Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

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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HVAC Efficiency Tips

Our Loveland, CO HVAC technicians are here to help you get the most from your heating system. It can get extremely cold for long stretches here in Colorado during the winter, and guaranteeing that your heater is in prime working condition should definitely be a top priority. But you don’t just want to heat your home effectively. You want to do so in an efficient manner as well, right? Today, we are going to focus our post on ways in which to improve HVAC efficiency this winter.

While investing in a brand new HVAC system with a high energy efficiency rating is obviously going to get you some great results, doing so comes at a considerable expense. That is why we want to cover some of the simpler ways in which to improve the efficiency with which you heat your home without replacing the entire system. Read on, and be sure to contact a member of our team if you have any questions or if you want to schedule any HVAC services.

Take Advantage of Natural Heat Gain

When you leave the house in the morning, or if you are at home on the weekend, make sure that you don’t forget to draw the curtains back and let the sun in. It sounds simple, and it is. However, allowing heat to enter into your home naturally through this type of solar heat gain is a very efficient–free, actually–way to take some of the strain off of your home heating system. A bit of glare on the TV is probably worth the benefits of warming up your home with some much-needed sunshine in the winter season, don’t you think?

Upgrade That Old Thermostat

We said that you don’t have to replace your entire HVAC system to enjoy better heating efficiency. What about simply upgrading your thermostat, however? If you are using a manual thermostat with dial or slide controls, upgrading to a digital thermostat can give you more accurate control over temperature settings, and that can help you to reign in heating costs a bit.

For further savings, however, you should consider the use of a programmable thermostat. That way, you won’t have to decide between fully heating an empty house all day long, or coming home to an uncomfortably cold environment. A programmable thermostat can be programmed around your own personal schedule. Smart thermostats take things even further, and we can determine if one can be integrated into your existing HVAC system.

Schedule Routine Maintenance!

Yeah, yeah. We’ve said it before. Many times. But we’re going to keep saying it: scheduling routine heating maintenance is far and away the best thing that you can do for your home heating system. Not only does routine heating maintenance keep repair needs at bay while helping you to live more comfortably, it also keeps your heater working at peak efficiency levels. You don’t have to drain the budget just to live in the level of comfort that you deserve!

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You want to keep your home cool and comfortable, but you also don’t want to drain your budget when cooling your home with your air conditioning system. While replacing your entire air conditioner in Laporte, CO with a more efficient system may seem like your only option, it most certainly is not. Read on to learn more about how you can boost energy efficiency in order to cool your home more affordably this summer season.

  • Insulate your home properly. Investing in additional insulation for weak spots in your home will pay back month after month throughout the year. Insulation works both ways, keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer. That means that you can enjoy year round energy savings.
  • Recover energy that you’ve already paid for and used with an energy recovery ventilator. An ERV also works year-round, allowing you to ventilate your home sufficiently without wasting the energy that you’ve used to heat or cool your home.
  • Consider the use of a zone control system. A zone control system allows you to distribute conditioned air throughout your home in a more planned way. No longer will you need to cool your entire house to one set temperature throughout.
  • Don’t forget about your ceiling fans. While it is true that these fans don’t actively cool the air in your home, as your air conditioner does, they can help to distribute cooled air throughout your home more effectively, taking some strain off of your air conditioning system.
  • Upgrade your thermostat. If you are using an old manual thermostat, there is no way that you are regulating the operation of your AC as successfully as possible. Opting for programmability, or even smart technology, can make a huge difference.

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

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