Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Month: December 2013

It’s the holiday season once again, and everyone at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning wishes the very best for you, your family, and your friends. We hope that whatever brings you joy fills these last days of the year.

We’d like to thank all of our customers for giving us the opportunity to provide you with services that improve your lives and help you better enjoy this time with your loved ones. You are the reason that we exist as a company, and that’s something we always keep that in mind. We are eager to work with you in the coming year.

Here’s something to remember for the season: many companies in our industry are very busy on service calls during December—it’s one of the most crowded times of the year. If you need service, make sure you schedule it as soon as possible so you can continue to enjoy the pleasures of this time of year.

Lastly, we at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning want to conclude with a thought from the late Earl Nightingale to help remind us all that we do not need to wait for a holiday to have a reason to enjoy or celebrate ourselves, our lives or our family:

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.

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2014 is almost upon us, and with the coming of the New Year, we thought we’d take a brief look at some of the more popular traditions associated with this holiday. It’s been around for at least 4,000 years: as long as we’ve figured out how long it takes for the seasons to come and go. Here’s a quick discussion about some of our more modern traditions and where they started:

  • Auld Lang Syne. The famous song began in Scotland, where it was published by Robert Burns in 1796.  He claims he initially heard it sung by an elderly resident of his hometown, which suggests it has traditional folk origins even before that. It became even more popular when big band leader, Guy Lombardo, started playing it every New Year’s Eve, starting in 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.
  • The Dropping of the Ball in Times Square. The tradition of dropping the ball in Times Square started in 1907. It was made out of iron and wood with light bulbs located on the surface, and the ball originally “dropped” over the offices of the New York Times at One Times Square. Dick Clark famously broadcast the event every year from 1972, until his death in 2012.
  • The Rose Parade. The Tournament of Roses Parade has been held in Pasadena every year since 1890; taking advantage of California’s warm weather to present a parade of floats, bands and horses. A football game was eventually added to the festivities in 1902, when Michigan dominated Stanford’s team by a score of 49-0
  • Baby New Year. The use of a baby to signify the New Year dates back to Ancient Greece, where it symbolized the rebirth of Dionysus (the god of wine and parties). Early Christians initially resisted the pagan elements of the story, but soon came to adopt it since it matched the traditional Christmas symbol of baby Jesus in the manger. Today, people of all faiths and traditions refer to the New Year as a baby, representing new beginnings.

Whatever traditions you choose to celebrate, we here at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning wish you the very safest and happiest of New Years. May 2014 bring you nothing but the best!

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In Colorado towns like Wellington, heat pumps and hybrid systems (which use a heat pump and a smaller gas or electric furnace) make an attractive alternative to more traditional heating systems. Heat pumps combine the functions of a heater and an air conditioner into one. Because they’re based on the same technology as air conditioners, heat pumps can experience the same kinds of problems. For example, you might be asking yourself “why is my heat pump leaking water?

The answers are similar to the ones you find with an air conditioner and can include:

  • Ice on the coils. When refrigerant levels are lower than they should be in the system, it can create ice on the evaporator coils. This is problematic because it restricts the cooling process, which impacts the heat pump’s ability to function. (In a heat pump, the outside coils serve as evaporators in the winter and the inside coils do the same job in the summer.) When the ice melts, it can create puddles of water that might leak.
  • Overflow pan or drain problems. Most heat pumps have a condensate pan to collect condensation in the unit and remove it via a drain line. If the drain line gets clogged or the condensate pan is set improperly, the water will run over and cause a leak. This is especially true if the coils get dirty, since the dirt will mix with the condensate and exacerbate any clogs.

Regardless of the cause, if the heat pump is leaking water it needs to be turned off immediately and a repairman called in to fix the issue. In the event of ice formation, he or she can seal the leak and recharge the refrigerant levels. If the problem is in the drain pan, he or she can clear the clogs and/or rest the pan so that it can drain at an appreciable rate. Here in Wellington, heat pumps can be serviced by the experts at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. We can determine why your heat pump is leaking water, then perform repair operations with speed and efficiency. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

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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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