Our showroom is located at 136 Industrial Drive in Boerne, Texas. We display both RUUD and Trane equipment. Our staff is well informed about both brands and can answer any questions you may have. We also have thermostats and filtration systems on display. We are happy to make appointments to meet with customers and walk them through our showroom to aquaint them with the advantages of both brands. Walk-ins are always welcome! We strive to meet our customers needs wherever possible. One way we do this is by keeping filters in stock. Stop in and see us sometime!

When it comes to getting the most out of your investment, air conditioning systems are a lot like automobiles: they operate more efficiently and last longer when they get scheduled care and attention and are operated properly.

The experts say there are dozens of ways to increase the life of your air conditioning system and decrease energy costs at the same time. Here are Kendall County Air’s top five of the most effective:

1. Clean or replace the filter at least once a month.

When a central air conditioner circulates the air in your home, dust and dirt particles collect on the filter located in the indoor unit or ducts. Excessive buildup on the filter forces the system to run longer to maintain your set temperature. This can make utility bills rise.

Most residential systems have disposable filters. These should be checked every month and replaced when necessary with the same size filter as originally supplied. Permanent filters should be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.

2. Keep debris clear of the outdoor unit.

Efficient operation of your central air conditioner requires a free flow of air over the coils in the outdoor unit. Anything that blocks this flow forces the unit to work harder.

Keeping it clear of leaves, dirt, newspapers and other debris helps it work at peak efficiency and holds down operating costs. Never stack anything against the side of the unit or drape anything over it. Keep trees, shrubs and other landscaping located near the unit trimmed back.

3. Service the system on a regular basis.

Preventive maintenance is the least expensive kind. Keeping your system in top shape through regular checkups is the best way to ensure that it will keep working for you.

The best time to have your system checked is in early spring, before the cooling season starts. Kendall County Air offers a Planned Service Agreement that provides routine maintenance, including monitoring motors, tightening of belts, clearing drain lines and checking of refrigerant level among a list of other items. We also recommend having your heating system checked each fall as well, especially if you own a gas furnace where carbon monoxide is a real threat.

4. Leave your thermostat at one setting.

If you want the optimum balance between comfort and cost, keep the temperature settings at 78°F for cooling. If you have a programmable thermostat, keep adjustments to a minimum once you've set it. Adjust it only when a new program is needed.

If you're going to be away for a few days, don't let the system run unnecessarily. Raise the thermostat to 85°F and simply reset it when you return.

5. Operate appliances during cooler parts of the day.

Household appliances such as washers, dryers, ovens and ranges can generate heat and humidity inside the house. Using these appliances during the hottest times of the day, when your air conditioning system is working hardest, just adds to the burden.

By scheduling washing, drying, baking and cooking for mornings or evenings when it is cooler, you can remove this extra burden from your system and help keep operating costs down.

Of course, as experts point out, none of these steps will significantly decrease operating costs if your home is not properly insulated. This is the single most important step in saving energy since it keeps the cooled air in your home when you need it most.

Infiltration of hot outside air is another of your cooling system's worst enemies. So, find the places where air sneaks into your home and plug them up with caulk or weather-stripping. Closing these leaks will help greatly in maintaining your comfort, reducing energy use and extending the life of your air conditioning system.
 

It wasn't all that long ago that, if you were in the market for a gas furnace, there really wasn't that much to choose from.

Within the last few years, however, technological advances in gas furnace design have given homeowners a myriad of choices, all of which are intended to increase indoor comfort while decreasing heating costs.

Regardless of the design, all gas furnaces consist of four main components: a burner, a heat exchanger, a blower and a vent pipe or flue.

The burner is where the gas is delivered and burned. Almost all gas furnaces today use an electronic ignition device instead of a constantly burning pilot light to ignite the gas.

The device works like an automobile spark plug. Whenever the thermostat calls for heat, the ignition device instantly lights the burners. By not using any gas between ignition cycles, this component conserves the fuel previously used by a pilot light.

The heat exchanger transfers the heat produced from the burning gas to the home's distribution system. They come in a variety of shapes, with a serpentine configuration being one of the most efficient and popular.

When looking at gas furnaces, the Trane Home Comfort Institute recommends that the heat exchanger be crimped instead of welded together. The new crimped method of manufacturing helps eliminate heat stress cracks that might occur.

The blower is a large fan that moves the heated air through ducts to the location in the home where it is needed.

The vent pipe or flue exhausts the gaseous byproducts of combustion to the outdoors. Depending on the type of furnace, venting can take place through the chimney or through a plastic pipe out the side of the house.

These four components form the basis of three types of gas furnaces: a conventional warm-air furnace, an induced draft furnace, and a condensing furnace.

Conventional warm air furnaces burn natural or propane gas to provide heat to the heat exchanger. Indoor air flows around the heat exchanger to be heated and then circulated throughout the house through ducts. Other ducts return air that has cooled to the furnace to be reheated and recirculated. Additional air is drawn into the flue for venting purposes. This air mixes with the hot exhaust gases and exits through the chimney.

Induced draft furnaces are similar to conventional furnaces except for their venting method. Conventional furnaces draw air through an opening in the front of the furnace and at the flue to create a natural draft. Induced draft furnaces use a fan to draw the combustion products into the flue. This artificially created draft increases the efficiency of the furnace.

A condensing furnace is so named because it contains a second heat exchanger that condenses water vapor in the hot flue gases, thereby extracting additional heat for the home. Because the resulting flue gases are at a very low temperature, they can be vented directly outdoors through a plastic pipe that can run through a side wall. A drain disposes of the condensed water. Condensing furnaces are among the most efficient on the market.