Blog

How a Late Season Furnace Tune-Up Can Help your Home During Air Conditioner Season

Winter is winding down in Kansas City, which means your furnace has been working hard for a few months now. But is it too late to schedule a late season furnace tune-up? The technicians at City Wide Heating & Cooling don’t think so. In fact, it will actually benefit your home during air conditioner season to schedule a furnace tune-up now.

Your Heating & Cooling System Work Hand in Hand

In most homes, your cooling system is a part of the central heating system. Why? Both your furnace and air conditioner share the same ductwork to spread heat or air throughout your home. Because of this, when one system is tuned-up and working at its peak efficiency, the other system will work better as well. When your heating and cooling system is operating at its peak efficiency, you are saving money on your energy bills.

40% of All Furnace Breakdowns are Caused by Dirt Buildup

Did you know that 40% of all furnace breakdowns are caused by dirt buildup? When the parts of your furnace are dirty, they are causing the system to work slower, until eventually it breaks down. Your air conditioner unit also depends on these parts to work properly. When you call a heating and cooling company to tune-up your furnace they will check the cleanliness of your system, in addition to checking your blower motor, electrical connections, control boards and more.

To schedule a late season furnace tune-up, contact City Wide Heating & Cooling at 913-384-6006.

Install an Energy-Efficient Furnace or AC Before Dec. 31st to Take Advantage of Tax Credits

On Jan. 1, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was extended, which continues tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades to existing homes, including purchases of heating, cooling and water heating equipment made in 2012 and 2013. At City Wide Heating and Cooling, many of our customers will be able to take advantage of tax credits on their 2013 taxes because they installed a new high-efficiency furnace, AC, or heat pump. If you’ve been considering installing a new furnace or air conditioner, now is the time. It could mean hundreds of dollars in your pocket if you act quickly.

How Much Is the Government Offering in Tax Credits?

You must make sure your unit qualifies. Here are the qualification specifications and corresponding tax credits:

  • Air conditioners qualify for up to a $300 tax credit and must have a SEER of 16 or greater an EER or 13 or greater if it is a split system. If it is a package system, SEER must be 14 or greater and EER must be 12 or greater.
  • Natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces are eligible for up to $150 tax credit and must have an AFUE of 95 or greater.
  • Heat pumps are also eligible for up to a $300 tax credit. Split systems must have an HSPF greater than 8.5, an EER greater than 12.5 and a SEER greater than 15. For package systems, HSPF of 8 or higher, EER of 12 or higher and a SEER of 14 or higher.

There are also tax credits for tankless gas water heaters, high-efficiency gas boilers, and heat pump water heaters. So be sure to claim them if you’ve had any of these installed.

The maximum amount an eligible homeowner may receive in tax credits for improvements is $500. If you have already claimed credits of $500 or more from improvements made in any year prior, you are ineligible to claim new credits for any new improvements made during 2013.

Save Energy and Money with Tax Credits

With government tax credits for high-efficiency furnaces and ACs, not only will you save on energy bills, but you’ll save on your taxes too. But you must act quickly. Your new furnace must be purchased before the end of the year, so there are just a few weeks left. Call City Wide Heating and Cooling today and we’ll help you choose the right heat pump, furnace, or AC to install in your home and get you some great tax credits.

Does Your Home Need a Furnace Tune-Up?

In Kansas City, when the temperatures begin to drop, most homeowners turn on their furnace or heat pump to keep warm. Over the summer months, your furnace sat idle and now it has been called into action. The furnace starts right up and seems to be working fine on this mildly chilly day, so do you even need to schedule a furnace tune-up this year?

The answer is yes. There are multiple advantages to having a furnace or heat pump tune-up other than keeping your house warm during the cold months. City Wide Heating & Cooling breaks them down below.

Furnace Tune-Ups Help to Ensure the Safety of Your Family

By having your furnace cleaned and checked once a year, you are helping to ensure the safety of your family. A furnace or heat pump is a machine that can cause fires, emit carbon monoxide, and could generate other safety hazards. By scheduling a furnace tune-up, City Wide Heating & Cooling will be able to catch any problems before they become dangerous.

Save Money on Energy Bills with a Furnace Tune-Up

A clean furnace is a happy furnace. Why? Dirt buildup can greatly affect the performance of your furnace or heat pump. Some statistics say dirt alone can make your furnace as much as 40% less efficient. Because of this, City Wide Heating and Cooling cleans your unit during one of our furnace tune-ups.

Additionally, our technicians will check, lubricate, tighten, balance, replace broken or worn parts, and provide a complete gas and electric safety check as well.

Avoid Breakdowns During the Cold Months of Winter

Imagine the first big snowstorm of winter. The kids are home from school, the fire is blazing and all of a sudden your furnace or heat pump breaks down. Brrr!

Having an annual tune-up will help you avoid inconvenient breakdowns similar to this. Furnace and heat pump tune-ups not only help your system run more efficiently, they also are helpful in catching small problems before they turn into large, expensive problems.

To schedule a furnace tune-up today, give City Wide Heating & Cooling a call.

Top 8 Tips to Save Money on Energy Bills While You’re on Vacation

Ahh, it’s finally summer vacation time. But before you run off to the beach, take a few minutes to “vacationize” your Kansas City home so you don’t waste money on energy while no one is home. City Wide has compiled the top eight tips to save money on energy bills while you’re away.

 

Turn Up Your Thermostat – while most people turn off their air conditioning completely, City Wide Heating and Cooling recommends that you simply turn it up. Since one of the main functions of your air conditioner is to remove humidity from the air, when you turn the AC off altogether, your house gets full of moisture. When you return home, the air is stale and sticky and it takes your unit a long time to remove all of the humidity.

 

Turn Down the Water Heater – You can either turn down the temperature or turn it off completely. There is no reason to heat a tank full of water 24/7 when no one will be using it. You may want to leave a sticky note on the fridge to remind you to turn it on/up again when you get home so you don’t end up with a cold shower the next morning. Also, note the temperature you had it set for. If you forget, 120 degrees is ideal for most homeowners.

 

Change the Filter – changing the air conditioner filter will help your system run better and also ensures that it doesn’t stop working while you’re gone because of a dirty filter that blocks the air flow.

 

Turn Off Ceiling Fans – ceiling fans don’t lower the temperature of a room, they simply circulate air. Moving makes us feel cooler by making the moisture on our skin evaporate. There’s no one there to enjoy the feeling of moving air, so why waste the energy.

 

Close Curtains and Blinds – heat from the sun will add quite a few degrees to a room simply shining through the window. Close all curtains and blinds before you leave town. (This also adds a measure of security by keeping people from being able to see inside your home and determine that you’re gone.)

 

Unplug Your Washing Machine and Dryer – Even if they aren’t used, just being plugged in allows these appliances to draw “vampire” energy. If the plugs are not in a convenient place, you can also just flip the breaker in the electrical box. Again, leave yourself a note to flip it back when you get home.  You may even want to err on the side of caution and turn the water off to the washer as well. That way, if a hose or a pipe bursts while you’re gone, you won’t come home to a flooded home.

 

Unplug Small Appliances – This will not only save you energy, it will also prevent an accidental electrical short from starting a fire.

 

Turn Your Refrigerator and Freezer Temperature Up – You can actually turn your refrigerator up to 38 degrees Fahrenheit without any food spoiling. You’ll want to remove any vegetables or perishables. You can also turn your freezer up to -5 degrees Fahrenheit and still keep items frozen.

 

Enjoy your vacation and don’t worry about the house while you’re gone. And go ahead and splurge a little on something knowing that you’re saving money on energy while you’re away! Remember City Wide Heating and Cooling in Kansas City  when you need heating and cooling repairs or installations in Kansas City.

 

3 Tips to Staying Cool without Cranking the AC

We know that summertime in Kansas City brings high temperatures. However this year that does not have to mean high-energy bills. Instead, avoid cranking your air conditioner this summer and keep your home cool with these tips from City Wide Heating and Cooling!

 

Check Your Home’s Insulation to Avoid Wasting AC

Most people only think of insulating their homes in the winter when they can feel cold drafts. However hot air can creep in just as surely as cold, especially during the hot summer months. A simple way of finding drafts in your home is to walk around the interior of your house with a candle. When the candle begins to flicker around doors or windows, simply add a small line of weather stripping or caulk.

Draw the Blinds to Keep the Heat Out

A simple way to keep from having to crank the thermostat is to keep your blinds or curtains drawn during the hottest part of the day. Preventing those extra rays of sun from sneaking into your Kansas City area home can make a huge difference for your inside temperature. Try keeping your blinds drawn from 12-4 PM to experience the biggest savings.

Help Rooms Feel Cooler with Fans

Did you know that using a fan does not actually make a room any cooler? In fact, fans just make a room feel cooler. When the breeze begins to circulate around a room, it helps to evaporate sweat and reduce body heat. Ceiling fans are the best at moving air, but box fans or stand fans are also effective in helping to make a room feel cooler.

So there you have it, three tips to help you keep your home cool this summer! For more AC tips, give City Wide a call! Our team of experienced professionals provides air conditioning services to the entire Kansas City area, from AC repairs in Overland Park to air conditioner installations in Shawnee, and anywhere in between.

Time For Air Conditioner Tune-ups in Kansas City

It looks like winter/spring/summer is right around the corner. At some point, the weather is going to get hot, and with all the rain we’ve had in the Kansas City area, that means we are going to have a really humid summer. Your air conditioner is really going to work overtime, which means it’s time to get it tuned up.

City Wide Heating and Cooling performs air conditioner tune-ups throughout the entire Kansas City area. An air conditioner tune-up checks your system to make sure that it is ready to run efficiently through the whole summer season. The City Wide performance tune-up:

  • Helps your AC run better = lower utility bills
  • Identifies possible issues before they happen
  • Helps your air conditioner last longer

City Wide has been serving the Kansas City area for over 60 years for both repairs, installations, and tune-ups of air conditioners and furnaces. So, if you are looking to avoid an air conditioner repair in Overland Park, Olathe, or anywhere in between, call us today. we’ll be happy to schedule your air conditioner maintenance today.

© 2019 City Wide Heating & Cooling — All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy