6. Service your HVAC Every Spring

Spring is always good time to get your HVAC serviced by John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc, the most trusted name in HVAC services in the Delaware Valley! 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 HVAC Danger Signs – When You Need An Inspection

11.24.15

Since your HVAC system is working almost all year round, you probably assume it’s designed to deliver safe heating and cooling forever and ever, right? Well, it certainly is not meant to be a dangerous machine, and if you’re taking good care of it, there shouldn’t be any cause for concern.

Unfortunately, no machine is perfect. Occasionally a problem will surface and some problems can be extremely dangerous to your health and wellbeing. That’s why you need a trustworthy HVAC company in Ambler who can tell you what to be on the lookout for.

Safety Tips from Your Go-To Ambler HVAC Company

Kinkaid is the Ambler HVAC company that wants to help you stay safe and keep you loving your HVAC system throughout its lifespan. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of danger signs, so you can tell when your HVAC system is not functioning properly:

Burning Smell – A little bit of burning needs to happen in your furnace to make sure you home isn’t an ice box during the winter, but if you smell the burn, that’s no good. Sometimes, when you first turn your heater on in the winter, you’ll smell a little burning, but if it lasts more than 24 hours get professional help!
Electrical Smell – If you smell something overheating, yet everything around the house seems to be safe, then you probably have an HVAC problem. This could be a motor issue or a case of bad wiring. It can lead to a fire, so take action as soon as you smell it!
A Rotten Egg Smell – It’s one of the nastiest smells known to man, so it’s hard to miss! If the eggs in your fridge are good but it still smells rotten, you may have a natural gas leak. The leak can cause explosion, so call the gas company immediately and stay out of the house until it’s safe to re-enter.
Moldy Smell – You know your house is spic and span, yet it still smells like it needs a good scrub. That means you might have a mold problem. Moisture from your air conditioning can build up in your vents and cause mold. Yuck! Mold is dangerous to breathe, so call your reliable Ambler HVAC company to get it taken care of.
Puddles – Using your nose isn’t the only way to tell if you’ve got an HVAC problem! If you see a puddle of water, that’s bad, too. Take a look at your system and keep an eye out for extra water or moisture.

Call Ambler’s Favorite HVAC Company Today!

Don’t let any of these signs go unnoticed — call the #1 HVAC Company in Ambler as soon as you think you need help. We offer a variety of service plans and can get your system in tip-top shape for a great price!

Why Bother With an HVAC Service Plan?

01.30.15

As homeowners, we all have a lot on our plates. Not only in terms of keeping up with the mortgage and other bills, but also physically maintaining our properties. Many times, what could’ve been prevented by routine maintenance turns into an unexpected debacle with a serious price tag. This is especially true when it comes to both residential heating and cooling systems.

If only there was an easy and convenient way to keep up with routine HVAC maintenance. Lucky for local homeowners there are the options of various service plans. Not all residential HVAC companies offer service plans, but we at Kinkaid see it as a way to help our customers receive the proper maintenance their heating and cooling systems need. It also comes in handy when more serious problems arise.

HVAC service plans typically include pre-scheduled maintenance check-ups. Now you won’t have to worry about forgetting to plan for that at the start of each season! Other benefits of opting for a service plan include:

Early identification of issues (i.e. worn out or broken parts)
Savings on necessary repairs and equipment, along with other services
Extension of HVAC system life
Improvement of energy efficiency
Better air circulation
Improved home comfort control
Lower utility costs
Reduction of seasonal repair needs

By now you might be (or should be) wondering, when will these service plan checkups take place and what kind of services can we expect? Of course, depending on the plan you choose and the type of system you have these will happen at different times of year.

Kinkaid service plans geared towards your cooling system will take place before the weather gets really warm. We’ll want to look into things before this system goes into high usage mode. Without inspection, an improperly functioning residential cooling system could cause sweltering conditions within the home.

Photo Credit:NM Energy$mart Academy CCBY

For heating system service plans, we’ll pay you a visit before the old man winter shows up in town. It’s important especially for home’s that have a furnace to make sure everything is up to par, each year. The National Fire Protection Association reports that home heating equipment is the second leading cause ofresidential fires. This makes routine HVAC maintenance more than an investment financially, it’s also important for safety.

Choosing a service plan is as simple as knowing the type of heating and cooling system you have in your home. From there, it’s a matter of what you think would be the most beneficial to you and your home.

A brief overview of ourservice plans and costs can be found on our site. You can find the specifics of ouroil heating service plan at this link. Ourair conditioning service plan specifics, along with those of gas or electric and hot water heaters are located at that link.

Additionally, we offer financing options. We believe the safety and comfort of properly functioning HVAC units should be available to all residents in our service area. For more information on any HVAC service plan offered by Kinkaid, feel free to get in touch with us directly.

Contact:

215-657-1262

Willow Grove

215-646-5577

Ambler

1-866-HEAT-106

Toll Free

Email: John.Kinkaid.HVAC@Gmail.com

What to Do When Your Furnace Has a Funny Smell

12.16.14

Brr, i’s getting cold out there! No doubt at this point you’ve switched the thermostat over to “heat” and have been slowly cranking it up. If you’re experiencing a burning smell or some other kind of odor when your furnace is on, we can help you identify what it might be.

Different smells are especially common the first time you turn on your heat for the season. Some indicate more serious problems than others. What might be plaguing your home’s heating system? Let’s take a look!

Dust

One of the biggest causes of burning smells from heating units is dust. At the start of any season, your system will definitely have a layer of dust that needs to burn off. The same goes for the heat strips, which kick on to help heat your home during extra cold weather. It’s likely they are also covered in dust when activating for the first time.

If this smell persists, there may be dust in your ducts and your filter that isn’t going away. Look to a professional to take care of this for you!

Of course, there are other more specific smells that can come from your heating system. Here is what these smells might mean and what you can do:

An Electrical Burning Smell

If the smell you are experiencing is akin to burning plastic or something electrical, there are a few possible culprits.

Something may be lodged in the duct work that smells when overheated. Example: a child’s toy dropped into the register.
Something spilled on the register or into the duct work.
If you don’t find anything in your duct work, it could signify a problem with your furnace. Your furnace could be overheating or have a cracked heat register. You should seek the help of an experienced technician in this case.

A Smoke or Oil Smell

This particularly applies to those with oil furnaces.

When you have an oily smell emitting from your heater, it’s possible you have a clogged filter. Locate it and make sure to change it as soon as possible.
Smokey smells are likely caused by a block in your chimney. When there is a clog, smoke goes back through the furnace and comes through your duct work. Removing the blockage is best left to an HVAC professional.

A Musty Odor

Any kind of musty odor could signify mold in your furnace filter or humidifier filter (if that is part of the heating system you have in your home). If you do have a humidifier, be sure to inspect your filter at least once a year. Replace and clean the filter as needed.

You can easily clean your humidifier filter with equal parts water and vinegar. After all, the last thing you want to be doing is breathing in mold!

If none of the easy DIY solutions solve your burning smell problem, or you suspect it’s something more serious from the get-go, get in touch with us ASAP! As the most reliable local HVAC specialist, we are always available to help you.

3 Fire Prevention Tips for Colder Months

10.15.14

Last week, the week of October 6^th, was National Fire Prevention Week. We felt that a post pertaining to HVAC related fire prevention would be very beneficial. While our post is a tad belated, it’s still relevant for any time of year, especially during colder months!

All sorts of potential fire hazards come into play during the fall and winter months. With the need for heating, we often throw caution to the wind, focusing solely on making our house feel as cozy as possible. This is when problems arise.

The National Fire Protection Association purports that 53,600 reported U.S. home fires were due to heating equipment alone, in 2011. This resulted in 400 civilian deaths and 1,500 injuries, as well as $900 million in direct property damage. Here is a breakdown of what types of heating equipment sparked these fires:

While this type of house fire only accounts for 14% of annual residential fires, 100% of them were, and are, preventable through proper heating practices and precautions. Please read through the following fire prevention tips to keep your home safe this fall and winter:

#1 Proper Smoke Alarm Care

This is the most basic fire prevention necessity during anytime of year. There are some things you should always be aware of and take care of in regards to your smoke alarms.

Are your smoke alarms in the right spot (i.e. each level of the home, outside sleeping areas and in each bedroom)?
How old are your alarms? If they’re over 10 years old they must be replaced ASAP.
Test your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries every year.

**Nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths result from non-working smoke alarms.

#2 Central Heating Maintenance

It is important to get your central heating system cleaned, inspected and serviced by a true HVAC professional. You should schedule heating system maintenance every year before firing up your heating system.

If you happen to own a gas heater in your home, please make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors in place. At minimum, have a detector near the sleeping areas. Ideally, you should have one in every bedroom.

#3 Space Heater and Fireplace Safety

Space heaters are far and away the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths from heating equipment, and they are more or less the easiest to prevent. They are not exactly a necessity, but if you must have one in your home, please take note of the following:

Leave a minimum three feet of space between the space heater and any objects, especially furniture or drapery.
NEVER use the space heater to dry clothes or objects.
ALWAYS turn space heaters off when leaving the home and going to sleep.
Do not leave any combustible items near heaters.

At 38%, fireplaces and chimneys are the number one source of residential fires caused by heating equipment. It’s imperative then that you execute proper maintenance and precaution with your fireplace, each year. Please consider the following:

Have your chimney inspected and cleaned out once a year.
Repair cracks in the fireplace.
Do not ever use gasoline to start or fuel a fire in your indoor fireplace.
Keep combustible materials at least three feet from your fireplace.
Have all connections and lines inspected on your natural gas fireplace before every cold weather season.
Outdoor fireplaces can be just as dangerous, exercise precaution!

For further information on home heating safety and fire prevention, or if you’re ready to schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment, please get in touch!