Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

October 2013

How Long Does It Take to Install a New Heater?

October 24, 2013

If you need to get a new heater installed, either because your old one has finally reached the end of its years of service or because you’ve moved into a new house, one of the big questions on your mind probably is: “How long will it take to install a heater?”

The good news: any heating installation can be done very quickly. The bad news: that’s only if the job is done poorly. Like any complex task that’s worth doing right, installing a new heater requires enough time to get it done so the new system will perform as it supposed to. However, if you hire experienced professionals to handle your heating installation, you can expect the technicians to use the time efficiently, and the end result will be a heater that will work for you for many years with few repair needs.

When you want an efficient and effective heating installation in Johnstown, CO, look to Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. We have served northern Colorado since 1934.

It’s impossible to give an exact time frame for heater installation: it depends on the type of heater, its size, the configuration of the space it’s going into, your home’s requirements, and your previous heating system. Boilers, for example, if they are put in as a replacement for a previous boiler, can take as little as one day to get installed. If the new boiler requires additional alterations to the previous system, it might take up to 3 days to complete.

For other systems, such as furnaces and heat pumps, the work can take longer. A good ballpark figure for an average job is 3 to 5 days. The time will hover on the lower side of the spectrum if the replacement will hook up to existing ductwork. Expect longer if the replacement requires switching to a different energy source. Your installation professionals will be able to give you a more precise figure when they visit your home to begin planning the job.

Because you can expect to go without heat for at least a day, you should schedule heating installation during the fall, before the deep cold strikes. This will also make it easier to find a convenient time for the installers to work, because HVAC companies have fewer emergency calls to attend to before the mercury drops during winter.

If you hire Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to perform your installation, you can rest easy. We will take as much time as necessary to give you the best heating installation in Johnstown, CO, possible. But we also have the experience and skill to keep the time to a minimum. Take advantage of the fall and schedule your heating maintenance with us today.

I Need A Heater Installed – What Should I Do?

October 18, 2013

“Do I need a heating installation in Bellvue?” is a question each individual homeowner should ask themselves and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. Our cold and snowy climate makes reliable heating an absolute must and if your old heater isn’t doing the job, it’s time to consider a new one. Obviously, the first step is to contact a qualified service technician, who can go over the basics with you and plan for installing a new heater in your home. You can assist that process by educating yourself about the facts involved. So if “I need a heater installed – what should I do?” is what you ask, here are a few basic tips that can help you out.

In the first case, get your home properly sized. Heaters need to follow what we like to call the Goldilocks Rule: neither too small nor too large but just right for your household. If the heater is too small, it won’t be able to warm your home properly. If it’s too large, it will warm the air too quickly, cycling on and off, and using up unnecessary amounts of energy in the bargain. You can size your home first by measuring the square footage, then by taking a look at the sun exposure (how many window you have facing the sun) and the amount of insulation in the walls and attic. A professional can perform formal calculations, but having a general idea will help you determine the right sized heater for you.

Beyond that, you should consider your needs. Your lifestyle will have a big impact on the kind of heater you need and the kind of accessories you might want. For instance, say you have a large house and only use one or two rooms at a time. You might want to include zone controls with your heater, allowing you to only heat those rooms you’re using and cut down on your energy bills in the bargain. A professional heating specialist can spell out the options for you more clearly.

If you need a heater, you’ve already made the right move by resolving to learn about the process involved. The next step is to call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. We handle heating installation in Bellvue and throughout northern Colorado, and will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

The Heating Season Is Here; Are You Prepared?

October 9, 2013

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.

Should I Get a Heat Pump in My Home?

October 4, 2013

When it comes to the question of having any kind of heating system installed in your house, the initial answer is usually, “Maybe.” Regardless of the advantages a particular type of heater can offer you during a Colorado winter, there is no “one size fits all” solution. Each home has unique requirements for heating and cooling it. Local weather, humidity, power sources, and even elevation can affect how well an HVAC system works for a home.

With that caveat out of the way, let’s look at the heat pump, one of the most popular options for solving indoor comfort needs. For more information on our Loveland, CO heat pump services, contact the professionals at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

A heat pump works as an air conditioner that can reverse the direction of heat exchange so it acts as a heater when necessary. A standard AC uses refrigerant to move heat from your home and release it outside. A heat pump uses a reversing valve and second compressor to change over and move heat from outside into your home. Unlike furnaces and boilers, which use up large amounts of fuel to run—whether electricity, natural gas, or another source—heat pumps only need a small amount of electricity to run, which makes them highly efficient.

There are also geothermal heat pump systems available, which draw heat right from the ground (or place it into the ground).

However, heat pumps have the drawback that they are not as efficient at heating as they are at cooling. They may work well for you during a hot summer, but in extreme cold temperatures in homes with poor insulation, a heat pump can struggle to get you the best comfort. Geothermal systems are also unsuitable for many homes because of the extensive installation requirements.

The best way to answer the question, “Should I get a heat pump in my home?” with anything stronger than, “Maybe,” is to have professionals do a heat load calculation to determine your house’s specific needs. This complex calculation takes into account numerous factors in your home to come up with a focused idea on what kind of heater will do the best job. Get an experienced HVAC company to do a heat load calculation, and listen to their advice on whether a heat pump is the right choice for your home.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning offers heat pump and geothermal heat pump installation, as well as repairs and maintenance. Our decades of experience can help you in Loveland, CO when a heat pump starts looking like a good option.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

October 2013

How Long Does It Take to Install a New Heater?

I Need A Heater Installed – What Should I Do?

The Heating Season Is Here; Are You Prepared?

Should I Get a Heat Pump in My Home?

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