Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Heating

You’ve just finished with your heating installation in Bellvue, CO—now how do you get the best performance from your new heater? We have some tips here that will help your heater live up to its potential without undue wear and tear.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning has kept North Colorado warm since 1934. Trust to our experience when you need help with your new heater.

Keep the thermostat set to energy-saving temperatures

Your thermostat may have a very high setting—sometimes 90°F—but you shouldn’t turn it up that high because it will waste energy and force your heating system to work too hard… which will wear it down faster. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests maintaining a temperature of 68°F while you’re awake, and 58°F when you’re asleep. Most people can be comfortable at these temperatures with an extra layer of clothes or an additional blanket.

Expand your heat pump with a hybrid heating system

If you have installed a heat pump, you might consider upgrading it to a hybrid system. Heat pumps can sometimes struggle with extracting sufficient heat from the outdoors when the temperature drops below freezing—a common occurrence in Northern Colorado! However, a hybrid system hooks your heat pump up to a back-up system that uses a different fuel source, such as a propane furnace. This second heater will turn on whenever your heat pump needs help with the cold. It’s a great way to have the benefits of a heat pump without spending too much on additional heating energy, since the back-up system will only come on when necessary.

Schedule regular maintenance on your heating system

Your new heater may seem like it’s invincible, but it isn’t. Don’t wait to start regular heating maintenance for it until it starts to malfunction. Your heater should have a yearly check-up and tune-up from professionals so that it will stay in “like new” condition for many years, and so it will last up to and beyond its manufacturer’s suggested lifespan.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning want you to have the best heating you can get from your newly installed system. Along with the above suggestions, make sure that whenever you detect problems that need repair, you call up professionals to take care of it right away.

Contact us to help you get the most out of your new heating installation in Bellvue, CO.

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The cold winter weather is approaching Colorado: it’s time to have your new furnace installed so you can have a pleasant season instead of an uncomfortable one. Although furnaces have existed for centuries, the current models offer technological advances that make them durable, effective, and efficient. But how do you go about finding a new furnace?

Shopping in the crowded HVAC marketplace can bewilder many homeowners, and installing a new furnace is an especially important decision: most likely you will have your furnace working for you longer than any car you buy. We can help you through the process of finding the furnace that will give you the comfort you need this winter.

Look to Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for excellent furnace installation in Windsor, CO.

First, hire professionals

The best place to start looking for a new furnace is with a professional installation company. An experienced HVAC company will offer a variety of furnaces brands, models, and types that will match any home. When you have professionals involved from the start, you will find the process much easier because you’ll have an expert opinion whenever you need it.

Next, consider your energy source

Furnaces can run from a variety of fuels. Currently, natural gas and electricity are the most common, but some can run from oil or propane. Think of the fuel supply available in your house and if it’s the best option to power your new furnace. If you already have a natural gas line to your home, then a gas furnace will probably be your best bet. Electric furnaces will work almost everywhere, and are usually an option.

Now, have your furnace properly sized

Furnaces don’t come in a “one size fits all” model: they must match your home’s heating requirements. Simply picking the largest furnace you can afford will end up costing you much more than its selling price: it will perform inefficiently, drain power, and run down faster. Since you already have professionals assisting you, let them determine your home’s heating needs through a heat load calculation. They can help you find the ideal-sized furnace.

Finally, sit back and let the installers do the work

You’ve found the perfect furnace. Relax now, because the installers will take care of the hard work. In no time at all, they’ll have your new heater hooked up to its fuel source and linked to the home’s ductwork. The professionals will make sure everything is working effectively and safely before they leave you to your new comfort.

Get started on finding a new furnace: contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, where offering heating service for Windsor homes has been our priority since 1934.

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The winters in North Colorado can be as oppressive as they are beautiful—especially if your home heater has problems giving you sufficient warmth. If you discover cold spots in your house, or find yourself waking up each morning to an unexpected chill, you may have a problem with your heating system.

There are a number of reasons unconnected to your heater that can result in a chillier house: deteriorating insulation, heat leaks around doors and windows, and open fireplace dampers. But in this post we’re going to look at two issues that are specific to your heating system—and what you can do about them.

If you need help getting better quality heating in Windsor, CO, call on Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Our longevity speaks for our quality: we’ve been in business since 1934.

2 reasons your heater isn’t giving you enough heat

Thermostat problems: No matter the type of heater you have—from a furnace to a geothermal heat pump—you will control it through a thermostat. If your thermostat begins to malfunction, it will have trouble detecting the temperature in your home or it will lose its precision control and struggle to reach its setting. In either case, your thermostat will start turning your heater on and off at the wrong times, leading to uneven heating and a colder home. Fortunately, thermostat issues are simple problems to fix for professional technicians, since they only need to access the thermostat itself, not the heating unit.

Wear and tear from lack of maintenance: A heater will only work its best if it receives regular inspections and tune-ups—at least once a year, preferably during the fall before the serious cold starts. If you’ve let your heater go without regular maintenance, it will age faster and strain to reach its target temperature. The wear on its parts will result in a weaker performance. It’s never too late to start regular maintenance; however, so schedule it at the same time you schedule the necessary repairs.

Don’t sit around in a cold home and hope that your heater will magically “get better” and conditions will improve. They won’t. You need professionals to find out what has caused the drop in performance from your heater and then offer solutions to the problem. Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today if you aren’t getting the heat you need, and make sure your heater is ready for winter with a maintenance visit from one of our highly trained technicians.

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In towns like Windsor, heating issues are more than small potatoes.  High altitudes and cold winters make proper heating a must for any home, and as the summer winds down, you want to make sure your system is ready for it. Regardless of whether you have a traditional heating system, a heat pump, a geothermal system, or a radiant heating system, the heating season is here; are you prepared? Here are a few helpful tips to make sure.

First of all, make sure you schedule a routine maintenance session from qualified professional as soon as the summer season ends. He’ll take a look at your heater and tighten any loose bolts or fittings as well as cleaning dirty components and other “tune-up” duties. Not only does this ensure the heater gets cleaned up after an idle summer, but it lets the technician spot any potential trouble spots and schedule a repair session before winter kicks in. Better to make repairs before you need the heater than deal with it breaking down in the middle of a snowstorm.

In addition to the heater itself, you ought to do a little maintenance on your house. See about adding insulation if you can, and make sure you seal up any leaks around your doors and windows. That will help your home retain heat much more readily, cutting down on the cost of energy without skimping on the heating you need.

Finally, you may want to consider upgrading your system with new components like a programmable thermostat or zone controls. The former lets you turn the heat on and off automatically – saving you money when you go to work or run errands – while the latter lets you turn the heat on only in those parts of the house that you’re using. Both help you save on energy costs as well as improving the overall comfort levels in your home.

The experts at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning can help you with getting ready for the heating season, as well as repair and installation issues. We offer Windsor heating services, and our staff is dedicated to your satisfaction. The heating season is here; are you prepared? Give us a call and you will be.

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The gap between summer and winter in Colorado offers unique challenges and opportunities for your heating system. On one hand, a sudden cold spell can strike abruptly as the fall deepens, possibly catching you unprepared with a heater that doesn’t function properly. On the other hand, the fall is a less busy time for HVAC experts, making it a fairly simple task to schedule any maintenance you need to get your heater prepared for the impending chill. We at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning have gone through many fall seasons helping people in Bellvue, CO with heating their homes. We want to pass on some of what we’ve learned about preparing your heating system for the fall, so you’re not caught in the cold unexpectedly without a working heating solution.

The most important step to take is to call an expert heating company and arrange for regular maintenance visits. Hopefully, you’ve already enrolled in a preventive maintenance program. If you haven’t, now is the perfect time to check this off your list! A visit from a AC professional will get your heater tuned-up and ready for the colder weather. You will also learn if you need to get any important repairs done. Take care of these as soon as you can—the technician will be able to make the arrangements for you—and avoid later time crunches.

For furnace owners, you should swap out your old filter and put in a new one. Filters protect the furnace from internal damage, so you want to start the fall with a fresh one to keep your furnace safe. If you use a boiler to heat your home, give it a visual inspection to make sure it isn’t leaking from the tank or at the pipe and line connections. Pay attention to any rumbling noises from the boiler, which may indicate a problem that requires professional repair, such as a build-up of sediment or lime inside.

Don’t delay doing any of this—especially the professional check-up! Fall can get cold when we least anticipate it. Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning can serve all your Bebllvue, CO heating needs for the fall with our trained technicians. You can expect quality service from a company with four generations of experience. Look into our maintenance program and schedule a visit today!

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