John A. Kinkaid Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

HVAC in a Time of COVID-19

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has changed the way most of us go about our daily lives. Home and business owners are left with questions like: Can COVID spread through HVAC systems?

Though it is difficult to measure, there is no definitive evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted through an HVAC system. That said, there are several measures that can help curb the spread of the virus. Let’s take a look:

Humidity and COVID-19

Some research suggests that adding moisture to the air can damage the outer membrane of the virus. In fact, the lower levels of humidity most indoor spaces experience in the winter months create just the kind of environment that COVID-19 thrives in. The virus may also remain viable for longer periods of time in spaces with low humidity. This is an important factor to keep in mind, even in the summer, as increased humidity makes “droplets” less likely to linger in the air. An additional benefit to adjusting humidity levels is that it helps moisturize our mucous membranes, which can aid in the body’s ability to fight the virus.

The caveat of increased humidity is that too much moisture in the air can damage furnishings and finishes. It can also cause adverse health effects in some individuals. Consult with an HVAC professional to determine and set up optimal levels of humidity in your space.

Clean and Sanitize HVAC Equipment

Though it is unlikely that COVID-19 particles remain viable in an HVAC system for much time during lockdown, having equipment cleaned and sanitized has multiple benefits. It is a wise precaution if there have been confirmed cases of the virus in a space. In any event, cleaning your system lets it use less power, operate more efficiently and it keeps your equipment in good condition.

Ventilation

Increasing ventilation in a space by adding more outside air can help dilute any particles present. For more information on HVAC operations concerning the virus, check out this guide to building operations during the pandemic from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Call a Professional

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

Storm Windows and Temperature Control

storm windows

Controlling the temperature throughout your home always comes with challenges, especially if you have a very open space. You need to use everything you can to control your temperature and save money doing it. After all, you could always crank your A/C or your heat, but that’s not cost effective. So what else can you do? Storm windows are an incredibly helpful option to both keep your home cool when you want, and to help warm it up when you want. So, in this blog, we’ll show you some of the benefits of storm windows.

How Storm Windows Work

First, let’s discuss how these windows work. Storm windows get installed on the outside of your primary home windows. But they do more than add an extra layer of insulation. Storm windows have a low-e coating that reflects heat back inside the house during the winter, and reflects it outside during the summer. This keeps the home more comfortable year round. Additionally, these windows help reduce the sound of window on the outside and can work with any window treatment you have.

Storm Windows vs. Single Pane

Second, these windows might work well, but how do they compare to single pane windows? Single pane windows exist simply to do what windows do. To seal your home, to make it look nicer, and to allow you to look outside when you want. Therefore, they do minimal work in controlling the temperature in your home. However, if you add storm windows, they supplement single pane windows well because their primary function is to help control temperature. And, as we’ve said, they not only help in one particular season, but in all seasons.

Other Benefits

Third, consider some other benefits of having storm windows.

  • Not expensive
  • Reduces airflow for better insulation
  • Allows you to keep the old aesthetic from your windows
  • Easy to install
  • Helps make the main window warmer
  • Protects the primary window’s insulation
  • Helps reduce noise

Kinkaid HVAC is Here for You

Finally, if you’d like to learn more ways you can save money on heating and air conditioning, then reach out to us at Kinkaid Heating and Air Conditioning! A member of our amiable and competent staff would love to help you.

Air Conditioner Allergies and More: Debunking Myths

air conditioner allergies

Increasingly, people seem to think that air conditioners worsen allergies. Some even believe they have air conditioner allergies! The story goes, pollutants and allergens get caught in the air ducts, and then the central air conditioning system spreads these around your home. But the best lies contain some truth. Instead, Kinkaid is here to clear the air and give you the facts. Central air conditioning can actually help your allergies! Below you’ll find some myths about air conditioners, allergies, and the facts that challenge them.

“Air Conditioners Spread Pollen and Bacteria”

First, this belief comes from the fact that air conditioning units circulate the air already in your home. If pollen and bacteria get into the ducts, your allergies worsen because the A/C continues to circulate these things throughout your house.

Now, although these are true, A/C units themselves do not spread pollen and bacteria. This can only happen if you do not clean your filters or purifiers, or if you do not regularly maintain your unit. If you notice your allergies kick in every time you turn on the air, it’s not the unit causing this problem. Instead, you should consider getting your unit thoroughly cleaned.

“Window Units Are Safer than Central Units”

Second, some people believe this because window units are smaller than central units. If air conditioners bring in and spread allergies, they reason, then window units cannot do that as rigorously or extensively as central units.

Yet, few people properly install their window units. They often leave cracks and spaces between the window frame and the unit, allowing outside air to flow in with all of its allergens and pollutants. Instead, a clean central system works better to keep these materials out.

“Air Conditioners Trap Pollutants in Your Home”

Third, people believe this claim because central air conditioners are closed systems. Air conditioners restrict airflow from the outside. They have to do this so they can properly cool your home. Therefore, some people think that they perpetually trap pollutants in your home. So, the only way to get rid of these pollutants is to open your windows.

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Opening your windows actually brings in more allergens and pollutants! Furthermore, A/C helps regulate the humidity in your home. High humidity can actually trap pollutants. So do not open your windows! Instead, make sure your unit is thoroughly cleaned, keep it on, and use a dehumidifier. This should ensure clean, dry, easy-breathing air throughout your home.

No Air Conditioner Allergies with Kinkaid

Finally, as you can see, air conditioner allergies don’t exist! Central air conditioning actually helps your allergies. One study found that a car air conditioner “can cut the amount of pollen you breathe by as much as 30%.” If that’s the case for your car, imagine how much more for your home!

WebMD encourages you to clean your system once a year. So, if you want to keep the air in your home pollutant-free, you need the services of Kinkaid. Whether it’s cleaning out your filters or installing a new unit, we do it all! Contact us today.

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!

Benefits of a Routinely Clean A/C Filter

clean a/c filter

Getting your car oil changed, cleaning the microwave, clearing out your inbox, and having a clean A/C filter. These are all routine activities we feel like we can get away with not doing for a while. Who hasn’t gone a few extra thousand miles before getting their oil changed? Or let their inbox fill up with emails from 6 months ago? Seems innocent enough. But letting your A/C filter get dirty comes with certain risks. Below you’ll find just a few reasons why you should regularly clean your A/C filter.

Block Allergens

First, allergens slammed the Philadelphia-area this past Spring. Additionally, it seemed to run much later into the year than usual. Thus, if you’re allergic to pollen, you cannot afford to let your A/C filter get dirty. A clogged filter becomes more susceptible to tearing, thereby letting in all sorts of allergens. But with a habitually clean A/C filter, you don’t have to worry. While the allergens outside may challenge even the strongest allergy medicine you can take, you can trust you’ll breathe easy inside with a clean filter.

Keep Out Dust and Dirt

Second, not only does a clean A/C filter keep out pollen and other allergens, it also keeps out pollutants. Dust and dirt can not only irritate allergies, but also make your house dirty. With Summer comes humidity, causing dust and dirt to stick to everything it lands on. This can cause mold and mildew. Then, this can lead to spending more time and money on cleaning your house. Furthermore, as the dirt and dust gets sucked back into the return air vent, it will go through your AC unit, coating it and causing it to slow down and not work efficiently.

Clean A/C Filter = Better A/C

Third, a clean A/C filter is like having clean lungs. If your lungs stay clean and strong, they don’t have to work as hard. So, if you keep your A/C filter clean, your unit won’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. Having a more efficient unit can lead to lower electrical bills. In addition, it helps keep every part of your unit clean and running smoothly. Thus, you don’t run the risk of needing an expensive repair or replacement in the future.

Clean A/C Filter with Kinkaid!

So, always keep that A/C filter clean! A clean A/C filter blocks allergens, helps keep your home clean, saves you money, and keeps your unit running smoothly. But if you need help cleaning your unit, or need a repair, reach out to us at Kinkaid! With over a century of experience in the HVAC industry, we’re a team you can trust.

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