Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Month: June 2017

You really do not have to be a professional air conditioning technician to understand that the sole function of an air conditioner is to cool things down. If you think this means that the development of ice on your air conditioner is normal, though, think again. Yes, your AC is responsible for cooling down hot air, but it is not a freezer. If you start to see ice develop anywhere on your system, you really should have a trained professional check in on it.

There may be a very simple solution to the problem, but it could also be quite serious. Whatever the case may be, diagnosing the problem properly to begin with is every bit as important as repairing it correctly. Work with our team, and you’ll have no doubt about the exceptional quality of your air conditioning repairs in Windsor, CO.

First Things First: What Is Freezing?

One facet of this issue that confuses homeowners is the question of what exactly is freezing to begin with. After all, it is not as though water is used in our central air conditioners. If there is ice on the system, though, that means that water is getting in from somewhere, right?

The ice that you may see develop on your evaporator coil is actually the result of frozen condensation. When refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator coil in order to draw heat out of the air, some moisture is drawn out of the air as well. That moisture drips onto the coil, and then down into the condensate drain pan and out of your home through the drain line. In certain situations, though, the coil may be cold enough for the condensation to freeze up.

Causes of the Freezing Coil

First of all, resolving the issue of condensation freezing on your evaporator coil may be as simple as changing your air filter. If your air filter is extremely dirty, then it will restrict airflow through the system. That restricted airflow means that the evaporator coil may not be able to pull a sufficient amount of heat out of the air surrounding it. When that happens, the coil can get cold enough to freeze this condensation.

Additionally, and much more seriously, you could have a refrigerant leak. The refrigerant in your air conditioner is what allows the system to cool the air to begin with. Air conditioners are designed to work with a certain amount of refrigerant. If your refrigerant is low due to leaks in the system, then the heat transfer process is impeded and you may wind up with ice on your coil.

Continuing to run a system with ice on the coil puts it at risk of overheating, and the excess wear and tear on the system can result in serious damage over time. Make the right choice and contact us the moment that you see ice on your system–and remember to check that filter first!

Schedule your AC services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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There are a number of issues that can lead Round-Thermostat-300x200to a subpar performance with an air conditioning system. Many of these issues are beyond the homeowner’s control, will arise unexpectedly, and will require professional intervention to resolve. In some cases, though, an outdated piece of equipment is simply holding the AC back from its full potential. This is the case if you are using a thermostat that is something of a relic from time past. You’ll need a professional to replace your thermostat in Loveland, CO, but it is a simple upgrade that can have very big benefits.

One word of caution–don’t just find the fanciest, most well-reviewed thermostat that you can online, order it, and then expect your technician to install it for you. You need to know for sure that your thermostat is the right fit for your system, and that your AC is capable of integrating with that control. If you really want to upgrade your thermostat to the newest technology and have an old AC in place, then a full air conditioning replacement may be a better option to consider.

Is My Thermostat Really That Big a Player?

Absolutely, yes. Don’t let this HVAC system component’s size fool you. Diminutive though it may be when compared to, say, your condenser unit, the thermostat that you use in your home is literally the conduit through which you are able to control the system at large. It’s importance is impossible to overstate, and any issues with your thermostat are going to have serious implications for the overall efficiency and performance quality with which your air conditioner operates.

Why Upgrade, Though? My Thermostat Is Working Fine

That may be true, but is “fine” all that you hope for when it comes to your AC system? During the most intense heat of summer, we think that our clients deserve more than “fine.” The first instance in which a thermostat upgrade should be considered is if you find yourself using an old dial or slide thermostat.

These thermostats, such as the round model pictured, are difficult to control accurately. You may not be setting the temperature as precisely as you’d like to, and that can lead to increased cooling costs. Upgrading to a digital thermostat is a small step toward much more accurate temperature settings.

While opting for even the most basic digital thermostat is a good starting point, we strongly urge you to at least consider a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you’ll be able to set cooling–and heating–programs based around your own personal schedule. In doing so, you can keep cooling costs in line without having to come home to an uncomfortably warm living space at the end of the work day.

More advanced models, such as smart thermostats, are definitely worth considering. However, it is vital you hire a professional to ensure your system is compatible with such a thermostat. If so, using a smart thermostat will allow you to control your system remotely, as well as to view energy reports that can help you to make the changes you need to in order to cut energy costs even further.

Schedule your AC services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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It is certainly possible. However, because of the very UV Air Purifiers Fort Collins COspecific purpose of UV air purifiers, they are not necessary in every home. For those simply looking to remove pollutants like dust and dirt from the air that they breathe, ultraviolet germicidal lights are not going to be needed. These types of pollutants are removed by air filtration systems and electronic air purifiers. If you are experiencing problems with biological pollutants, however, then UV air purifiers in Fort Collins, CO can help.

Pollutant Removal vs. Pollutant Destruction

Air filters are very basic in their operation. As air passes through the filter, the pollutants in that air are trapped on the filtering media. Electronic air filters typically use an ionization chamber in order to trap charged pollutants on oppositely charged collector plates. Those plates are then removed from the system for easy cleaning. These devices are pollutant removal-based systems.

The issue with removing pollutants from the air, however, is that doing so does not stop living pollutants from continuing to multiply. Biological pollutants, such as viruses, mold, and bacteria, are living microorganisms. If you were just to filter these pollutants out of the air, then they would go on with their biological processes, including reproduction, even as they sat trapped by the filter or air cleaner.

UV air purifiers, on the other hand, are pollutant destruction-based systems. This means that they actually kill the biological pollutants, or at least upset them biologically and leave them incapable of reproducing. Plus, because these microorganisms are so tiny, they can generally pass right through any air filter that would be compatible with most residential HVAC systems anyway.

The UV light emitted by these devices is confined to the ductwork and is in no way harmful to pets or residents in the house. For biological pollutants that could make you and your family ill, though, it proves devastating. Schedule your IAQ services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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