Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Month: January 2016

Homeowners today realize that maintaining comfortable temperatures in their homes is really only part of the comfort equation. The other is maintaining great indoor air quality within their homes. This can be more difficult during the heating and cooling seasons, as opposed to the more mild spring and autumn months, due to the fact that we seal up our homes quite tightly in order to maximize efficiency. With the right IAQ products and services, though, you can still maintain a clean, healthy environment. Using the proper equipment is key, though. If you are up against biological pollutants, for instance, you really need to consider the use of UV air purifiers in Loveland, CO

When to Use UV Germicidal Lights

Not every home is going to require the use of UV germicidal lights. But those that do will benefit significantly from them. UV germicidal lights use small, safe amounts of ultraviolet radiation to destroy biological pollutants within ductwork. They are typically installed near the air handler, so as to treat all of the air passing through the system. Biological pollutants include viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. If you have issues with frequent illness in your home, or if mold keeps popping up, using UV germicidal lights is an option to consider.

Limitations of Use

Most residential HVAC systems cannot fully filter out biological pollutants, as the pollutants can continue to reproduce even once they’re trapped in the filter. That is why air purifiers that destroys pollutansts are so beneficial. Remember, however, that such systems won’t do anything to remove more run-of-the-mill contaminants from the air in your home, such as dust and dirt. That is why purifiers should be used in conjunction with more traditional air cleaning/filtration systems, and not be mistaken as a replacement for those options.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more.

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During the summer time, the air outside tends to be rather humid. Running your air conditioner nonstop can dry the air in the house excessively, though. During the winter, we are already starting off with dry air, and heating that air over and over with a furnace or other forced-air heating system can degrade its overall quality further. If you think that the air in your home is too dry, remember that the best way to deal with such issues is with a whole-house humidifier in Fort Collins, CO

Is Your Skin Dry and Itchy?

When you surround your body with very dry air, you can and should expect your skin to dry out as well. This may lead your skin to become quite flaky, and it will probably get very itchy as well. It may even begin to split and crack, causing further discomfort. By sufficiently humidifying the air in your home, you can alleviate such symptoms.

Is Your Property Suffering?

Have you noticed that wooden fixtures or floorboards in your home are splitting and cracking? Does it seem like your paint is chipping away, or that your wallpaper is splitting? These issues could also be the result of very dry air in the home. It won’t only affect your body, after all.

Is Your Immune System Compromised?

If your sinuses and mucous membranes dry out, then your risk of getting ill is greatly increased. Plus, very dry air can cause you to suffer from frequent sore throats, or even nose bleeds. We believe that you deserve better than all of this, which is why we encourage you to use a whole-house humidifier in your home, should you encounter such problems.

Keep an eye out for these warning signs, and contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule your humidifier services with a qualified professional. 

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While forced air heating systems are probably the most popular option in residential applications, a lot of homeowners swear by the comfort and benefits provided by their radiant heating systems in Windsor, CO. One of the greatest benefits that radiant heating systems have to offer is their reliable performance. These systems have fewer mechanical parts than forced air heating systems, which means that there is less that can go wrong. However, it is important to remember that there is no such thing as a 100% reliable heating system. Eventually you may find that you require professional radiant heating repairs in your home. 

Increased Heating Costs

Regardless of whether you use an electric radiant system in order to heat your home, or a fuel-powered boiler to heat water for distribution throughout the house via a hydronic heating system, you shouldn’t see inexplicable spikes in the amount of money that it costs to heat your living space. If you do, it is likely that there is a problem with your system that is resulting in this reduced energy efficiency. If you notice any incongruities with your heating costs, call us right away to find out what is wrong.

Signs of Leaks

We wish that we could tell you that there is no chance of your hydronic heating system leaking, but this simply is not the case. It is possible, though unlikely, that you will run into leaks with your system. These can do serious water damage to your home, and result in wasted energy. If you see signs of leaks, call our number immediately to have the problem expertly diagnosed and resolved.

Uneven Heating

Radiant heating systems cannot lose air via leaky ductwork, as they use no ductwork, so they are renowned for their even, comfortable distribution of heat. However, it is possible that your radiant heating system may begin to heat your home unevenly. If this happens, it might stem from a problem with the pump in your system, or an electrical issue if you use electric radiant heating. Again, only a trained professional can properly diagnose and resolve any such problems.

Schedule radiant heating repairs with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. 

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Whether heating your home in the winter or cooling it down during the long, hot summer season, you want to be able to keep your living space comfortable in an effective, yet efficient, manner. You also must be able to maintain great indoor air quality in your home, though, and that can be difficult when your home is very tightly sealed in an effort to heat and cool it efficiently. If it sounds like a problem without a solution, you are clearly unfamiliar with the concept of the ERV. By using an energy recovery ventilator in Fort Collins, CO, you ensure that your indoor air quality is high, without your heating and cooling costs following suit.

 

What Is an ERV?

An energy recovery ventilator is a pretty ingenious device that facilitates the ventilation of one’s home while also eliminating the risk of unwanted energy loss. Essentially, the ERV uses a heat transfer process in order to precondition the fresh air coming into a home. During the summer, the system will use the stale, but cool, outgoing air in order to cool down the incoming fresh, but hot, air. In the winter, the process is reversed, with the outgoing warm air being used to warm the incoming cold, fresh air. Additionally, the ERV is used to balance humidity between the incoming and outgoing air streams as well.

This benefits you in a few ways. First of all, it means that you won’t have to worry about subpar indoor air quality as the air within your home is conditioned over and over again, going stale. Also, you are able to keep indoor air quality high by ventilating your home sufficiently, but without wasting the energy that you’ve already paid for in the process. If this all sounds like a good deal to you, dial our number today to get started.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more.

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No one wants a home that’s uncomfortable, whose HVAC system never seems to operate correctly, or whose indoor air is stifling. We’ve all got enough to worry about without having to worry about the bare essentials. So why not make 2016 the year when you take full control over the quality of your domestic life? There is plenty that you can do straightaway to ensure that you and your family are breathing clean air in the home, enjoying exceptional comfort, and not paying for anything that you don’t need.

  1. Invest in the air that you breathe: Poor indoor air quality can be excessively dry air that leaves your throat dry, overly humid air that leads to mold growth, or air that has excessive contaminants and particles floating through it, none of which are good. Fortunately, there is plenty that you can do to resolve such issues. Consider a whole-house air purifier, humidifier, or dehumidifier that can be installed directly into your HVAC system.
  2. Reduce your energy consumption: While you should make sure that your home is properly weatherized, there are other steps you can take to reduce the amount of energy that you use on a daily basis. For example, install an energy recovery ventilator unit to make sure that you’re recovering energy during the much-needed ventilation process, instead of just opening a window or door to let fresh air in. You should also make sure that your HVAC system is carefully maintained throughout the year to ensure its efficiency.
  3. Consider going ductless: It’s no secret that ductless mini split heat pumps are now being used widely in homes and commercial spaces. If you’re looking for a different option when it comes to heating and cooling, then you may want to consider avoiding the use of ductwork entirely.

Our technicians will be happy to help you maximize your home life in 2016. Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today for HVAC services throughout the LaPorte area.

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