Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Month: November 2016

When it comes to outstanding energy efficiency when heating a home, geothermal heating is pretty tough to beat. This technology has been around for decades, but there are still a lot of homeowners who don’t fully understand how it works. That’s why we’d like to share some information that will help you to better grasp the ins and outs of geothermal heating.

Before we get to that, we need to remind you that any geothermal heating services in Timnath, CO, absolutely must be completed by trained professionals. These systems are very different from more standard heaters, and not every heating technician will have the knowledge and experience necessary to install and service this type of equipment properly. That is why you should leave such service to our team.

Geothermal Is Not a Free Resource

One major misconception is that geothermal heating is essentially a “free” resource. After all, heat is just pulled from the ground and used to heat the living space, right? If this is your understanding of how geothermal heating works, some further information is definitely necessary.

Yes, existing heat from the ground is used to heat your home when you use a geothermal heating system. However, it is not as simple as absorbing that heat and redistributing it into your home. A geothermal heating system uses a heat pump, and that heat pump exchanges heat with the ground.

A geothermal loop system is buried on your property, and the heat transfer liquid draws heat out of the ground. However, the heat from that liquid is then exchanged with the refrigerant in the heat pump. This refrigerant is then compressed to boost its thermal energy, and then it is used to heat your home. It’s still an efficient manner of heating your home because no fuel is actually burned in order to generate heat from scratch. However, the heat transfer process and the refrigerant cycle do demand that some electricity is used.

If you have any questions about how geothermal heating and cooling works, contact a member of our team. Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning will help you to decide if this is the right system for your home.

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There are a number of challenges that homeowners face during the winter season. Successfully heating their homes is a big one, obviously, as is keeping the walkways free of snow. However, you also need to remember to keep the air in your home sufficiently humid, as well.

During the winter season, there is less humidity in the air than there is in the summer time. That means that you are starting out with drier air in your home. Recirculating heated air throughout the house over and over is not going to help matters. Adding humidity to the air with a whole-house humidifier in Loveland, CO, however, can.

 

The Benefits of the Whole-House Humidifier

Chances are that you’ve at least seen portable humidifier units, even if you have not used one yourself. These units may be fine for humidifying a single room, such as the baby’s nursery. When it comes to humidifying an entire house, though, the whole-house humidifier is superior in every way.

  • Convenience. You won’t have to continually refill a water tank when you use a whole-house humidifier. These systems integrate directly into the HVAC system, and are fed with a designated water line.
  • Efficiency. A whole-house humidifier is not only more effective than a portable unit, but you’ll be able to humidify the whole house more efficiently than you would when using multiple portable units, or one that you move around and run non-stop.
  • Control. It is easy to maintain the precise humidity level that you desire in your home when you use a whole-house humidifier. You won’t have to worry about injecting too much humidity in your home, which can cause its own set of problems.

Very dry air can cause a lot of trouble. Itchy skin, splitting wooden floorboards, and chipping paint are just a few that you may notice. When you do see these problems, remember that we can help. Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning is happy to provide you with outstanding whole-house humidifier services.

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The heating season really is upon us. If you use a forced-air heating system in order to keep your home warm and cozy during the coldest time of the year, you may need more than routine heating maintenance to enjoy the best heating experience possible. You may need whole-house duct cleaning in Fort Collins, CO.

If you think that you can clean out your air ducts on your own, you need to reconsider. It is a procedure that only trained professionals with the proper equipment can complete. Through the end of November, we are offering homeowners throughout the area 10% off of their duct cleaning services

Is Duct Cleaning Really Worth It?

You know that you need to have your heater tuned-up each and every year if you hope to get the best performance that it has to offer. Many homeowners wonder if duct cleaning is really worth the investment, though. In truth, it really is a case-by-case basis.

There are certain signs that may indicate that it is time for professional duct cleaning. First of all, if you’ve been in your home for a few years and have never had your ducts cleaned, it’s safe to assume that the time has come. There are a lot of factors that could influence how frequently you need to have your ducts cleaned, but every 3–5 years is a good guideline.

If you’ve noticed that your indoor air quality is on the decline, that too can mean that the time has come to have your ductwork cleaned. If there are pollutants built up in your air ducts, and you are forcing heated air through those ducts, it only stands to reason that those ducts may start to deposit pollutants in your living space.

An increase in heating costs could also be the result of dirty ducts. Air filters can clog up faster, and pollutants can build up on sensitive components within the system itself. When that happens, inefficiency can set in.

If you’re ready to have your ducts expertly cleaned while also saving some money, give Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning a call. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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Using a forced-air heating system, like a furnace or a heat pump, is the preferred method of maintaining comfortable temperatures throughout the winter season for many homeowners. Just because your heater is operational, however, doesn’t mean that it is performing at peak efficiency and performance levels. One way in which you can help your heater is by keeping a fresh air filter in place.

Routine heating maintenance is very important for keeping your system up and running properly. But you cannot leave filter changes for your professional heating technician to handle once a year. Filters need to be changed far more frequently in order to enjoy quality heating in Laporte, CO.

 

Problems Caused by Dirty Air Filters

The most immediate problem caused by dirty air filters is increased airflow resistance. If your filter is too dirty, your system is going to work harder than it should to force air through that filter. All of the heated air distributed throughout your home passes through this filter, so this is obviously a serious problem. It puts unnecessary strain on the heater, and drives energy costs up in the process.

Dirty air filters can negatively affect your indoor air quality as well. The standard filter in a furnace isn’t really there to boost indoor air quality, as it is of a relatively low efficiency. Its primary purpose is to protect the system and its components themselves. If the air filter gets too dirty, however, unfiltered air can be blown around that filter, putting indoor air quality at risk.

Short cycling is one of the most prevalent issues with dirty air filters. When heat becomes trapped in the system due to decreased airflow, it will cause the system to shut down as temperatures rise too high. The system will cool, and come on again, only to repeat the process. The comfort levels in your home will fall, energy costs will spike, and your system will incur unnecessary wear and tear.

Count on Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for great heating services. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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There are few experiences as troubling as sitting in your home, only to realize that your furnace is blowing cold air into your living space on a chilly winter night. There are a number of potential reasons why such a problem may develop. Whatever the specific case may be, know that you can count on our team to resolve the problem promptly and effectively. We are always here to handle your heating services in Fort Collins, CO.

 

Is Your Thermostat Set Properly?

The first thing that you should do when you notice cool air coming from your furnace vents is to check your thermostat. It may sound obvious, but there are plenty of opportunities for your thermostat to bumped into or otherwise improperly set. You may have accidentally set the temperature too low, so the air feels cooler than it should. You may also have switched the thermostat over to a “fan only” mode. That could leave your furnace to circulate cool air from your house throughout the living space.

Is the Pilot Lit?

It’s not so often a problem with newer furnaces, but if you have an older system it is possible that your pilot light is out. The pilot is a necessary part of the fuel combustion process. You can go ahead and relight your pilot if you are comfortable doing so, but don’t ignore the problem if it happens frequently. Once in a while can be chalked up to a draft or other issue. A pilot light that is always going out likely represents a more serious issue, though, and one that could have implications for your safety.

Is the Problem Location Specific?

There is a chance that the issue of cold air blowing into an area of your home is actually the result of leaky ductwork, rather than a malfunctioning furnace. Does it seem as though only one room or area of your home is affected? If so, the air ducts servicing that area could be leaking, drawing in cooler air surrounding them and offsetting the heat generated by the furnace.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning is here to handle your heating services. We are the company you can trust.

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