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How Soon Should I Replace My Air Conditioner: r410a Phase Out

January 30, 2024

There are a lot of questions surrounding the EPA’s restriction on equipment produced with r410a refrigerant and the refrigerants’ phase-out. These questions are leading to uncertainty for homeowners with borderline HVAC systems over whether they should replace their equipment now or wait for the new refrigerant to be produced. Why are they changing refrigerants? Let’s start with why the change is being mandated. R22 was the standard for decades, but it uses chemicals called hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that when heated by the sun release chlorine. The chlorine atoms bond with ozone and break down the ozone layer. In 1995 the UN...

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WHAT IS A QUALITY INSTALLATION?

October 23, 2023

Oh boy, its 95 degrees outside and my 14-year-old AC just died. It is hot, humid, sweltering and I am sitting in my living room. It’s hotter inside my house than it is outside. Now I have to muddle my way through the arduous process of figuring out what I need, who I can trust, and if they will do a good job. If you find yourself in this situation and need to replace a furnace/AC or Heat Pump/Air Handler, one of the main considerations for your selection of contractors is the quality of installation. It is sometimes difficult for...

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Combating, Evergy Rate Increase: Evergy’s new Time-Based Energy Plans?

September 20, 2023

Evergy has recently published its looming time-based billing plans. These plans are currently for Missouri Evergy customers only. The concept is that they are not able to produce enough energy for their customers during peak times, considered June through September, 4 PM to 8 PM as those times. They currently purchase this extra power from other co-ops and sell it to us at a lower price than what they pay for it. This obviously cannot continue. The time-based concept is not a new idea; it is currently being done all over the country. It’s just new to our area. To...

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What is Staging, and What Does it Mean for Me?

June 28, 2023

Most people who are faced with having to consider replacing their HVAC system are not experts. In an average homeowner’s life, they will likely only have to go through the process of buying a new system once or twice. But there are so many options that make it difficult to understand what the options will really do for them. It is also difficult to understand and decide what’s best for a particular situation at a particular time. Hopefully, if you find yourself in this situation, you decide to have a Summit Comfort Expert come to your home. Our teammates are...

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What is a Heat Pump and How Does it work?

April 3, 2023

There are a lot of questions and confusion surrounding Heat Pumps in the Kansas City, MO. area. The basic concept for heat pumps has been around since 1856. Heat Pumps became popular in the 1970s due to rising fuel prices from the oil shortage. The popularity of heat pumps surged again in the early to mid-2000s due to tax credits and rebate programs. If this sounds familiar, you may have read our January article on the state of the IRA and heat pumps. Though the technology has been around for a while, the heat pump hasn’t had much-staying power in...

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Why should I do Maintenance on my HVAC System?

March 7, 2023

As we continue to increase the number of modern conveniences in our homes, we need to remember to take good care of these increasingly expensive components. Our cars need oil changes, phones need updating and charging, our Roomba needs emptying, and unfortunately, our HVAC systems still need routine maintenance. In this article, we will be discussing all the reasons why we need to keep up with this important task. What does a quality maintenance program consist of: Visual Inspection 1. What is the age of the equipment? Has it been properly maintained? 2. What is the condition of the electrical...

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Why Should I Consider a Solar Attic Fan for my Home?

February 12, 2023

As the Midwest weather turns from frigid cold to our beautiful 70-degree spring days, and we look forward to fun in the sun this summer, we also start to think about our wallet-stealing utility bills the summer brings us as we try to battle for our indoor comfort. Every summer here in Kansas City we battle the hot, humid days and strive for efficient comfort in our homes. Local average Air Conditioning costs are between $0.06 and $0.88 PER HOUR in KC, depending on the unit and how low you set your thermostat. This might not seem too crazy, but...

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The IRA and You: A Dive Into how it Affects Your HVAC Decisions in 2023

January 20, 2023

The Inflation Reduction Act, IRA, that was signed on August 16th 2022 has the potential to create great benefits that may influence your HVAC decisions in the coming years. There are several different programs which can be quite confusing. Along with program guidelines, the program’s timelines are also not clearly defined. We are going to go over the 3 main programs for HVAC that this Act includes and rough timeframes on when we can expect movement in the program creation and implementation. Bigger and Better Federal Tax Credits! You may not have realized it, but there has been a Federal...

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How Do I Winterize My HVAC System?

December 14, 2022

The process of winterizing refers to preparing for the cold season. The best time to start this process is early fall, before winter sets in. Preparing your heating and cooling system to endure the cold temperatures coming to your area in Kansas City is essential. Although winterizing your HVAC system can be relatively simple, it can be very time-consuming and challenging. That’s why it’s essential that you give yourself ample time to complete the necessary steps and to hire a professional for help. 6 Components to Winterizing your HVAC system You can take several steps to ensure that your HVAC...

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We Do R22

December 4, 2022

What you should know about R22 While the entire HVAC industry knows R22 is being phased out and no longer being produced, most homeowners don’t become aware of that fact until their Air Conditioner or Heat Pump starts having issues. Most people don’t even know what refrigerant is used in their system or what it does. In its simplest terms, refrigerant is the medium by which heat is moved. There are different types of refrigerants. R22 was the most popular form for residential air conditioners until 2010 when it was federally mandated that equipment could no longer be produced with...

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