Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

November 2015

Tank or Tankless: Choosing Your New Water Heater

We use a lot of different appliances and systems throughout the day in order to live our lives in a convenient and comfortable manner befitting the modern homeowner. Among these appliances is the water heater, and it is surely one of the most heavily used systems in any home. Every time that you take a hot shower, run your dishwasher, or do the linens, you are relying upon your water heater to provide you with an ample supply of effectively and efficiently heated water. That is why you should schedule your water heater services in Fort Collins, CO with us. We’ll make sure that you have the right water heater installed in your home, and that it continues to function well. Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to get started.

 

Tank vs. Tankless

When most homeowners think of a water heater, they’ll first envision a tank system. These water heaters are probably still the most prevalent in the residential sector, and their great reputation is well-earned. Tank water heaters store a significant amount of hot water at all times in their storage tanks. This helps to ensure that you always have an ample amount of hot water when you need it. It also helps to prevent the water heater from being overwhelmed when hot water is called for at multiple fixtures throughout the house. Standby energy loss is an issue with such systems, though, as heat from the water transfers through the tank to the air outside. Standby energy loss is minimal when you have a well-insulated tank, but is never truly eliminated.

Unless, of course, you eliminate the use of a tank from the equation altogether. This is possible when you opt for a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters forgo the storing of hot water, instead heating only the water that is needed, as it is needed. They are quite compact, taking up little room, and can be installed in small areas. However, they are also much more expensive to purchase than tank models, though this cost can be offset over time by energy savings. They may also be overwhelmed more easily in intsances of high hot water demand. Work with us to ensure that you have the right water heater for your home installed therein.

Twitter
CONTINUE READING

Benefits of Zone Controlled Heating

We all know how vital it is that we are able to heat our homes effectively throughout the coldest time of the year. The winter season can be quite intense in this part of the country, and having a well-functioning heating system installed in your home is paramount to ensuring your comfort throughout the worst of it. If you are not completely satisfied with the overall operation of your heating system, you don’t have to replace it entirely in order to boost its performance quality. Smaller upgrades, such as the installation of a zone control system in Wellington, CO, can make a world of difference. Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for more details.

Improved Comfort

The major selling point of using a zone control system in one’s home is that it allows one to heat only those areas of their homes that they wish to, and only as much as they wish to. This means that residents in your home no longer have to argue about what the right temperature setting is. If you run hotter than your kids, for instance, setting up your bedroom as a different zone than theirs allows you to maintain a different temperature than that in their room. Each zone has its own thermostat, so that temperatures therein can be controlled independently of others. By working with a skilled professional, you can zone your home thoughtfully to reap maximum benefits.

Energy Savings

Heating your home doesn’t come for free, and there is nothing that we can do about that. What we can do, though, is help you to heat your home more efficiently with the use of a zone control system. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of the opportunity to both heat your home more effectively and to do so more efficiently. Of course, if you use the same ductwork to distribute cooled air throughout your home, then you can use your zone control system year round. Give us a call today to learn more.

Twitter
CONTINUE READING

Why Not Upgrade Your Thermostat?

As we move further and further into the heating season, more and more homeowners are firing up their heaters in order to take the chill out of the air. However, many homeowners are also hesitant to do so, as they wish to put off paying to heat their homes for as long as possible. What if we told you, though, that is a very simple way in which you can heat your home more conveniently and more efficiently? Or even that the very same course of action can help you to enjoy the same benefits when cooling your home? Well, there is, and it is as simple as upgrading your thermostat in Windsor, CO. Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for more details.

Benefits of Upgrading One’s Thermostat

It is a relatively minor adjustment to your HVAC system, perhaps, but upgrading your thermostat can actually have an enormously beneficial impact on the way in which you both heat and cool your home. Just remember that you must be careful to choose your thermostat wisely, and that you must schedule your thermostat services with a trained professional. When you do so, you can enjoy the following benefits.

  • Better Comfort: If you have an old, non-programmable thermostat in your home, you probably come home to a less than ideal environment at the end of the work day. When you have a programmable thermostat in place, though, you can ensure that your house is comfortable when you arrive home, without having to maintain that temperature all day long.
  • Improved Convenience: It is true that a programmable thermostat can help you to live in greater comfort, but it can also make your life much more convenient. You won’t have to worry about leaving the house and forgetting to adjust the temperature beforehand any longer. With a smart thermostat, that convenience is boosted even further, as you can control your thermostat remotely from an internet-enabled device.
  • Energy Savings: You should be able to both heat and cool your home with great efficiency. Using a smart thermostat is a step in the right direction. Track energy use and make the tweaks necessary to cut down on the heating and cooling bills that you encounter. Call to discuss available thermostats.
Twitter
CONTINUE READING

Why Choose a Hybrid Heating System?

If you are like most modern homeowners, then you expect to live in a comfortable environment throughout the entire year. Chances are that you also don’t want to spend a fortune in order to do so. This is precisely why so many homeowners choose to use highly efficient systems, such as heat pumps, in order to keep their homes comfortable in an affordable manner. The only issue with doing so, though, is that heat pumps, which use existing heat in the air outside in order to warm interior spaces, can be overwhelmed by very cold temperatures. Using a hybrid heating system in Wellington, CO is a great way to put your mind at ease in regards to such worries. Contact a member of the Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more.

What Is a Hybrid Heating System?

A hybrid heating system is a type of heating system that uses a heat pump as a primary heating source. Heat pumps are renowned for their very efficient operational levels. They use a refrigerant cycle in order to absorb heat from the air surrounding them, then compress that refrigerant in order to boost the thermal energy therein. That heat is then used to heat a home, with only a small amount of electricity being used in the process. This allows for a very affordable heating performance.

Because heat pumps do use existing heat in the air outside, though, very cold temperatures can negatively impact their heating output. Heat pumps have gotten more and more adept at providing heat even in extreme cold, but many homeowners still want to know that there is a backup in place in case the heat pump just can’t keep up. That is why a hybrid heating system also incorporates the use of a gas furnace in its operation. The gas furnace will come on if the heat pump is struggling to keep up with the heating demand. It then simply shuts down automatically once the heat pump is able to take back over once more. Call now if you think that a hybrid heating system may be right for you.

Twitter
CONTINUE READING

Why Have My Air Ducts Tested This Winter?

Now that the heating season is really getting underway, it is time to start thinking about ways in which to ensure that your heater not only functions effectively and reliably throughout the winter season, but efficiently as well. One great way in which to do so is to have your air ducts professionally tested. If you use a heat pump, furnace, or any other ducted home heating system, then ensuring the quality of your air ducts is paramount to ensuring the successful operation of your heater. The good news is that we offer professional duct testing in Fort Collins, CO. Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to have the condition of your air ducts assessed by a trained professional.

How Does Duct Testing Work?

There are a few ways in which professional HVAC and IAQ technicians may go about testing one’s ductwork. Most commonly, though, this entails sealing up the registers and vents of the air ducts, effectively turning the ductwork into a closed system. A fan is then used to pressurize the air ducts, and the difference in air pressure is carefully measured to determine if air is leaking out of the ductwork. Your technicians can then go about using the information gathered in regards to the condition of your air ducts in order to address any issues which may be afflicting them.

Benefits of Professional Duct Testing

The major benefit of professional duct testing, of course, is knowing for certain what type of condition your air ducts are in. Because leaking ductwork can lead to issues with indoor air quality and plummeting energy efficiency, it only makes sense to ensure that your air ducts are in the fine condition necessary for distributing heated air throughout your home in the most effective manner possible. Don’t let ignorance of your air ducts lead to comfort and health problems in your home. Schedule professional duct testing with a member of our staff today.

Twitter
CONTINUE READING

What to Consider Prior to Your Heating Installation

With the coldest time of the year rapidly approaching, you really need to get your heating installation out of the way if you need a new system installed in your home. It won’t be long before temperatures are consistently cold enough to make a heating installation a bit of an inconvenience. Of course, you also must be careful not to rush through the process, as your heating installation in Fort Collins, CO will have a major influence on your comfort and your budget for years to come. Consider the following information, and remember to make Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning the company that you call to have your heating system installed properly. 

Distribution Method

The method of heat distribution utilized by any given heater is a major factor to consider. If you are happy with forced air heating, then a heat pump or furnace may be fine for you. If you don’t want to run the risk of energy loss and indoor air quality issues due to leaky ductwork, but still want warm air blowing throughout your home, you may want to consider the use of a ductless heater. Want to forgo forced air altogether? Then ask us about radiant heating systems.

Size of System

It is not enough that you invest in a great heating system. You must also know for certain that that heating system is of the right size for your home. The only way to be sure of this is to have a trained professional complete a detailed heat load calculation in your home. There is much more to a heat load calculation than simply the square footage of your home, so dial our number to have it done right.

Your Budget

This may sound obvious, but it really is necessary that you have a firm grasp of your budget if you hope to enjoy 100% satisfaction with your new heating system. You don’t want to strain yourself financially, of course, but you also don’t want to invest in a very cheap system, only to be paying more than you should in order to heat your home over the years due to a low efficiency rating. We’ll make sure that you are able to find the right balance between affordability, efficiency, and performance quality.

Twitter
CONTINUE READING

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Search

Archive

Archive

Categories

Categories

Tags

Tags
AC AC Maintenance AC Repair Air conditioner Air Conditioning Air Conditioning Maintenance Air Conditioning Repair Air Conditioning Replacement air quality Bellvue Commercial Refrigeration Community Involvement Drain Cleaning Duct Cleaning Ductless Heating Duct Sealing erv Fort Collins Furnace Furnace Repair Heat Heater Heating Heating Installation Heating Maintenance Heating Repair Heat Pump Heat Pump Repair Holiday Humidifiers HVAC IAQ Indoor Air Quality Laporte Loveland Plumber Plumbing Plumbing Repair Plumbing Services Tankless Water Heater Thermostat Timnath Water Heaters Wellington Windsor