Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Month: October 2015

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that there are great devices and appliances that they can use to make their homes more efficient and comfortable, yet they’ve never even heard of them. While an energy recovery ventilator may not be quite as commonly mentioned as, say, a garbage disposal, it is nevertheless a device that can benefit many homeowners greatly. No, it won’t take the sting out of doing the dishes after dinner. By using an energy recovery ventilator in Loveland, CO, though, you can ensure that your home is efficiently and effectively heated and cooled, without putting your indoor air quality on the chopping block. Review the following information, and remember to schedule your IAQ and HVAC services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

What Is an ERV?

An energy recovery ventilator, or ERV, is a mechanical ventilation device that is integrated into one’s HVAC system. The ERV allows for old, stale air to be vented out of your house, while also allowing for fresh air to come in. How does this differ from an open window, you may wonder? Well, the ERV also serves as a heat exchanger. This means that in the winter, when the air in your home is warm but of a low quality, the ERV uses the heat from the outgoing air in order to pre-warm the incoming air. In the summer, the outgoing cool air absorbs heat from the incoming hot air. This can benefit you in a few ways.

Benefits of Using an ERV

Using an ERV allows you to maintain great indoor air quality without wasting the energy that you’ve already used in heating or cooling the air existing your home. It works year round to pre-condition incoming air, and also mixes the airstreams just enough to balance humidity as well. If you want to breathe fresh air in a well-ventilated home without wasting a lot energy in the pursuit, then an ERV may be just what you’ve been looking for.

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Whether you love skiing and are anxiously anticipating the coming winter season, or you are bracing with trepidation for your least favorite time of the year, there is no denying that winter is well on its way. That is why you must take all necessary steps right now in preparing for the coldest time of the year. We may not be able to help you sit this winter out, but we can ensure that you are able to make it through the coldest of seasons in relative comfort. Consider the following tips, and remember to schedule your heating services in Windsor, CO with the pros here at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

Test Run Your System

First and foremost, we encourage our customers to test their heating systems prior to the point at which they’ll really need them. The last thing that you want is to turn on your heating system when the temperature plummets, only to find that it really is not working up to your deservedly high standards. By running your system before the winter is really underway, you’ll have an idea of its performance quality.

Schedule Routine Maintenance

Remember, just because you’ve tested your system and it appears to be running, there is no guarantee that it is running as efficiently or effectively as it possibly can. Even if you think your system is doing just fine, you really do have to schedule routine heating maintenance on an annual basis. That way, every component in your system will be functioning properly and you can rely on it to satisfy your heating needs.

Don’t Put Off Your Installation or Replacement

If you are having a home completed and need a heater installed therein, don’t wait for winter to start before having it done. Heating technicians only get busier the closer the winter weather gets. Also, don’t roll the dice with an old, unreliable system. Sure, you may want to get one last season out of your old heater. Is it really worth being without a heating source due to a system breakdown, though? If you’re thinking about installing a new heater or replacing an existing system, then ours is the number to dial.

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As energy costs continue to soar, and more and more homeowners look for more and more efficient ways in which to heat their homes, the heat pump has really grown in popularity. A question that many homeowners have regarding heat pumps, though, is simply whether or not these systems are really effective enough to bother investing in. While it is true that older heat pumps may have struggled in very cold weather, modern systems are more reliable than ever before. Consider the following information before deciding if you’d like to use a heat pump in Fort Collins, COIf so, just give Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning a call to schedule service.

How Do Heat Pumps Work?

A heat pump is able to function as both a heater and an air conditioner due to its ability to reverse its refrigerant cycle. During the summer, it acts just like an AC, drawing heat out of the air in your home and venting that air outside. In the winter, the refrigerant in the system absorbs heat from the air outdoors, even when it is very cold out. That refrigerant is then compressed, boosting the thermal energy, and this energy is used to heat air for distribution throughout your house.

While this operation results in great energy efficiency, as only a small amount of electricity is used in the heating of one’s home, heat pumps have been known to struggle in extremely cold temperatures. However, we do advise that you consider the use of such systems, and for two reasons. First of all, we simply don’t live in an area where we are dealing with subzero temperatures regularly. Secondly, modern heat pumps are no more reliable than ever before, able to produce dependable heating even when the temperature really plummets.

Are There Any Other Options?

While today’s heat pumps are a good match for our winter weather, we understand that many homeowners are always going to want a bit of extra security. That is why we also offer hybrid heating systems. Such systems feature both a furnace and a heat pump, with the furnace firing up only in the event that the heat pump is struggling to produce sufficient heating for your home. Contact us with any questions that you may have.

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There are a whole lot of different options to choose from when it comes to your home heating system. One option that has actually been around for quite some time, but is really gaining traction among homeowners these days, is the geothermal system. We encourage you to give geothermal heating some serious consideration if you are in the market for a new home heating system. There are many benefits that you can enjoy as a direct result of opting for geothermal heating in Fort Collins, CO. Needless to say, your geothermal system is going to require professional installation and maintenance services in order to function properly. Just remember to schedule your geothermal services with the pros here at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

How Does Geothermal Heating Work?

A geothermal heating system operates much like a heat pump. In fact, geothermal systems utilize heat pump technology directly. However, rather than drawing heat from the air outside, a geothermal system pulls heat from the ground, instead. This is accomplished via the use of a geothermal loop system, through which an antifreeze solution circulates. This solution absorbs thermal energy from the ground, which is then transferred to the refrigerant within the heat pump. At that point, the warmed refrigerant is compressed, and this thermal energy is used to heat air for distribution throughout the house.

Benefits of Geothermal Systems

Using a geothermal system to keep your home warm and cozy offers a few different benefits. First of all, the fact that heat from the ground is used is itself quite beneficial. Temperatures below the ground are quite even, meaning that you don’t have to worry about fluctuations the way that you would with an air source heat pump. Plus, thanks to the heat pump technology, you can use your geothermal system as an AC as well, allowing you to both heat and cool your home with an efficient, environmentally friendly system. Contact us to learn more.

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Now that we are moving into the coldest time of the year, you are wise to ensure that your heating system is ready for the many challenges that lie ahead. If this entails investing in a brand new heating system, then we strongly urge you to consider all of the many options that are available to you. There is no such thing as any one “best” heating system. There is, however, one which will best suit your needs and your personal user preferences. One option well-worth your consideration is a radiant heating system. If you do decide that radiant heating in Loveland, CO is right for you, then give us a call. Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning excels in radiant heating services.

Efficiency

Radiant heating is one of the most efficient ways in which you may choose to heat your home. This is due to the fact that forced air heating is not put to use. While forced air heating may be prompt and can be quite effective, air leaks in ductwork are a common cause of energy efficiency. By heating the floors and/or walls of your home directly, and radiating that heat outwards, a radiant heating system can heat your home with great efficiency.

Reliability

Without fan, ductwork, and other components necessary in forced air systems, the radiant heating system is also a very reliable heating option. There are fewer parts which could potentially break down, and radiant heating systems tend to have quite long lifespans. If you are looking for a reliable heater that you’ll have for some time, consider radiant heating in your home.

Air Quality

Forced air distribution systems can upset your indoor air quality in a few ways. First of all, they can stir up pollutants in the home as they blow heated air throughout the house. Pollutants may also enter the ductwork via tears or loose seals, only to be distributed throughout the house by these very air ducts. Contact us today if you have any questions, or if you are ready to schedule radiant heating services with a qualified professional.

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