Tips to Combat the Cold Winters in Kansas City, MO

Getting through cold and potentially harsh winters in Kansas, Missouri requires more than simply turning on your furnace and hoping for the best. When you want to remain warm and comfortable in your home, there are a few tips to keep in mind as the cooler winter months approach. Consider The Insulation in Your Home Insulation plays a major role in a home’s ability to maintain heat, even during mild temperatures. Have your home’s insulation updated or inspected to ensure the source of the cold in your home is not due to the walls themselves. Close Unused Vents Shut any unused vents and shut the doors to rooms that receive low foot traffic. If you do not spend time in an area of your home closing the vents allows for more heat distribution through areas that are most frequently used. Bundle Up Always wear appropriate clothing and bundle up as the colder months begin to arrive in Missouri. Wear heavy wool socks, slippers, and long-sleeved shirts while layering up to avoid overusing your thermostat and furnace unnecessarily. Inspect Your Furnace Inspect your home’s furnace to verify that it is working properly. Ensure your pilot light is blue and not yellow...

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Benefits of 24 Hour Furnace Repair

At Apex Heating and Air Conditioning, we want to make sure you have the help you need to keep your home safe and comfortable. We have you covered with a 24-hour furnace repair service that will provide the timely repairs you need. Our expert technicians can give you reliable advice and help that will reduce further damage. Let us help you get back to normal as quickly as possible. You Never Know When Emergencies Will Occur You never know when an emergency will strike. Most frequently, the worst things happen at the most inconvenient times. Chances are, if you do have a furnace problem, it will happen after normal business hours. We wanted to make sure our customers have the help they need during the freezing cold nights in Missouri where a broken furnace could be dangerous or damaging. Quick Repairs Reduce Bigger Problems When something bad happens, you want to have a technician find and solve your problem as quickly as possible to avoid further damage. If a frozen evaporator coil occurs, the condenser will have to work harder and can cause dramatic damage to your unit. If your furnace quits completely and isn’t fixed, freezing home temperatures could...

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What Does It Mean to Be Carrier’s Dealer of the Year?

Apex is a family-owned business. We pride ourselves on our relationships with our clients. And if you’re searching for great heating and AC service in and around Kansas City, you need not to take our word for it alone – because Carrier recognized Apex as Dealer of the Year. Dealer of the Year Award Recognizes More Than Sales This award recognizes a company’s commitment to the highest level of customer service. At Apex, each employee contributes daily to the knowledge, professionalism, and care that earned the Dealer of the Year award. And we’ll answer your call with the attentiveness that earned us Carrier’s accolades. Our Industry Expertise Meets World-Renowned Standards Carrier Corporation’s founder, Willis Carrier, invented the modern air conditioning system in 1902. This led to the formation of the world’s premier climate control and refrigeration company. Carrier highlights service providers that adhere to high industry standards. It awards two levels of recognition to top dealers. The NextLevel2 Platinum Award Apex first earned this prerequisite for the Dealer of the Year award. As a NextLevel2 Platinum business, we demonstrated consistent achievements in customer satisfaction, service know-how, investment in our business, and growth. The Dealer of the Year Award The annual...

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How Long Should My Furnace Last?

As important as a furnace is to a modern building, it is arguably one of the least fun purchases to make and certainly not something you hope to have to replace again in the future. How long can you expect your furnace last is a routine question for the HVAC technician when replacing or repairing an older unit. The fact is, there isn’t necessarily a convenient answer. Sure, it’s safe to say about ten to fifteen years is a reasonable expectation for the lifetime of a furnace, but such an assumption relies on a multitude of conditions and depends on how the unit is treated over time to actually be true. Local Area and Weather Conditions One of the first considerations of how long a furnace can be expected to last is what the local weather conditions are like. Obviously, a building in the northern parts of the United States are going to use the furnace more often than how often the furnace on a northern building gets used and therefore need replacement sooner. Unit Placement The placement of the actual unit, and to some extent the land around the building can also have an effect on how long the...

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4 Benefits of Annual Furnace Maintenance

During the frigid months of winter, you rely on your home’s furnace to keep you warm and comfortable. And more than likely, you take your functioning furnace for granted—until something goes wrong. The good news is that many common furnace problems can be avoided with an annual furnace inspection and tune-up. 1. Prolong the Life of Your Furnace When you take care of any appliance in your home, including your furnace, it’s more likely to last longer before needing replacement. And when you consider the fact that a new furnace can easily cost you several thousand dollars installed, it’s worth extending the life of your home heating system as much as possible. 2. Avoid Costly Problems and Repairs With routine maintenance and tune-ups, you’re also less likely to run into the need for major repairs. That’s because a furnace inspection will likely detect issues before they turn into larger (and more expensive) problems. As a result, you can tackle small repairs as needed and keep your furnace running strongly. 3. Save on Your Utility Bills A well-maintained furnace is also more likely to run efficiently—and when you take into consideration the high costs of heating fuel, an efficient furnace can...

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What is a Good SEER Rating?

Deciding what type of air conditioner to go with is a tough challenge. With so many different options out there, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. There are many different factors to keep in mind and it is important for everyone to try and find an HVAC unit that can do its job well without breaking the bank on utility bills or maintenance costs. One of the values that people often get held up on is the SEER rating. What does this mean and why is it important? What Does the SEER Rating Mean? People should know that the word SEER stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.” It has also been quoted as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. In order to calculate the SEER rating, the cooling output of the air conditioner during a typical season (which is often the warmer months) is divided by the total amount of energy that it consumes over that time period (measured as Watt-Hours). It is used to figure out how much cooling the air conditioner can do if provided a certain amount of energy. The SEER rating assumes that the indoor temperature is held at a constant value but that the temperature of...

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Does Rain Damage My Heating and Cooling System Over Time?

When the rain starts to pour outside, it is common for homeowners to be concerned about their HVAC systems. Going without a functioning HVAC unit can be unpleasant during any time of year. Therefore, there are a few important points that everyone should keep in mind. Rain Water and HVAC Units Some people may wonder whether or not the rainwater can get into the electrical system and damage some of the wirings. Fortunately, almost every HVAC unit is built with a tough exterior that will prevent rainwater from leaking into the unit itself and harming the electrical wiring, gears, and components inside. If a drop or two leaks into the system, the rushing air throughout the unit should be enough to dry out the rainwater before it causes any problem. If the rainwater starts to get heavier to the point that standing water is starting to pool around the unit, problems could start to develop. Flooding can Damage an HVAC System If the rainwater starts to increase, flooding to the point where water is starting to pool several inches above the ground can start to enter the HVAC unit. This water can damage some of the moving parts and electrical...

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3 Energy Efficiency Air Conditioning Tips

The air conditioner is probably one of the most extensive electrical equipment in many Missourian homes. Continuously running it can make the electricity bills hit the roofs since the unit consumes a tremendous amount of electricity than other appliances. It is worth noting that our air conditioners play a significant role in cooling us during the hot summer season. Saving on utility bills during these natural peak seasons may seem daunting especially if you are an economic-conscious homeowner. However, you still save some dollars with these three energy efficiency tips. 1. Try Super Cooling The concept behind supercooling is to shift the cooling of your home. Supercooling has proved to be a convenient solution to air conditioning bills. It is most useful during hot summers when electricity costs get significantly higher than the average rates. For the idea to work, you need to have studied your electricity usage pattern and have a time-of-use plan. A time-of-use or time-of-day plan provides you with cheaper electricity bills at various hours of the day. To cheaply cool your home, you have to set the thermostat way too low during the night or throughout the low rate period and back up when the rates...

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Can Air Conditioning Cause Sinus Problems?

Air conditioners are great. They help reduce humidity in a room and they filter out dust, pollen, and dust. Even though air conditioners may help make your home more comfortable, they may also lead to sinus infections. The following are some of the reasons why your air conditioner may cause sinus infections. Cold Air Your AC circulates cold air. Cold air may lead to congestion of sinuses. It may also result in a running nose. Cold air may irritate the membranes of our sinuses. It leads to excessive production of mucus and consequently, a running nose. Air conditioners reduce humidity in the air which may also trigger sinus problems. The problem may be especially worse for people who suffer from allergies. To remedy the problem, use air conditioners with clean filters. Change your filters regularly. If your filters are clean and in good working condition, they may help to prevent the occurrence of sinus problems. Spread Of Allergens When circulating air, your AC may also be circulating toxic chemicals, mold, and pollen grains through your home. If you do not perform regular maintenance services on your AC, mold may grow on the coils. Coils and ducts create the perfect environment...

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Do I Need an Air Cleaner?

Air cleaners keep your home cleaner by filtering out mold, dirt, and microscopic pollutants. They remove impurities from the air, so your whole family breathes easier. Air passes through a filter in your HVAC system, where the debris is collected and removed from your home. Typically, an air cleaner is located between the return duct and your AC or furnace, and it keeps dust and debris from building up in your equipment. Reasons You May Need an Air Cleaner You are an animal lover with allergies. If you love animals and have pets, you’re exposed to hair, pet dander and fur due to your close relationship with your little buddies. Many people have or develop allergies to this debris, but an air cleaner filters this dander and other detritus for a cleaner and healthier environment. For families with small children and pets, an air cleaner is an excellent investment for sensitive lungs. Your house doesn’t smell as clean as it should. Sensitivity to smells can be bothersome and make you sick. Unpleasant smells develop in your living area and workspace, but placing an air cleaner strategically helps you eliminate unwanted odor. Asthma and respiratory diseases make you vulnerable to dirty...

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