Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Month: July 2014

A heat pump or hybrid heat pump takes care of your needs for comfort throughout the year: strong cooling during the summer, effective heating in the winter. But you can’t expect a heat pump to last forever, especially when you consider how much work it needs to perform throughout the year. Proper annual maintenance from a professional will help a heat pump last as long as possible, but eventually you will need to consider replacing it with a new system. We’re here to help you identify the warning signs that it’s time for a heat pump replacement in Loveland, CO.

You need an experienced team to handle the new heat pump installation.

You will find few companies with more experience in heat pump installation than Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve served Northern Colorado with comfort since 1934.

Warning signs of an ailing heat pump

  • Reduced heating and cooling ability: Because a heat pump uses the same operation to work as a heater and an air conditioner, when it begins to fail, both modes will suffer. If you have a heat pump that is over older than 15 years, or if it has gone beyond its manufacturer’s expected lifespan, and it begins to struggle reaching the temperatures you set for it, then it’s time to call a professional to look into replacement options.
  • Elevated electrical bills: The heat pump probably uses more electricity per year than any other appliance in your home. When the heat pump reaches the point where it will no longer function as well as before, it will cause your electrical bills to begin to rise. If no amount of repairs can bring these bills down, it’s time to retire the heat pump.
  • Too many repair bills: Most home comfort systems require the majority of their repairs during the final two years of their service, so when the repairs for your heat pump start arriving on a regular basis, it’s a strong sign that the system is near its end. Look over your repair bills for the past year, and if they exceed $500, it is no longer worth the money to keep it running.
  • Noisy operation: A single odd sound from a heat pump can point toward a repair need. But when the heat pump starts to make more noise in general to do its job, with groaning, rattling, and other mechanical sounds, then you should have it checked to see if it needs replacement.

If you feel nervous about making a definitive choice about your heat pump, don’t worry: you can always call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning and schedule an appointment with one of our NATE-certified technicians. Our staff will help you make the best choice. If it turns out that you need a heat pump replacement in Loveland, CO, trust to our experience to perform the job so you will have a system that will heat and cool your home for many years.

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People are usually more concerned about overcoming humid air than dry air. A “dry heat” means a more comfortable heat, after all. However, humidity levels that are too low can cause as many health and comfort problems as humidity levels that are too high. You can purchase small portable room humidifiers to deal with the low humidity trouble on a small level, but to take care of dry air throughout a home, you need to contact professionals in indoor air quality and have them install a whole-house humidifier.

There are a number of good reasons for you to consider humidifiers in Fort Collins, CO. If you think that a humidifier is the right choice for you, contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. We have many decades of experience finding comfort solutions for homes and businesses in Northern Colorado, and we’re ready to help you find the ideal balance of humidity in your home.

Some benefits of installing a humidifier

  • Increased comfort: High humidity makes you feel hotter because the moisture in the air slows down your body’s ability to release heat. Low humidity does the opposite. It draws water—and therefore heat—rapidly from your body, making you feel cooler. This is an advantage during the summer, but a severe handicap during a rough Colorado winter. A humidifier will give the balanced “just right” moisture level to keep you comfortable.
  • Decreased health issues: Low humidity causes problems from dried-out skin, causing itching and flaking. It will also lead to eye-irritation, nose bleeds, and sore throats. In addition, the dry environment makes the transmission of illnesses easier, and a number of viruses thrive in arid atmospheres. You can eliminate these discomforts and dangers with humidity raised to a safe, balanced level.
  • Protect you home and furnishings: When the air in a home becomes excessively dry, it will begin to cause cracking and splintering in wood. This will not only damage your floors and wooden furniture, but it can ruin precision devices such as wooden musical instruments. Low humidity will also cause paint to peel and chip and wallpaper to peel. Keep all this from happening with the right humidifier working to keep the humidity at a safe level.

A whole-house humidifier goes into your HVAC system, and a professional installer will make sure that the unit will function well with your heater and air conditioner and not make your home too damp.

Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today and one of our specialists will help you out with humidifiers in Fort Collins, CO and the surrounding areas.

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The hail season in Northern Colorado has come down on us more intense than usual in Fort Collins this year. The hail storms, such as the major one that struck the city on June 24, have caused significant damage to roofs, skylights, cars, and businesses.

Not mentioned as often in reports about the effect of the hail is the damage inflicted on the outdoor condenser units of air conditioners. Although the cabinets of condensers are built sturdy to handle the Colorado weather, the level of hail that has struck the northern part of the state can cause damage that will require professional repairs. Even if the inner components of an air conditioner’s condenser do not receive any damage from a hail storm, there is damage to the cabinet that can affect both the air conditioner’s performance and efficiency.

If you have any doubts regarding your AC’s condenser because of hail damage, you should contact a dependable HVAC repair company to examine it. Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning has 80 years of experience with the weather conditions in Northern Colorado and how they can affect air conditioning systems, so make us your first call when you want your air conditioning system examine for problems due to hail. We’ll look over your condenser and see what repairs (if any) are needed.

The most common kind of issue that can affect an AC due to hail is flattening of the air fins on the outside of the unit, which will lead to a restriction of airflow across the condenser coil. If you see damage on the outside of the cabinet that looks like it has affected the air fins, you definitely need to have technicians look over it: running the AC in this condition will lead to inefficient performance, poor cooling levels, and a shortened lifespan for the system. Another common issue from hail is particles getting inside the cabinet and damaging the fan; technicians will examine the fan blades for possible bends.

For any hail damage, you should contact your insurance adjuster to examine the AC unit and see if you are covered for repairs. Be cautious of possible scams, such as contractors who visit door-to-door offering a good deal on repairs with leftover material.

Companies performing repairs for the damage done by hail in Fort Collins must be licensed, so call a trusted company like Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to handle the repair work.

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The HVAC system that keeps your business comfortable needs proper repairs and maintenance so that it works its best. However, a good HVAC system is about more than maintaining the right indoor temperature. It should also maintain healthy air quality for your business. Indoor air quality is something that business owners often don’t consider, but in today’s modern buildings that receive very little outdoor air circulation, poor indoor air quality is turning into a serious problem.

Is the air in your workplace as healthy as it could be? Chances are that it’s not, and your will need to turn to professionals who handle commercial indoor air quality in Fort Collins, TX.

At Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, we take special pride in the indoor air quality services we provide for businesses. We have worked for many decades caring for commercial comfort needs, so we know how important it is that you have quality air for your business.

Why indoor air quality is so important

The U.S. EPA has identified the reduction in indoor air quality due to the heavy heat and air sealing on buildings as one of the major health threats in the country. Your workplace is a location where your employees will spend most of their indoor time when they are away from home; this makes it vital for their well-being that the air they breathe is as clean as possible. This will keep them productive and content, and will mean less sick days.

Although your customers and clients (if the workplace is designed to service them) will spend far less time inside your business, they need to have their comfort protected as well, and that means protecting them from poor air. Clients and customers will not enjoy time spent in a business filled with stale, unhealthy air.

For some businesses, maintaining high indoor air quality isn’t just about keeping people comfortable: it’s about staying within local health codes. If you run a business that specializes in food service (a restaurant, bakery, cafeteria, school kitchen, etc.) you can’t risk bad ventilation leading to air contamination and a forcible shutdown.

What you can do to improve the air in your business

There are a number of solutions to poor indoor air quality. Our services include air filter installation, air purifier installation, and duct sealing.

Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning and we can help you find the right way to deal with the specific problems you are having with your commercial indoor air quality in Fort Collins, CO.

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Central air conditioners are the most common systems homeowners choose for air conditioning installation or replacement. But these systems may not be right for every home. Another lesser-known option is ductless mini split air conditioning, which does not require a home’s ducts to circulate air. This is especially beneficial if your home cannot accommodate ductwork installation. If you are in the market for a new air conditioning system, read on to discover the benefits and drawbacks of ductless mini split air conditioning.

Benefits

If your home or room addition does not have any ductwork installed, a ductless mini split is often the best option. Ductless systems may also benefit those who have experienced problems with their ducts in the past. Air often escapes through the ducts in the home, which accounts for a lot of unnecessary energy loss that is never a problem with a mini split system.

The components of ductless mini splits include an outdoor unit connected to multiple indoor blowers installed throughout the home. Air comes directly from the indoor air handlers installed in separate areas of the home, each of which is controlled with a separate thermostat. This means you will have greater control over how much the AC is used throughout the house, which can also save a lot of energy.

The individual air handlers also benefit the members of your household. If your family members disagree about the temperature setting in the house, they can adjust the temperature in different rooms according to their own preferences for increased comfort.

Drawbacks

A ductless mini split air conditioning system may not be the right choice for every home. If you are replacing a central air conditioner, you should talk to an air conditioning specialist about whether installing a ductless system is a good choice. Furthermore, ductless systems may cost more upfront than some central air conditioners. However, many people save every month because ductless systems can reduce energy consumption significantly.

If you’re interested in talking to an air conditioning professional about ductless mini split air conditioning installation, speak with an expert at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today!

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The term “Fourth of July” is the popular name for the U.S. federal holiday officially known as Independence Day. It isn’t surprising that we would come up with a different name from the official one, since “Independence Day” is one of the most common holiday names across the globe. Most of the nations in existence today won their independence from another power, whether through wars, treaties, or long transitions.

What might surprise many people is how old U.S. Independence Day actually is compared to the similar holidays of other nations. Although the U.S. is still considered a young nation, it was one of the first to make a full break for its colonial master with a new constitution. Most countries that celebrate a national Independence Day are commemorating events that occurred in the second half of the 20th century, when many older empires at last relinquished control over their colonies.

How substantial is the difference in time for the U.S.A. and the rest of the world? U.S. Independence Day celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776, making our country unusual in that almost no existing nations celebrate an independence event from the eighteenth century.

In terms of age, there is only a tiny handful current countries that celebrate an independence day that occurred earlier than the United States. Switzerland celebrates its independence from the Holy Roman Empire of the Germans in 1291 with “Swiss National Day,” held every August 1—although this only gained status as a national holiday in 1994. Sweden Celebrates “National Day of Sweden” to commemorate events in 1523 and the election of King Gustav I during the War of Liberation against Christian II of Denmark and Norway. Romania comes almost a hundred years after U.S. Independence, with its 1877 freedom from Turkish rule.

The most recent Independence Days to come into existence are for Montenegro, which gained independence from Serbia in 2006 and celebrates the day on May 21, and South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011 and celebrates the day only a day after the U.S., on July 5.

Does anyone else celebrate a literal “Fourth of July,” an Independence Day that also falls on the fourth day of the seventh month? Yes: Abkhazia, a small Central Asian country that declared its independence from the Republic of Georgia in 1999 (although not all countries recognize it). Coming a day (like South Sudan) on July 5 is the independence of the small Atlantic island nation of Cape Verde, which became free from Portugal through signed agreement in 1975.

Everyone at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning hopes you and your family enjoy a vibrant Independence Day/Fourth of July this year!

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