Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Heater

Tune-Up Your Heater!

September 17, 2018

Oh man, I’m not ready to start thinking about winter yet. Come on, the heat of the summer months is still burning off! Why do you have to be like this!

Because, sometimes, the truth hurts.

Look, we understand the thought of winter doesn’t appeal to all of you out there. And even those of us that love to hit the slopes will admit that, sometimes, the cold can get to be a little much. But that’s the entire point!

Scheduling heating maintenance now means less hassle then, when you really need your heating system the most. By putting your heating in Loveland, CO in our hands, you can rest assured in knowing that some of the finest technicians out there are looking out for your comfort when the heating season arrives. Just remember that heating tune-ups cannot be completed by anyone other than skilled, trained professionals. So call today, and read on to learn more about what heating maintenance has to offer.

Why Hire Professionals?

To keep warranties intact, first of all. To protect your equipment. To protect yourself. Pretty much any reason you can think of. Are we saying there is nothing you can do to help maintain your heating system. No. You can change your air filter regularly. You can keep the ducts unobstructed. You can clear snow away from the outdoor unit of heat pumps. But you cannot crack open the heater and try to complete a thorough tune-up.

This type of job is much, much more complicated than many homeowners seem to realize. You need to clean electrical contacts, test voltage, tighten connections, lubricate all moving parts, replace worn components, test relays and controls, and so much more. It is a job that only trained, experienced professionals can handle, and any damages caused by DIY service attempts are only going to leave you on the hook for the resulting repair costs.

Why Do It At All?

Because there is no better way to keep your heater up and running reliably. Your heating system, regardless of type or make/model, incurs a lot of wear and tear over the course of the heating season. Left unaddressed, this wear and tear is going to make your heating system much more susceptible to problems and, eventually, breakdowns.

Of course, you don’t just get a more reliable heating experience by scheduling routine maintenance. You can also pay less for a better heating experience! How? Because a properly maintained heating system is the only type of heater that is going to function at peak efficiency levels. The only thing worse than failing to heat your home effectively and reliably is overpaying for such a lousy experience. When you remain diligent about scheduling routine heating maintenance each year, you won’t have to worry about such problems. It won’t increase the heater’s overall efficiency rating, but it will keep it working as close to its peak efficiency as possible.

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

Why Is My Heater Making This Sound?

March 21, 2018

When you live in a place like Colorado, it goes without saying that you need to invest in a great home heating system. It should also go without saying—although we say it a lot—that the best way in which to keep your heater functioning at peak performance and efficiency levels is to schedule routine heating maintenance service. Unfortunately, it also goes without saying that even the best heating equipment that is expertly tuned-up by qualified professionals will, eventually, require professional heating repair.

When you need heating repairs in Loveland, CO, you need look no further than the professional technicians on our staff. We are not only going to diagnose the problem accurately, we’ll also fix it right the first time. That way, you can get your heater back to functioning at the level that you deserve. Of course, in order to schedule any necessary repairs, you need to recognize the need for such repairs in the first place!

So Keep Your Ears Open!

Okay, keep your eyes open may be the more common expression, but listening to your heating system could help you to recognize early signs of trouble. You want to listen not only for louder than usual sounds when you are heating your home, but also entirely new, unusual sounds developing. What types of sounds are we talking about?

Screeching sounds. If you hear your heater screeching at you like an angry owl, then it is likely that a metal component is rubbing up against another. That shouldn’t be happening if this sound is the result. You may also need a worn belt replaced. When dealing with such problems, it’s best to do so before something breaks entirely and more extensive repairs are needed.
Grinding sounds. Is your system short of grinding to a halt entirely, but grinding nonetheless? It’s possible that there is not sufficient lubrication on some moving parts in your heater. Sure, it may be running, but that friction is also generating heat—and not the type that you want! Not only are the parts in question wearing down, but you’re definitely losing efficiency and putting a lot of strain on the system that greatly increases the risk of other problems developing.
Clanging sounds. If you hear a clanging or banging sound coming from your heating system, then you could have a blower mount that is not level. The fan may be hitting its casing. Over time, this not only damages the components in question, but will seriously inhibit the ability of a forced air heating system to distribute heated air throughout the house.

Ultimately, heeding these warning signs is the responsibility of the homeowner. We don’t expect you, and certainly would not advise that you try, to diagnose or fix any existing problems on your own. You do need to recognize them for what they are, however: cries for help from your home heating system! Schedule service with us when you encounter such sounds coming from your heater.

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

Should I Use a Gas or Electric Furnace?

March 5, 2018

It is a question as old as time—should I use a gas furnace or an electric furnace? Okay, so that may be something of an overstatement, but that doesn’t change that it is, in fact, a very common question. And it is one that we cannot answer definitively for all of our readers here and now. Why not? Because both types of furnaces have their pros and cons, and a number of factors must be considered in each individual case.

There is no such thing as a completely perfect furnace for everyone, or a perfect furnace in general. All users will require furnace repairs in Windsor, CO at some point, for instance. Today, we’ll take this opportunity to explore some of the benefits of using a furnace, and we’ll also look at some factors to consider when deciding whether a gas or electric model is right for you. So read on, and be sure to reach out if you have any questions or are ready for outstanding furnace services.

Heat Distribution Is the Same

Regardless of which type of furnace you use, gas or electric, you’ll still be heating air directly. Once that air is heated, then you’ll be distributing that heated air throughout your house via a system of ductwork. This is something of a benefit in its own right. If you use a whole-house air conditioning system in order to cool your home, then you are already using ductwork. That means the furnace and the AC can share the same distribution system.

Electricity Is Efficient, But Still More Expensive

Some homeowners mistake “efficient” as meaning the same thing as affordable. In reality, however, you’re talking about two separate issues. Electricity is the more expensive of the these two resources. However, electric furnaces are also the more efficient option. What does this mean for you?

When you use an electric furnace, you are not losing any heat to flue gases. That means that you’re working at nearly 100% efficiency, but could still wind up paying more to heat your home than you would if using more affordable natural gas. However, electric furnaces also tend to be cheaper to install and purchase. Not every home has gas hookups in place, either, or even available as a possibility.

Natural Gas and Electricity Are Both Versatile

So chances are that you use electricity in your home. It’s a ubiquitous resource in this day and age. Does the fact that you have electricity already at your disposal mean you shouldn’t bother connecting your home to a natural gas line? Definitely not.

While electricity is necessary in your home for lights, powering the fans of certain heating systems, and water heaters, etc., it doesn’t have to be the only resource that you use! Mixing and matching is typically the way to go. We use our heaters enough in this part of the country that it makes sense to opt for the more affordable options in most cases. If you have access to natural gas, we’d suggest taking advantage of that. You can also use it to heat water for use throughout your home, and to fuel your oven/range, and other appliances.

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

Why Schedule Prompt Heating Repair?

January 8, 2018

If your heater were to break down entirely, then chances are that you would not hesitate to contact a professional HVAC repair technician to come out and get it back up and running. After all, our winter weather can be very, very cold here in Colorado, and a broken down heater is a serious issue. However, we would also suggest that you should never wait for your heater to break down completely before scheduling repairs.

In many, though not all, cases, your heater is going to give you some warning signs that trouble is brewing. It is always in your best interest to take heed of these warning signs and to schedule prompt heating repair in Masonville, CO. The benefits of tackling these problems as early as possible far outweigh any perceived “benefits” of waiting for the problem to progress. Here are a few of the ways in which prompt heating repair can benefit you, your comfort, and your heater itself.

Save Money

How does scheduling a service that you need to pay for wind up saving you money, you may be wondering? Well, the fact is that it will cost some money to have an ailing heater repaired. Another fact is that the worse off your heating system is, the more money it will likely cost to repair it. If you want to get your heater back on track before relatively manageable problems have a chance to get much worse, then it is definitely in your best interest to have repairs completed as soon as possible. Of course, prompt repairs don’t just fend off further damages. They can help you to save money in another important way, too.

Save Efficiency

The efficiency with which your heating system works is far too important a factor to take any chances with. That is why a heater that is still up and running decently just isn’t enough. The fact that your heater is operational does not mean that it is operating at peak efficiency levels, and that definitely is not the case if you are ignoring operational issues just because your heater has not broken down entirely yet. Don’t pay more than you should you have to in order to keep your home comfortable this winter. Instead, schedule your heating repairs the moment that you notice something has gone wrong.

Save Your System!

Perhaps the greatest benefit of prompt heating repairs is the fact that they can help to prevent potentially catastrophic damages with your system. At a certain point, any heater can suffer enough damages to justify the replacement of the heater, even if that time comes well before the end of the system’s projected lifespan. We believe that you deserve to enjoy the best performance possible from your heater for the longest amount of time, and that is just another reason why prompt heating repairs are so vital. Contact us with any concerns you may have.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning is big enough to serve, small enough to care.

Furnace Installation: Facts to Consider

December 25, 2017

If you are thinking about installing a furnace in Loveland, CO, then you are already on a path toward great comfort! Furnaces have the potential to heat homes efficiently and reliably. However, this potential can only be fulfilled when that system is carefully chosen, designed for, and installed in your home. If you are serious about getting the best performance that your furnace has to offer, then it is important to take a few facts into consideration.

Our team wants you to get the most from your furnace, which is why we’re happy to use today’s post in order to help you focus on these facts. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have, so be sure to call our number and ask away. It gets far too cold for too long in this part of the country to take any chances with the overall performance of your new home heating system.

Gas or Electric?

Natural gas is a great fuel source, and it is the preferred fuel of many homeowners when it comes to their ovens, water heaters, and, yes, furnaces. In order to use natural gas, however, you must have access to a gas line and you must have the hookups required for piping that gas safely to your appliances. If you don’t have access to natural gas, or if you just don’t want to pipe it into your home, you may consider the use of an electric furnace.

Electric furnaces are reliable, and they can heat air as effectively as a gas furnace. Because the cost of electricity is relatively high when compared to that of natural gas, though, using an electric furnace does typically cost more than it would to heat your home with natural gas.

Energy Efficiency

You should definitely look carefully at the energy efficiency rating given to your furnace. Furnace efficiency is measured with an AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. Because electric furnaces don’t lose any heat to flue gases, they tend to work near 100% efficiency.

That’s great and means that you’re really getting your money’s worth out of the electricity that you’re paying for, but the issue of cost associated with electricity raised above still means that, more efficient or not, electric furnaces may cost more to run. It is not the only factor to consider, but it is one to keep in mind.

Sizing

When it comes to a furnace, bigger is not always better. You obviously are not going to want to invest in a furnace that is too small to heat your home effectively. However, an oversized furnace is no better than an undersized one. You’ll be paying for a heating capacity that you’ll never need, and you’ll wind up with a system that short-cycles as it adjusts temperatures too rapidly. There is a perfect furnace for you out there, and we want to help you find it.

AtFort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re big enough to serve, small enough to care.

Tips for Avoiding Furnace Repair Needs

November 27, 2017

Your furnace is really going to be put to the test during our long, cold heating season. While there is no way in which any furnace can truly be 100% reliable, there are certainly steps that you can take to help avoid any problems developing with your furnace. Do not overlook simple practices that can help to minimize the occurrence and severity of trouble with your furnace. Today, our team has put together a few tips for you to keep in mind.

The best thing that you can do for your furnace once you come to realize that a problem has indeed developed is to schedule prompt, professional furnace repairs. The longer that you wait before doing so, the worse off your furnace problems are likely to be. Once issues manifest, you should never, ever attempt to fix them on your own. Preventive measures are one thing, but actual furnace repairs in Windsor, CO really need to be handled by experienced professionals.

Maintain a Clear, Clean Space Around the Furnace

It does not matter who made your furnace or how well it was installed, allowing clutter and debris to build up on and around the unit is going to increase the risk of problems developing with your furnace. For its sake, as well as your own safety, you are want to maintain a clear barrier around the furnace cabinet.

When dust and dirt build up around the furnace, those materials can wind up being pulled into the system and building up on integral components within. When that happens, the furnace may be overstrained, and operational problems can develop. Never stack items on or around the furnace, no matter how tight storage space in your home may be.

Change the Air Filter

There isn’t any visible dust blowing out of your air vents, so your furnace’s air filter must be in okay shape, right? Wrong. While a very dirty air filter may cause so much airflow resistance that air is forced around it, resulting in pollutants making their way into the ductwork, issues will start well before then.

Typically, these filters are going to need to be changed every 1–3 months. If they’re not changed frequently enough, they will clog up. That leads to reduced efficiency, excess strain on the system, and eventually problems such as short cycling. Changing the air filter regularly is very simple, and very beneficial.

Schedule Routine Maintenance

If you have visited this blog or read through our website before, then you probably saw this one coming from a mile away. There is nothing—nothing—that you can do for your furnace that is more beneficial than scheduling routine maintenance. It’s just that simple.

Our technicians will thoroughly inspect your furnace, going over the system as a whole with a fine-toothed comb. We’ll tune it up meticulously, ensuring that every component of the system is able to pull its own weight in order to benefit the system at large as much as possible. We’ll also keep an eye out for problems in the early stages of development, resolving them before damage can be done.

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

HVAC Efficiency Tips: Winter Edition

November 13, 2017

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!

Get Out Ahead of These Heating Problems

October 30, 2017

The warm, sunny days stuck around for a good stretch this year, and we still have some pleasant weather to enjoy. But you’ve no doubt noticed how chilly it is getting at night, and the days are cooling off, too. The air conditioning season is behind us once more, and you are going to be depending upon your heater more and more for the next few months. Make sure that your heater is up to the challenge.

The best way in which to do so is, of course, with routine heating maintenance. Even the best heaters will run into trouble from time to time, though, regardless of how well-maintained they are. When that happens, it is always in your best interest to have the problem resolved as soon as possible. Here are a few common heating problems that you may run into. If and when you do, be sure to let the pros on our team handle your heating repairs in Masonville, CO.

The Heater Is Blowing Cool Air

Aside from a heater that will not start up at all, this is about as obvious as a problem with your heating system can get. If your heater is blowing cool air from its vents, there are a number of different problems that you may be experiencing. In fact, this is true of many heating problems. That is why a professional diagnosis is so important.

If the air throughout your house is cool, then it is possible that the heater is only running the fan. This may be a mistake in thermostat settings, or it could be a malfunction. If it’s the latter, we’ll make sure that your heater is generating sufficient heat once more as soon as possible.

The Heater Is Making Strange Sounds

Chances are that you hear noise of some sort coming from your heater, from the whoosh of air through the ductwork to the hiss of steam boilers to clicking sounds as the furnace cools down. However, you may also hear new noises, or noises that are much louder than usual. If this is the case, then you may require professional heating repairs.

The worst thing that you can do in the event of strange sounds coming from your heater is to ignore the problem just because the heater is still, well, heating. Just because your heater is running does not mean that all is well. It is only a matter of time before you learn that the hard way if you run into strange sounds with your system.

The Heater Keeps Shutting Down

If your heater is starting up but then shutting down again very quickly, it is short-cycling. This wastes energy and winds up costing you more money for a lesser performance from your heater. Let us know if your system is short-cycling right away.

It could be the result of something as simple as a dirty air filter increasing airflow resistance to the point the system overheats. You may also have a refrigerant leak in a heat pump, though. The best way to ensure that the right problem is resolved the right way is to hire our team for the job!

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning is big enough to serve, small enough to care.

Is it Too Early for Heating Maintenance?

October 18, 2017

We wouldn’t bother writing an entire blog post on the subject if the answer were “yes,” would we? If you’ve been to this blog before–and we do hope that you’ve taken in some of the information and tips to be found here–then you know that we are huge advocates for annual heating maintenance. You may also know that it’s not so much about the timing of the maintenance within the calendar year, as much as it is that it happens once during the year.

With that in mind, no, it is not even remotely too early for heating maintenance in Loveland, CO. Daytime temperatures are beginning a decline into the 70s, and on the lower end of that range in the days to come. Nighttime temperatures, meanwhile, are dropping into the 40s and even the 30s! You may be turning to your heating system before you know it, and it is best to have it ready for action when that time comes.

Make Sure Your Heater Is Running Reliably

Imagine that you’re a marathon runner (if you’re not in real life, that is; if you are, feel free to skip this step). You train and train, complete your marathon, and then take some well-deserved time off. Now, would you just jump right back into a marathon without getting yourself back into that level of shape again, regardless of how well you performed in the previous marathon? Of course not!

Just because your heater made it through the last heating season successfully does not mean that it is going to do just fine being thrown into another one. Remember, not all issues with your heater are going to result in it breaking down. If you allow the wear and tear on your heater to stack up, though, that is a real possibility over time.

Heat Your Home Affordably

Now, routine heating maintenance is not somehow going to make your heater more efficient than its efficiency rating allows for. What it will do, however, is keep your heater working at or as close to its peak efficiency level as possible. Even if your heater is effectively heating your home, it may be costing you more to run it than it should.

Problems like insufficient lubrication and loose components may not be something that you’d immediately realize. They are the types of issues that can result in reduced energy efficiency, however. Scheduling annual maintenance will allow your heater to work not only as effectively, but also as efficiently, as it can.

Maintain a Good Lifespan

Every time a homeowner pushes a heater through another season of service without the maintenance that it needs, they are effectively shaving some time off that system’s lifespan. No heater is going to last forever, obviously. There is no mechanical system out there that can make that claim. With an annual heating tune-up each and every year, though, you can make sure that your heater gives you the best it can for as long as it can.

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

What Does a Heating Tune-Up Involve?

October 16, 2017

Chances are that, if you have perused our site or read our blog before, you’ve noticed that we really like singing the virtues of annual heater maintenance in Loveland, CO. We are not always suggesting this service and reminding our clients’ of its importance to line our pockets. We’d make much more money doing constant repairs and replacements if that’s what we wanted. No, we like to remind our clients about routine maintenance simply because it is in their best interest.

If you have any doubts about why routine heating maintenance is so important, or if you’ve just always wondered what actually goes on during this service, then today’s post is for you! Read on, and be sure to let the professionals on our staff complete your heating tune-up. That way, you’ll have no doubt about the job being done right every time, and every step of the way. When we get your heater ready for the winter season, you’ll be able to enjoy the comfort that you deserve.

What You Can (and Cannot) Do On Your Own

Okay, let us start this off by saying that this is absolutely not intended to be a DIY guide. There is no way in which you can hope to successfully tune up your heating system on your own. All that we are doing here is pulling back the curtain a bit so that you can understand just how involved and nuanced a true heating tune-up really is.

That being said, we’ll also take a moment to remind you that there is, in fact, an incredibly important maintenance task that you can and should handle on your own. This is the regular cleaning or replacing of the air filter. Typically, this standard filter will need to be changed every 1–3 months. It is simple to do, but can have major benefits for your system. It should not be left for a once a year maintenance visit.

What We’ll Do

Now, the exact steps taken during a routine maintenance service are going to vary a bit from system to system. A boiler will require different checks and adjustments than a heat pump, after all. That being said, here is a general guide of what a heating tune-up looks like:

Clean/inspect the blower assembly in the indoor unit.
Inspect ignition systems.
Inspect flue/ventilation.
Check all electrical components and contacts.
Inspect and clean outdoor units as applicable (heat pumps).
Test starting and running capability.
Check thermostat.
Check gas pressure.
Inspect/clean burners.
Test voltage/amperage.
Listen for abnormal sounds/monitor of strange odors while running.

And much, much more. From ruling out refrigerant leaks in heat pumps to changing out the aforementioned air filter in all forced-air heating systems, there is a lot for our technicians to cover during your maintenance service. When it comes to ensuring that your heater is functioning at peak performance, efficiency, and safety levels, there is really no such thing as being too careful.

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

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Heater

Why Hire Professionals?

Why Do It At All?

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

So Keep Your Ears Open!

Heat Distribution Is the Same

Electricity Is Efficient, But Still More Expensive

Natural Gas and Electricity Are Both Versatile

Save Money

Save Efficiency

Save Your System!

Gas or Electric?

Energy Efficiency

Sizing

Maintain a Clear, Clean Space Around the Furnace

Change the Air Filter

Schedule Routine Maintenance

Take Advantage of Natural Heat Gain

Upgrade That Old Thermostat

Schedule Routine Maintenance!

The Heater Is Blowing Cool Air

The Heater Is Making Strange Sounds

The Heater Keeps Shutting Down

Make Sure Your Heater Is Running Reliably

Heat Your Home Affordably

Maintain a Good Lifespan

What You Can (and Cannot) Do On Your Own

What We’ll Do

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

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