Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Month: August 2020

Wildfires

We’re taking a bit more of a serious approach to today’s topic of discussion. We always love sharing helpful tips and information with our readers, but the current situation with wildfires in our area has added some amount of urgency to this post. With the Pine Gulch fire having just surpassed Hayman fire as the largest in our history—burning over 139,006 acres—and the Lewstone Fire having just been contained, these issues are at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

We want to take this opportunity first and foremost to express our sympathies to those directly affected by these blazes, but we also want to address those homes being more indirectly affected by the flames and heat of the fire. Even for those homes relatively removed from the fires themselves, the issue of indoor air quality in Fort Collins, CO demands more attention than ever. We want to make sure that you’re aware of how you can protect your IAQ this season.

Air Purification Is the Answer

You’ve certainly seen us talk about what a good air purifier can do for your indoor air quality during regular seasons. To protect yourself from the odors and health issues related to smoke and its inhalation, though, you really want to be sure that you are using the right air purifier for your needs. Remember, not every air purifier is going to resolve every issue.

When it comes to smoke, you do want something that can remove particulates from the air. It’s not just an air freshener that you’re after. A good HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter will be able to remove particle concentrations in your home, up to 85% according to the environmental protection agency. Electronic air filters are a great option for removing smoke particles, and you don’t have to replace them the way that you do something like a carbon filter. You do need to scrub them on a regular schedule to keep them clean, though.

Click here to see how you can get a Free Indoor Air Cleaner

You Want a Whole-House Solution

The unfortunate truth is that this is not the first time we’ve dealt with wildfires and the resulting smoke in our area. It certainly won’t bet the last, either. If you are serious about avoiding the odors, the burning, watery eyes, and the respiratory issues related to smoke and its inhalation in your home, you want a whole-house air purifier. They’re more effective than room units, they’re much more convenient, and they’re going to save you money over time.

However, they must also be professionally installed. When you’re talking about air quality, you’re really talking about your health. Our HVAC professionals can help you to protect your own health and that of your family. We may not be able to do much about the situations leading to these devastating wildfires, but we can and will do everything possible to help protect the comfort and the health of our valued customers. Reach out to discuss your air purifier options.

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

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Inefficient Air Conditioning

The only thing worse than paying too much to cool your home is doing so without really cooling your home that well. Even if your AC is doing a great job of cooling your house, though, high energy bills are never welcome. So what’s a person to do? Just kick their AC to the curb and spend thousands to replace it with a new, more efficient model?

Well, sure, that’s one way to handle the problem. It’s not the only way, though. Chances are that there are a few much less drastic steps that you can take to boost overall energy efficiency when cooling your home. In fact, it may be as simple a matter as changing some of your own bad habits. And if you do choose some upgrades to your system, they don’t have to be as dramatic as a full system replacement.

 

1. Dirty Air Filters

This is the most frustrating answer for some people to hear. A, because it’s so simple, and B, because it’s no one’s fault but their own! Don’t do your air conditioner a disservice. Keep a fresh filter in place, and you’ll be keeping more cash in your pockets. Wondering how a dirty filter can negatively affect air conditioning in Loveland, CO?

Airflow resistance. When a filter gets too dirty, it creates more airflow resistance than it should. And when excessive airflow resistance is created, the system has to work harder than it should have to in order to force cooled air through the house. And that means you’re paying for more energy to cool your home as a result.

2. Outdated Controls

Take a look at your wall. What does your thermostat look like? An old round dial? A rectangle with sliders on it? If so, then you are seriously due for an upgrade. We’re not trying to sell you on anything that you don’t need. The fact of the matter is that improved controls mean more precise temperature settings. More precise temperature settings mean using energy in a smarter way.

Even a basic digital thermostat is going to get you better energy efficiency. And when you actually start using basic functionality like programmability, you really start to see the savings. Plus, you enjoy greater convenience, too. Set cooling programs, cater them around your schedule, and start living more comfortably without the hassle or the high bills. We have a number of options to consider, and we’ll ensure compatibility.

3. Poor Maintenance Practices

If you are serious about enjoying an efficient, effective, and reliable performance from your AC, then you absolutely need to schedule routine air conditioning maintenance. There is nothing better that you can do for your system.

When an air conditioner is tuned up annually by qualified technicians, it is kept in the best working condition possible. And, when your system is in the best working condition possible, you can expect the best energy efficiency that it has to offer. Take advantage of our Maintenance Program.

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

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AC Repairs

Has a contractor ever told you there’s a way to unlock 100% AC reliability? Because you definitely shouldn’t listen to that contractor. Modern air conditioners are very well designed and manufactured. They remain mechanical systems, though. And that means that problems will develop from time to time. So what’s a homeowner to do? Just kick back and wait for that to happen?

Not exactly.

Just because you can’t prevent every air conditioning problem doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to prevent as many as possible. How can you do that? Well, that’s the focus of today’s post! We’re not giving you DIY AC service tips, because that’s what our professional technicians are for. We do have some insights into how you can easily minimize AC repairs in Loveland, CO, though.

 

1. Change Your Air Filter

Okay, we said we weren’t giving DIY tips here. But changing your air filter is the single best way you can contribute to your air conditioner’s success on your own. The air filter in your air conditioner isn’t there to boost indoor air quality. It’s there to protect your air conditioning system itself. And, if you don’t change it regularly, you are directly contributing to its lack of success.

These filters usually need to be changed every 1-3 months. That’s much more frequently than annual maintenance (spoiler alert). If you don’t change your filter enough, it can get clogged. When it gets clogged, it creates a lot of airflow resistance. And when that happens, the strain on the system can and will lead to operational problems eventually.

2. Always, Always Hire Trained Professionals

Want to know how even a great AC can struggle to succeed? If that great AC is not installed and serviced by qualified professionals. It sounds obvious, but trust us. There are a lot of overly confident tinkerers and DIY-enthusiasts out there. We’ve seen it before, and we’ll see it again. A quality system from a great manufacturer, and in need of constant repairs.

This really starts right from the beginning. You need to know that your system is the right fit for your home. You need your duct system expertly designed to service that home. You need any repairs, when they are needed, to be done the right way. Cutting corners by working with amateurs is going to come back to bite you in the long run.

3. Maintenance. The End.

We cut right to the point on this one. If you don’t schedule yearly maintenance for your air conditioning system, you are going to run into problems at a much higher rate than you should. Your air conditioner puts in a lot of work for you. You need to show it the care that it needs to keep it functioning as reliably and efficiently as possible.

We actually offer a comprehensive maintenance plan for just this reason. Check out our video on energy savings here. To say that routine maintenance is an absolute necessity is still an understatement. It protects your comfort, it protects your system, and it protects your investment.

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

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