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As you may have heard, the air conditioning industry is going to change in the year 2020. Older air conditioners use a refrigerant called R-22, which was commonly called Freon™.

Here in Kansas City, there are a lot of those air conditioners still installed in area homes.

This R-22 refrigerant is being phased out by the year 2020, which means it will no longer be manufactured or imported into our country. Supplies will be available, but it will be limited to stock on hand or recycled refrigerant and could be expensive.

City Wide has been getting a lot of questions regarding whether R-22 air conditioners need to be replaced by the year 2020. There are basically two scenarios that would answer these questions.

Your Air Conditioner Has Never Been Re-Charged With R-22

Refrigerant is not like gasoline in a car – your air conditioner doesn’t use it up to run and then needs to be recharged every year.

If you haven’t put Freon™ in your air conditioner, then you more than likely don’t have a leak. And if you don’t have a leak, that refrigerant could stay there for many years. Which means you can wait to replace your air conditioner.

If it ever develops a leak, especially after the year 2020, you may need to replace your air conditioner depending on the cost of available R22. But by then it be old and inefficient, so it will be time to replace it anyway!

You Have Had To Re-Charge Your Air Conditioner Almost Every Year

Your system has a leak and it should be replaced before the year 2020. As we get closer to that date, the cost of R-22 is going to go up every year.

And since most leaky air conditioners are old, it is usually time to replace it anyway. So now would be a good time to get a free estimate and start thinking about replacing that AC in your Kansas City area home.

Contact City Wide Heating & Cooling in Kansas City at 913-384-6006 with any questions or to schedule your free estimate.

It’s always a good idea to get the furnace tuned-up in your Kansas City home each heating season.

Regular maintenance on your furnace can help it run better, last longer, and identify possible breakdowns before they happen.

But have you ever wondered what actually happens on a furnace tune-up? Read below to find out!

A Furnace Tune-Up Covers All Components of Your Heating System

During your furnace maintenance, the technician will check all the parts of your furnace. This is to ensure your safety and also to make sure the furnace is running properly. Here is a list of things he will check on your heating system:

Carbon Monoxide. The technician will make sure your furnace is not emitting deadly carbon monoxide.

Blower Motor. The motor is checked to make sure it is working properly and not showing signs that it is wearing out.

Gas Valve. This is checked to make sure that the natural gas is flowing cleanly and properly.

Gas Burners. The technician checks to make sure the gas flames are burning cleanly and safely.

Heat Exchanger. This is checked to make sure there are no cracks or issues.

Venting System. The technician checks the vent pipes to make sure there are no cracks or splits to the venting system. This ensures that the flue gases properly escape your home.

Ignition System. Furnaces have an automatic ignition system, so the technician checks to make sure it is operating properly so it will light your furnace.

Filter Change. The tech will change or clean your air filter, which keeps your system running smoothly AND filters the air in your home.

Gas Piping. The gas pipes are checked around your furnace for signs of wear and tear.

Humidifier Service. If you have a humidifier, the pad is changed and the operation is checked to make sure it is working properly.

In addition, the technician will adjust your dampers if you have them, check your thermostat, and run your furnace. As a result of this work, you will know that your heating system is ready for the cold in Kansas City!

We are lucky in the Kansas City area because we have 4 pretty distinct seasons. As we get into September, the nights will start to get cool. As a result, you may need to turn on your furnace to take out the chill.

With winter around the corner, those furnaces will get a full workout. Consequently, your utility bill is then impacted by the amount of gas or electricity you use to heat your home.

The efficiency of your furnace takes on added importance, mainly because its efficiency determines how much money you spend on your heating.

80%, 90%, 95% – What Does It All Mean?

Furnaces use an AFUE rating, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The rating tells you how much heat is produced relative to how much energy it takes to produce that heat.

In simple terms, an 80% efficient furnace will produce 80% heat and 20% waste. This waste is what rises through your furnace flue.

In dollar terms, for every $1 you spend on your heating bill, you are getting $.80 worth of heat. So the higher efficient furnace you have, the more money you save.

So for a 95% efficient furnace, you receive $.95 worth of heat!

How Efficient Is Your Current Furnace You May Ask?

With your current furnace, it really depends on the age. Older systems tend to lose efficiency over time, so you may have a furnace that is only operating between 60 and 70% efficient.

So just by replacing the furnace in your KC home with a standard efficient unit (which right now is an 80% efficient furnace), you could gain between 10 and 20% savings on your gas bill in the winter.

Replacing your old furnace with a higher efficient furnace (like a 95% furnace), can save you a whopping 25 – 35%!

When Is The Best Time To Replace Your Furnace?

When a furnace starts to accumulate expensive repairs, it’s time to replace that system. Especially if you have an older furnace that is incredibly inefficient. You not only can save money on repairs, but your utility bills should also see immediate savings.

And those savings can go toward the cost of a new furnace for your Kansas City area home.

Summer has finally started here in Kansas City. As temperatures start to heat up, houses start to heat up also. Thankfully most homes here in the KC area have air conditioners, but there are also ways you can help to keep your house cool and save a few bucks on your cooling bills.

Keep Those Blinds Closed During The Day

When your window blinds are wide open during the day, you are letting in hot sunlight, especially if you have windows that face the south and west.

Closing your window blinds can reduce the amount of heat that enters the home through the sun. And the less heat that enters the home means your air conditioner will work a little less. Plus, it will keep your rooms, and you, a lot cooler.

Adjust Your Ceiling Fans To Keep You Cool

In the summertime, adjust your ceiling fans to turn counterclockwise. There is usually a reversing switch on your ceiling fan that will make that happen.

When the blades turn counterclockwise, they push the cool air down toward the floor and create that wind-chill effect. Consequently you will feel cooler, and sometimes you can even set the thermostat up a degree or two.

Get Your Air Conditioner Tuned-Up

It’s also a good idea to get the air conditioner in your Kansas City area home maintained each year. A tune-up cleans the dirt from your outdoor unit, and that dirt can really affect how well your air conditioner operates.

In addition, the technicians also check your refrigerant levels and change your filter so your system will run more efficiently. As a result, it will use less energy, which in turn saves you money on your cooling bills.

Whether your home is in Lenexa, Overland Park, or anywhere in between, these tips will help on a hot summer day in our city!

If you have an older air conditioner in your Kansas City area home, it’s possible that you have added refrigerant every year for the last few years. Up until now, that cost has been relatively reasonable.

But in 2017, the cost of that R-22 refrigerant has gone through the roof! Commonly called Freon™, this refrigerant has been used for years. But its days are numbered.

Why Is R-22 Being Phased Out For Air Conditioners?

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that this refrigerant be phased out because of environmental concerns. Within the R-22 refrigerant is a compound (chlorine) that is considered ozone-depleting. As a part of The Clean Air Act, this refrigerant is considered dangerous to the ozone layer and needs to be removed from production.

So What Should You Expect For Your Air Conditioner?

This refrigerant will not be manufactured after 2020. Because of this timeline, supplies have started to be restricted for heating and cooling companies. After 2020, the only R-22 available will be recycled or reclaimed, which will drive the cost up even more.

At this point, if your air conditioner is over 15 years old, it’s time to seriously think about replacing that unit. Especially if you know it has a leak and has been filled each year with R-22. Newer air conditioners use a different refrigerant that is more friendly to our environment.

City Wide Heating and Cooling can install the proper air conditioners in Overland Park, Kansas City, and everywhere in between. Contact us today with any questions or to schedule your free estimate for a new air conditioning system.

If you are like most homeowners in the Kansas City area, you turn your air conditioner on the day your house really starts to warm up. Some people even try and wait as long as possible to try and save money on their cooling bills.

While there is nothing wrong with either of these, it IS a good idea to turn your air conditioner on BEFORE you really need it. And here is the main reason why:

Make Sure Your Air Conditioner Still Works

A large majority of breakdowns of air conditioning systems occur when they are first turned on for the season. So you want to know this BEFORE the outdoor temperature gets really hot.

That way you can get your air conditioner serviced and repaired early – before the mad rush of air conditioning season.

So When Do You Turn Your AC On? Good Question.

Before you turn the air conditioner on in your KC area home, make sure of the following two things:

1. Check your weather. In this area, make sure the outdoor temperature is above 65 degrees and has been for about 3 days before you turn on the AC.
2. Check your furnace filter to make sure it’s nice and clean. If it is dirty, replace it!

And if you are uncomfortable changing your filter or are worried about turning on your air conditioner, schedule preventive maintenance on your air conditioning system. A simple AC tune-up can make sure your system is fully cleaned and operational before the season.

City Wide Heating & Cooling can answer all your air conditioner questions for your home in the Kansas City area.