Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Heating

Last Call of Furnace Repair for the Season

Furnace Repair

Spring is finally here and the weather is getting warmer. This means the daily operation of your heater might be a thing of the past. Even if it is, it doesn’t mean all traces of your heater should leave your mind. Now is the time to prepare for next year with furnace repair in Loveland, CO.

Have an honest moment and ask yourself–were you happy with your furnace’s operation this season? If you can’t say that you were, then you probably had a furnace problem bringing down the operation of your system. This happens to the best of us. We just want to encourage you to solve this problem before the start of next heating season. Leaving your heater in the best condition possible at the start of spring will make you happy come fall.

Late Season Furnace Issues You Should Address

There are furnace issues that are more common in homes by the time that spring starts knocking on the door. If you notice any of these problems, then it’s time to schedule an appointment with us.

False Thermostat Readings

Have you noticed that your home’s thermostat seems a little off these days? This might become a problem when you feel like your home is freezing, but your heater won’t turn on because the thermostat reading is too high. This can cause discomfort or inefficiency in your home. If you’d like to rectify this problem, then you’re going to need the help of professionals like ours.

Odd Cycling

If your heater is running short cycling or in long, seemingly never-ending cycles, then you have efficiency issues. This is a heater problem on its own, but it can become an even bigger problem with time if it goes unaddressed.

High Energy Bills

Are your energy bills too high? Your energy bills are expected to be a little higher during the winter months because you’re running your heater more often. The problem comes when your habits are all the same and your energy bills are higher. This points to a decline in your heating bills.

Strange Smells

Have you noticed that there are some strange scents that float around your home when your heater runs? This is always a sign of trouble and can actually be a sign of danger if you’re running a natural gas-fueled heater.

Not Enough Warmth

As long as you have a furnace, you should expect to be warm. If you’re not warm enough although you have a working furnace, you should first look at the installation job you received. If your furnace wasn’t installed properly, it might not be able to accommodate the needs of your space no matter if the system is the right size for your home or not.

If a lack of warmth hasn’t been an ongoing problem in your home since day one. The problem might have just stemmed from your heater wearing down over time. We can help you with this.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule an appointment with us. We’re big enough to serve, small enough to care. 

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“Should I Replace My Boiler?”

Should I Replace My Boiler?

It’s been a long winter in our area and we’ve officially made it to spring on the calendar. Although it’s officially spring, it takes a moment for the weather to get the message in our neck of the woods. You’re probably going to deal with cool temperatures for a little while longer. When cool temperatures roll in, your heater is put to the test. If you’ve noticed that your home’s heater isn’t really performing well, then it might be time for you to consider something like boiler replacement in Loveland, CO.

Boiler replacement is one of those things that homeowners are a lot less familiar with. This is typically because fewer have actually experienced it first-hand. Boilers last much longer than forced-air systems so it’s less likely that you’ve gone through a replacement job before. If you need guidance, assistance choosing a new unit, and a technician to install the new unit, then we’re the team to turn to.

All The Signs You Should Replace Your Boiler

Here are the signs that you should consider replacing your home’s boiler this season.

Old Age

As we said mentioned above, boilers do last much longer than forced-air heating systems. Boilers are expected to last about 15-20 years if they’re maintained properly. This is why we suggest that you maintain your home’s boiler system on a regular basis. It will help your system last as long as possible and perform to the best of its ability.

If your boiler is reaching this age range, it’s a good idea to consider upgrading to a new model. We know that the idea of this can be overwhelming. This is why you should consider upgrading to a new model when possible.

Leaks

If you run a water-based boiler system and it’s always leaking, then it’s a clear sign that it’s reaching the end of its lifespan. Replacing the unit will get you better results and eliminate the prospect of water damage in your home.

High Energy Expenditure

If your energy bills have peaked in your home without clear cause, then the cause might actually be an issue with your home’s energy consumption. An energy efficiency issue has other implications for your comfort. If you want to avoid further problems, the we suggest investing in AC repair with us.

A Lack of Comfort

The number one sign that you should get rid of your boiler is if it’s not keeping you warm. This your boilers main job and if it’s not able to deliver, then it’s a great idea to get yourself a new system. You deserve to feel comfortable as long as you have a working boiler system in your home.

Frequent Repair

How often do you have to repair your boiler? If it’s more than once every few years, then your boiler system is struggling to perform to the best of its ability. This is typically a telltale sign of inefficient operation. In most cases, it’s better to upgrade to a new boiler system rather than continually repairing the same system that’s already proven itself to be inefficient.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. Big enough to serve, small enough to care. 

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6 Signs Your Heater Might Not Make It Through Winter

heater might not make it through winter

If you have a heater at home then of course you want it to keep you warm throughout the entire season. What happens when your home’s heater can’t seem to perform as usual though? This is when you should consider helping your heater with heater repair in Loveland, CO. The trouble comes when you’re trying to figure out if you need heating repair. Sometimes the signs aren’t all that obvious. That’s what our professionals are here for though. If you need to figure out if it’s worthwhile to repair your heater, then you’ve found the right professionals today.

We’ve rounded up some of the most compelling reasons to repair your home’s heater. If you read through this blog today and realize that you should repair it, our professionals will be here to help you. We always want your repair jobs to be as stress-free as possible. It’s why we have the best technicians around on staff.

These Signs Mean You Need Heating Repair

Here are the signs that you need heating repair in your home.

You’re Not Warm Enough

The first sign that you should consider repairing your heater is if your heating system isn’t providing you with enough heating output. It’s easy to chalk up troubles getting warm to the weather we’re experiencing. The fact of the matter is that you should always be able to get warm as long as you have a working heater that’s perfectly fit to your home. If you’re struggling to get warm, it’s a sign that your efficiency is on the chopping block. Repairs can help you get things back on track.

You Can’t Rely on Your Heater

Can you rely on your heater to keep your home warm? If you can’t, then your heater isn’t living up to its intended purpose and you need to consider heating repair.

It Costs Too Much to Run

Have your heating bills steadily increased over this winter season? This is a bad sign. High heating cost means that your efficiency has suffered. The good news is that heating repair can get things back on track.

You Hear Odd Sounds

Have you heard some odd sounds coming from your heater when you run it? This is always a bad sign. Your heater isn’t a completely silent system, but if you’re hearing disruptive noises, then it’s time to have a professional intervene.

You Smell Weird Scents

Have you noticed that your heater makes your home smell a little funky? This is something shouldn’t ever have to notice. If you do, then you should act fast. This could be a potential carbon monoxide issue.

You’re Noticing Uneven Cycling

Are you noticing that there’s uneven cycling happening in your home? This could happen in either extremely short cycles or long cycles. Either way, it’s a problem worth addressing with the help of professionals like ours. Short cycles or long cycles are both signs that there’s trouble regarding your efficiency. We’ll solve your heating problems and get your heater back on track.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for your home’s heating services. We’re “big enough to serve, but small enough to care.”

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5 Crucial Signs That You Need Heating Repair

need heating repair

When your home starts getting chilly for no apparent reason, there’s a good chance you have a problem with your heating unit. But, how can you know for sure if that’s the issue? We’re here to make it easy for you to tell below. If you relate to any of the following issues, then it’s time for you to schedule an appointment for heating repair in Windsor, CO.

The Top 5 Signs That You Need Heating Repair

Here are a few signs that you need heating repair.

1.    Low Heating Output

The first and most obvious sign that you might need to have your heating unit repaired is that your home is cold. In other words, the heater isn’t putting out enough heat to warm up your house. Low heat output is a dead giveaway that something has gone wrong with your heater. So, if you’ve been adjusting your thermostat over and over again, but aren’t noticing any change in temperature, then be sure to call a professional heating repair company today.

2.    High Monthly Energy Bills

It could also be the case that you all of a sudden start receiving higher than normal energy bills, which, unless your rate has suddenly skyrocketed, is a great sign that something is wrong with your heater. Should this be the case, then be sure to contact a heating repair company right away, as the increased monthly cost of energy will likely be much more than the visit from a repair company.

3.    Weird Noises

If your notice that your heater is making weird noises that it never used to make, then chances are that there is something going on, and it’s probably not anything good. Weird noises are usually an early warning sign that something has gone wrong with the heater, and so it’s a great idea to contact a professional heating repair company right away while there’s still a chance to repair the unit. Otherwise, you could be looking at a bill for a whole new heater.

4.    Odd Scents

Like with weird noises, if you suddenly start to smell weird odors coming from your heater, then there’s a good chance that something has gone wrong. Weird smells can be caused by failing mechanical parts and can be a precursor to much bigger problems. In this situation, your best bet is to have a heating repair company come out and take a look to see what’s going on. It could be nothing, but it could also be a serious problem that requires immediate attention.

5.    Poor Operation

Finally, if your heater is acting up, only working sporadically, or otherwise operating poorly, then you can be certain that there is a problem with the unit. Mechanical problems like these never resolve themselves, and the longer you wait to fix them, the more work will be involved, which means a bigger bill. The best thing to do is always to call a professional heating repair company that can fix the problem before it escalates into something major and much more costly.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for your heating repair. We’re the company you can trust because we’re big enough to serve, but small enough to care.

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5 Key Components of Furnace Care

5 Key Components of Furnace Care

Furnaces are the system that most homeowners choose to heat their homes. This is because furnaces are familiar, reliable, and effective. These positive attributes really go a long way when it comes to home heating, so we understand why so many homeowners choose this model.

Although familiarity is one of the biggest perks with a furnace and you might already feel familiar with the model you choose for your home, there’s always a benefit to education. There are many things you can do for your furnace to improve your home’s furnace performance. If you’re curious, then you’ve found the right blog today. Our professionals are the experts in furnaces in Windsor, CO. We have all the information you need.

How to Care for Your Furnace

Here are a few ways that you should care for your home’s furnace to make sure that you’re staying warm with ease this winter.

  1. Clean Your Heater

Any good heating season is going to start off with a little cleaning. When we’re referring to cleaning in light of your home’s heater, we’re not talking about picking up those dust bunnies hiding in the corner, we’re talking about cleaning up your actual unit. It’s easy for your outdoor heating unit to accumulate debris during fall. You want to make sure that all of this is gone before the winter season so that your heater can perform to the best of its ability.

2. Invest in Maintenance

Maintenance is important to great heating care as well. Maintenance is something that we suggest that you schedule an appointment for every single fall season. If this isn’t something you’re doing already, then picking up the habit now will make a huge difference when it comes to the performance of your heater.

3. Get Your Vents Clear

It’s easier than you might think to block a vent in your home. Sometimes we move furniture, place a picture or poster in an inopportune spot, or make other mistakes that can cost us heating power. This is something that we want you to avoid as professionals.

Before we get to the coldest temperatures of the month, we suggest that you take a walk around your home and clear your vents. It’ll benefit you this winter season.

4. Have the Best Thermostat Possible

We want you to have the best thermostat available to you. These days, the best thermostat that you can get your hands on is going to be a smart or Wi-Fi model. We suggest that you get yourself one of these units. We know that there are so many to choose from so if you find the process difficult, we want to help you find the unit you need.

5. Know When to Upgrade

Know when it’s time to stick it out with your heater versus when it’s time to invest in a new unit. If your heater has given you grief for multiple seasons, then we suggest that you upgrade instead of continually repairing it. Upgrading will actually save you money.

Contact Fort Collings Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment for your home’s furnace care. 

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How to Help Your Heater This Winter

How to Help Your Heater This Winter

Now that it’s really getting cold out, it’s important for you to know how to care for your home’s heater. This probably isn’t something that you think about too often and we understand why. There are many things to consider during this time of year. There are holiday get-togethers to plan, gifts to buy, and many people to see. We understand how heating issues can get lost in the shuffle. We want to do our best to bring them back to the forefront today though.

There are some easy things you can do to maintain your HVAC in Loveland, CO. If you want to improve your heating this winter, then we suggest that you start with these tips. If you ever need more in-depth service for your heater, then we’re the team who can help you with this. 

Simple Ways to Help your Heater

Here are a few tips you can try out this winter that are sure to help your heating services.

Always Schedule a Maintenance Appointment

It’s important that you schedule a maintenance appointment every single fall. If you don’t, it’s only going to create opportunities for your heater to fail you. This is why we suggest that you have this service performed every single winter. Maintenance is what’s going to build your system up and help you have efficient and cost effective service for the entire season. If you’re interested in scheduling a maintenance appointment for your home, then we suggest that you take the extra step and enroll yourself in our maintenance program.

Swap Out Your Filter

It’s important to swap out your heater’s filter at the start of each new season. Make sure you do it on a routine basis. It’s the easiest way to make sure that the service you’re getting is as efficient and as effective as possible. A bad filter is going to make your heater work much harder for the same result. You’re also going to pay more for inefficient operation. Swapping out your filter is a simple thing you can do to get your heater in great shape.

Choose Appropriate Temperatures

The next thing you should do is make sure that you’re choosing an appropriate temperature. Sometimes, the temperatures that you choose are inappropriate. You don’t want to choose a temperature that’s too high. We know that it might sound like we’re asking you to do something counterintuitive, but it’s always best to have a little patience with your system. A high temperature isn’t going to make your home heat up faster. You’re likely to end up overworking your system for no reason.

Consider a Thermostat Upgrade

If your home doesn’t seem to be efficient, it might actually be your home’s thermostat. Upgrading to a new thermostat can be the best thing to do for your system. We suggest smart and Wi-Fi thermostats. We understand that you might think you’re getting by with a digital thermostat, but we can assure you that an upgrade would do your home well. You can talk to us for tips about modes to upgrade to.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for you to schedule an appointment for your heating care. 

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How Industry Price Changes Might Affect Your Furnace This Year

How Industry Price Changes Might Affect Your Furnace This Year

We’re moving into fall now. This means that you’re more than likely starting to think about your home’s heating services. If you’re like most other homeowners in the area, then you probably have a furnace. While you’re probably calling up one of our technicians to schedule an appointment for maintenance and you’re thinking about anything that might warrant a repair need. These are all important things to consider. One thing we want to bring to your attention today is that things might be a little different this year.

Your furnace repair in Loveland, CO might be a little different this year due to pricing changes. There are changes going on in the industry and they’re affecting every part of the HVAC world including the customer. Let’s discuss this below…

What’s Happening In The Industry?

There have been major changes in the HVAC industry throughout the past year. Because of COVID-19, there were upsets in the supply chain. There have been shortages when it comes to manufacturing many different products that are essential to our business. There have also been subsequent price changes due to this.

How This Impacts You

We’re making this the central focus of our blog today because there are upcoming price changes starting in September. Our team is fortunate because we have inventory on hand from prior to the equipment price increase. If you get in touch with us as soon as possible about furnace pricing, then we can honor our former pricing model.

Things might be a little more expensive in general, but as long as you’re remaining proactive with your service and getting ahead of the curve, your chances of avoiding these price increases with us are good.

Other Things You Can Do To Help Your Furnace

As long as we’re on the subject of furnace preparation, let’s talk about other things you can do to improve your heating power this winter.

Schedule a Maintenance Appointment

Your maintenance appointment is the most vital part of your furnace preparation. Your maintenance services are the stretch before the race. Make sure that you’re giving your furnace a fighting chance by preparing it for the work ahead. We’re certified professionals who can make this service easy for you. If you’re calling to make an appointment, consider enrolling in our maintenance plan as well.

Repair If Necessary

Sometimes the problems that you’re having with your furnace are bigger than something that maintenance can handle. If you’re at the point where you had persistent problems last year, then you should consider repair services. Repair services don’t have to be difficult. We’re going to make it easy for you.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

Your thermostat should be a Wi-Fi or smart thermostat. That’s the bottom line. Your home’s thermostat should be up to date with your home’s heater. If you haven’t upgraded in a while, we want you to get in touch with our team members to discuss getting a new system.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’re the company you can trust because we’re big enough to serve, but small enough to care.

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Are You Warm Enough?

Are You Warm Enough

Take a moment to think about it—is your heater providing you with the best warmth?

We’re far enough into winter for you to know if your heater is doing its job. If you’re struggling to get warm, stay warm, or do either in an efficient manner, then you’re not warm enough. The bad news is that you need help with your HVAC in Loveland, CO. The good news is that our professionals are here to assist you. It’s important that you stay warm all winter no matter where you are, but it’s especially important during a Colorado winter. We’re going to help you get your heater in shape all while keeping efficiency in mind.

5 Signs That Your Heater Is Struggling

Here are a few signs that your home’s heater is struggling to perform:

1.      Low Output

Low output is one of those things that you probably won’t notice directly at its source. Instead, you’re probably going to notice the symptoms of this problem. Some of the most common symptoms are longer run times and the urge to run your system at higher thermostat settings. We want you to know that neither of these things are good. If you have the urge to do either of these things, your home is going to suffer as a result. It’s the direct result of low efficiency plaguing your system.

2.      Poor IAQ

Let’s talk about your home’s indoor air quality. Have you noticed that it’s declined throughout this winter season? Poor indoor air quality is something that has to do directly with your home’s indoor air, but your home’s heater can also affect this. A bad heater that’s struggling to perform is going to hurt your home’s indoor air quality. Don’t ignore the signs. You might notice coughing, wheezing, or even allergy symptoms throughout the year.

3.      Odd Sounds

Have you heard some odd sounds coming from your home’s heater?

You might notice some weird sounds like banging, scraping, rattling, screeching, etc. These are common sounds that come from a heater that’s in a state of disrepair. Really any noise that’s new is a problem. Your heater is a machine that shouldn’t be picking up any new tricks. New behavior is a bad sign.

4.      Uneven Heating

Your home is going to have some natural temperature disparities. There are some rooms that have more natural light coming in and other rooms that have more shade. This is going to create some rooms that run a little cooler and other rooms that one warmer. This is normal, but stark temperature disparities from room to room are not normal. Uneven heating is a sign that your heater is struggling to perform.

5.      High Energy Bills

Have you noticed that your home’s energy bills are a lot higher than normal? High energy bills aren’t something that you want to notice unless you’re running your heater more often than normal. If this winter has been business as usual, but your energy bills reflect anything but this, then it’s going to hurt your process of getting warm.

Big enough to serve, but small enough to care. Contact us for your home’s heating services.

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Simple Tips for Protecting Heating Efficiency

Protecting Heating Efficiency

We’re not going to use this post to tell you about all of the incredible, cutting edge, high-efficiency heating systems that we have to offer. I mean, we do have those systems, and you can definitely give us a call if you’re interested in investing in a brand new heater. But this post is not meant to be a sales pitch.

We just want to help you to heat your home more efficiently.

Times are tough for a lot of people right now, and a little bit of improved efficiency can go a long way. And even if you’re finances are doing just fine—why pay more than you should have to for your home comfort? Doesn’t make much sense, does it? Follow these tips to keep costs in check and enjoy more affordable heating in Loveland, CO.

Those Ceiling Fans? Use Them! Seriously!

If you have ceiling fans and you’re not using them in the winter, then you’re not using your ceiling fans properly. But before you say “okay” and just pull that chain, stop to make sure your ceiling fans are rotating in the right direction.  If you’re not aware—and it’s not that uncommon—there is a switch on the body of the fan that allows you to switch its directional rotation.

In the winter, you want the ceiling fan to be spinning clockwise. Remember, these fans aren’t actually doing anything to actively cool the air in the summer. They just circulate air, helping you to feel more comfortable. And by reversing their direction in the winter, you can do the same. Hot air rises, so heat can get trapped up at the ceiling in your home. By running your fans in a clockwise direction, you can force that heated air back down into the living space.

That Air Filter? Change It Regularly!

We will change your air filter when we complete your heating tune-up. But that’s a once a year service, right? And once a year is not frequent enough when it comes to changing your air filter. It varies as to how frequently these filters need to be changed. Pets, general cleanliness, and even the outdoor environment can all influence conditions in your home—conditions that will, in turn, influence how frequently you need to change your air filter.

Remember, the purpose of this air filter is not really to protect the indoor air quality throughout your entire home. It is there to protect your HVAC system itself. A dirty air filter creates excessive airflow resistance, boosting energy usage and operating costs. Plus, it can lead to issues that further impede energy efficiency.

Schedule Maintenance

No getting around this one. A properly functioning heater is an efficient heater. And the only way in which to keep your heater in the best operating condition possible is by scheduling routine, professional maintenance. Our maintenance program makes keeping up with routine maintenance easier than ever—and it offers a whole bunch of additional benefits, too!

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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Why Your Furnace Blows Cool Air

furnace cool

Whether you’re hitting the slopes with the family, cross country skiing through the backcountry, or just making a snowman with the kids out back, there is a lot to love about winter in Colorado.

If you’re not able to heat your home effectively, though, it’s a lot tougher to keep your enthusiasm up.

That’s why any necessary furnace repairs in Loveland, CO need to be handled promptly. You don’t want to ignore a minor problem, only to have it cause serious issues down the road. You also don’t want to be scheduling repairs that aren’t actually needed, either. 

Today, we’re going to talk about an alarming situation with a lot of potential causes—a furnace blowing cool air. The cause of the problem isn’t always very serious, but it may be. That’s why a professional diagnosis, and a bit of working knowledge, is so important!

#1 The Best-Case Scenario

Before you even pick up the phone to schedule furnace repairs with us, go ahead and check your thermostat.

We know, it sounds obvious. We’re not accusing anyone of anything. But you definitely don’t need us to fix this problem!

Is it possible that the thermostat was accidentally switched over to cooling? Do you have a fan-only mode that may be enabled? If so, that fan will continue running even when heat is not being generated.

Using a smart or programmable thermostat? Check the programs you’ve created, and make sure that they’re still seasonally appropriate. If you can’t find an obvious cause at the thermostat, there are other, more serious possibilities.

#2 Leaky Ductwork

Is the air cold coming out of the vents during extended fan cycles or when the fan first comes on? It is possible that you have leaky ductwork or that it may need to be insulated, and you’ll need to have them professionally sealed or insulated to resolve the issue.

When ducts leak, heat escapes. Then, the air that has now cooled down is distributed throughout the house. Depending on where the leak is and how serious it is, you may only notice a specific area affected. However, it could be more pervasive. Professional inspection and testing of your ducts is the only way to determine for certain if this is the issue. Fortunately, we offer duct testing and sealing services to get things resolved the right way.

#3 Fan Limit Switch Malfunction

Your furnace has a number of different controls and features that help it to function effectively and safely. One of these is the fan limit switch. Basically, this switch tracks temperatures in your furnace plenum. If the air in the plenum gets too hot from a failed motor, restricted air flow or dirty filter it can cause the limit to fail. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.

If the limit switch malfunctions, the blower may run even when heat is not being generated (just like that fan-only mode), and you’ll feel cool air coming from the vents as a result. A properly functioning limit switch ensures that the furnace will not overheat and if it does will normally reset itself. If it sticks open and fails to reset the furnace will not come on.

Schedule your furnace services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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