Resources

Straight answers about heating and cooling

Each guide opens with the short answer, then explains the why, what you can check yourself, and when to call a technician.

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Cooling

AC running but not cooling? Check these six things first

When an air conditioner runs but doesn't cool, check the thermostat setting, the filter, the outdoor unit's fan, the breaker, the coil for ice and the condensate drain. If the outdoor fan isn't spinning or the lines are iced, shut the cooling off to protect the compressor and call a technician.

Why is there ice on my air conditioner?

Ice on an air conditioner's refrigerant lines or indoor coil comes from too little airflow (a dirty filter, closed vents or a failing blower) or low refrigerant from a leak. Turn cooling off, run the fan to thaw it, fix the airflow, and call if it refreezes.

Heating

Furnace not turning on? A step-by-step check

When a gas furnace won't turn on, check that the thermostat is calling for heat, the furnace switch and breaker are on, the front door is seated, the filter isn't clogged and the outdoor PVC vent pipes aren't blocked by snow. Then read the blinking light code and call a technician with it.

Why does my furnace turn on and off so often?

Short cycling, where a furnace runs briefly and shuts off repeatedly, is usually caused by a dirty flame sensor, a clogged filter tripping the high-limit switch, a poorly placed thermostat, or an oversized furnace. The first two are quick fixes; the last is a design problem.

Emergencies

Carbon monoxide alarm going off? What to do right now

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone, including pets, outside into fresh air and call 911 or your gas utility's emergency line. Don't go back in until responders say it's safe. Then have a licensed technician inspect the furnace, water heater and venting before using them.

Heat pumps

Heat pump or furnace in Kansas City?

In Kansas City, a dual-fuel system, with a heat pump plus a gas furnace for the coldest days, is often the best balance of comfort and operating cost. Cold-climate heat pumps can heat alone in homes without gas, while a furnace with AC remains the simplest choice when budgets are tight.

Heat pump covered in ice? When it's normal and when it isn't

Light frost on a heat pump's outdoor coil in winter is normal, and the unit clears it with periodic defrost cycles. A unit encased in solid ice, or ice that never clears, points to a defrost control problem, low refrigerant, a failed fan or water dripping onto it from above.

Energy & cost

Repair or replace your furnace or AC?

Repair when the system is under about 10 to 12 years old and the fix is modest. Consider replacement when the equipment is near the end of its life (roughly 12 to 15 years for AC, 15 to 20 for a furnace), the repair is large, the AC uses R-22, or there's a safety issue like a cracked heat exchanger.

Air quality

How often should you change your furnace filter?

Change a 1-inch furnace filter every one to three months and a 4- or 5-inch media filter every six to twelve months. Change more often with pets, allergies, construction dust or heavy summer and winter use.

Talk to a Kansas City HVAC pro today

Same-day service when a technician is available. One call connects you with a licensed HVAC contractor who serves your ZIP.

Call (816) 555-0142 Request service