Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Tag: Heating Repair

need heating repair

When your home starts getting chilly for no apparent reason, there’s a good chance you have a problem with your heating unit. But, how can you know for sure if that’s the issue? We’re here to make it easy for you to tell below. If you relate to any of the following issues, then it’s time for you to schedule an appointment for heating repair in Windsor, CO.

The Top 5 Signs That You Need Heating Repair

Here are a few signs that you need heating repair.

1.    Low Heating Output

The first and most obvious sign that you might need to have your heating unit repaired is that your home is cold. In other words, the heater isn’t putting out enough heat to warm up your house. Low heat output is a dead giveaway that something has gone wrong with your heater. So, if you’ve been adjusting your thermostat over and over again, but aren’t noticing any change in temperature, then be sure to call a professional heating repair company today.

2.    High Monthly Energy Bills

It could also be the case that you all of a sudden start receiving higher than normal energy bills, which, unless your rate has suddenly skyrocketed, is a great sign that something is wrong with your heater. Should this be the case, then be sure to contact a heating repair company right away, as the increased monthly cost of energy will likely be much more than the visit from a repair company.

3.    Weird Noises

If your notice that your heater is making weird noises that it never used to make, then chances are that there is something going on, and it’s probably not anything good. Weird noises are usually an early warning sign that something has gone wrong with the heater, and so it’s a great idea to contact a professional heating repair company right away while there’s still a chance to repair the unit. Otherwise, you could be looking at a bill for a whole new heater.

4.    Odd Scents

Like with weird noises, if you suddenly start to smell weird odors coming from your heater, then there’s a good chance that something has gone wrong. Weird smells can be caused by failing mechanical parts and can be a precursor to much bigger problems. In this situation, your best bet is to have a heating repair company come out and take a look to see what’s going on. It could be nothing, but it could also be a serious problem that requires immediate attention.

5.    Poor Operation

Finally, if your heater is acting up, only working sporadically, or otherwise operating poorly, then you can be certain that there is a problem with the unit. Mechanical problems like these never resolve themselves, and the longer you wait to fix them, the more work will be involved, which means a bigger bill. The best thing to do is always to call a professional heating repair company that can fix the problem before it escalates into something major and much more costly.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for your heating repair. We’re the company you can trust because we’re big enough to serve, but small enough to care.

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Heating Repairs Windsor CO

Winter in Colorado is a wonderful time of the year. Provided, of course, that you’re prepared for it. If not, then it is definitely not all that enjoyable. Our winters are way too harsh to take any chances with your comfort or your safety. That is why it is so important that you do everything possible to prevent the need for heating repair in Windsor, CO.

If you’re looking for a way in which to completely avoid any and all heating repair needs, this isn’t the post for you. And if you find a post claiming to have such answers, you should know you’ve found an unreliable resource. All heaters run into trouble sometimes.  That just the reality of the situation. With these tips in mind, though, you can keep repair needs as few and far between as possible.

Change Your Air Filter Regularly

The air filter in a forced-air heater, such as a furnace or a heat pump, is not really there to protect the quality of the air in your home. You can’t just assume that the air filter is clean enough just because the air quality seems okay. You should be checking this filter on a monthly basis, and changing it about that frequently (certain media filters may be changed less frequently).

If your air filter is too dirty, then your system is going to face a higher level of airflow restriction than it should. That restricted airflow is going to put added strain on the system. Over time, that can lead to issues with the system’s operation. Eventually, repairs might be necessary.

Leave the Installation to Us

Sometimes, homeowners wind up with a system that needs repairs pretty frequently. This may not be an issue with the heater itself. Even a great system will fail to function effectively and reliably if it is not installed properly. If you want to be sure that your heater is as reliable as possible, then you really need to schedule a professional heating installation.

There is a lot to consider when installing a heater, from the design of the heat distribution system to the sizing of the heater itself. If you’re serious about protecting your heater, you have to start on day 1. Our team will start your heater off on the right foot so that it can deliver on its full potential for years to come.

Schedule Annual Maintenance

If you’re not having your heater tuned up each and every year, then you are setting it up for failure. It’s just that simple. You may think everything is working just fine, and maybe it is—for now. That doesn’t change the fact that your heater is on thin ice if it isn’t properly maintained.

A lot goes into the maintenance of a heating system, and it is a job that only professionals can handle. From checking relays to lubricating moving parts and testing various components, routine maintenance is your technician’s chance to catch problems early on and to optimize your system’s performance.

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

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5 Potential Furnace Problems

Ideally, you’d never have to worry about the need for furnace repair in Windsor, CO. Realistically?

You’re going to need furnace repairs at some point.

The best thing that you can do for your furnace is to schedule your professional furnace repairs at the very first sign of trouble. What does furnace trouble look like?  Or smell like? Or sound like? Or feel like?

As you can guess from our phrasing, furnace problems can present themselves in a variety of ways. Here are a number of common issues that you should be aware of, so that you can act fast.

 

#1. Your Furnace Shuts Down Too Soon

This is called short cycling, and it can happen with any system. In the case of a furnace, it may be the result of any number of problems. Some are simple to resolve. A very dirty air filter could be to blame, for instance. Airflow is restricted, and the system can overheat and cycle down.

However, you could also have a faulty thermocouple that is shutting the system down too early. Or, that thermocouple could be working just fine, shutting down the system because safe combustion temperatures aren’t achieved. We’ll figure out precisely what the problem is.

#2. Your Furnace Heats Unevenly

If your furnace has always failed to heat your home evenly, it is possible that it is just too small. It isn’t able to generate enough heat to reach every corner of the house. That would require a professional replacement or some very creative zoning to resolve.

However, if the problem is new, you may have issues with leaky ductwork. Professional duct sealing is what you’d need to resolve that problem, as it is not an issue that you can resolve on your own. Drop the duct tape and pick up the phone!

#3. Your Furnace Makes Strange Sounds

Just because your furnace is heating your home doesn’t mean that it is doing the job properly. If you hear screeching or grinding sounds coming from your furnace, you need to let us know right away. Yes, even if your home is warm and comfy.

When you ignore such signs of trouble, you wind up giving problems the time they need to cause major damage. A loose component or bent fan blades made not be a major issue at the start, but over time can do serious damage.

#4. Your Furnace Smells Like Burning

When you fire up your furnace, you may smell burning at first—particularly if it’s been a while since you’ve used it. If that odor goes away quickly, it’s probably just dust burning off.

If the odor persists, though, or has a plastic tinge to it, contact us ASAP. Wiring issues and other problems could be to blame, and these problems can be dangerous.

#5. Your Furnace Costs too Much to Run!

This one is frustrating, but has a simple solution—routine maintenance! Pretty much any operational problem will cause a drop in efficiency. But routine maintenance keeps your system in prime working condition, and that keeps operating costs in check.

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

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Heater Needs Repairs

We know, we know. The heating season has barely even gotten started. And here we are, already talking about the things that could go wrong. Well, it may not be the most fun topic in the world, but it’s one of the most important. After all, thinking about these warning signs now will help you to get out ahead of any heating problems during the coldest time of the year.

And trust us, you’ll run into heating problems eventually. Boy, we really aren’t all sunshine today, are we? Sometimes you just have to speak practically, though. Even the best heaters, and even those that are properly maintained, are going to require professional heating repairs in Loveland, CO, from time to time. So keep this info in mind—and our phone number handy!

 

Your Heater Runs in Short Bursts

When you heat your home, your heater should run in even, effective cycles. It should bring the temperature up consistently and will keep air moving through the house. What it definitely should not do is start up, run for a few minutes, shut down, start up again after a few minutes, and fall into this “short cycling,” well, cycle. If your heater is short cycling, it could be a sign of a serious problem—or a very simple one that you can resolve on your own. This is where things get tricky.

If your heater is short cycling, first check the air filter in a forced-air system. It could be that your filter is dirty enough that it is causing the system to overheat, leading to the short cycling. If that isn’t the case, and your thermostat is set correctly, then you may have a problem with the electrical controls. You could even have a refrigerant leak in a heat pump, if you use one. Rule out the filter, then call for professional service.

Strange Noises or Odors

It’s not all about “spotting” problems when it comes to recognizing operational issues. Sometimes, it is about hearing them or even smelling them! Depending on the type of heater that you use to keep your home warm, you may be used to different levels of noise. A boiler/radiant system may make a bit of sound as it cycles on, but will otherwise be pretty silent. With a furnace or a heat pump, you may get a bit more noise with air being forced through ducts by the fan.

However, you know what normal operating sounds are like. That means that you should be able to recognize abnormal sounds, too. Any brand new sounds suddenly developing, or louder than usual sounds, should be checked out promptly. Same with odors. If you smell a little burning dust when the system first comes on, but it goes right away, that’s normal. If you smell a burning plastic odor, or you ever smell gas in your home, that’s not! Schedule service immediately.

Shocking Operational Costs

We’ll keep this short—keep your eye on your utility bills. If you notice a major spike in costs when you start running your heater, despite not using it any differently than you have previously, don’t just write that off. It could be that you’re overpaying to heat your home due to a problem cutting down energy efficiency.

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

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Heating

This is a tricky time of the year for homeowners looking to protect their comfort. We’ll get a sprinkling of chilly days and nights tossed into the mix, then temperatures will jump right back up to the mid/high 80s before you know it. Seeing those temperatures in the forecast may lead you to believe that it’s too early to really start thinking about your home heating system. This really couldn’t be further from the truth, though.

Sure, you may not be ready to flip over to your heater just yet. However, the time for home heating in Fort Collins, CO, is just around the corner. And that can sneak up on you in a bad way if your heater is not ready to jump right back into action. So keep the following in mind, and remember that our technicians are never more than a phone call away. Whatever heating services you may need, we’re here to do the job right.

 

How Old Is Your System?

Age is a very important factor to consider when it comes to your heating system. Now, does an older system mean that you definitely need to replace it before winter hits? No. Nor does a newer system mean that you definitely don’t need to replace it before the heating season arrives. But age will definitely play a factor in your decision-making process regarding what’s best for your heating needs.

If, for example, you’ve got a problem that can be resolved with repairs, but the repair is pretty pricey, you should be asking yourself if the system is still worth repairing. If it’s getting older, frequently has issues like this come up, and/or is no longer covered under warranty, then a replacement probably looks pretty good. If the system is still new enough for the repair to be covered and is otherwise in good working order, then replacement probably won’t be the way to go.

How Satisfied Are You with Your System?

For some, the idea of replacing a working heater with a new, different model is just crazy. We assure you, it’s not. Different heaters work in different ways, and if there was any one heater that suited every single homeowner, well—there wouldn’t be so many different types of heaters out there! So yes, dissatisfaction with your heater based on how it heats your home is a valid reason for replacement.

Maybe you’re drawn to the efficiency of a heat pump, but have a furnace in place. Maybe you’ve got a heat pump, but it’s the ductless mini split that’s really got your attention. Whatever the case,  our team is happy to discuss your options with you to ensure that you not only have a good, reliable heater, but that you have the right heater for your personal user preferences.

How’s Overall Efficiency?

Your heater is working just fine. But it’s costing a lot to heat your home? Then it’s not working just fine!

Investing in efficiency from the start is a worthwhile pursuit. But you also need to be diligent in scheduling routine heating maintenance if you want to maintain that efficiency. And, if your system just cannot deliver the efficiency you’re looking for, then it may be time to start looking for a replacement.

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

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Furnace Repair Loveland CO

It would be great if there was always a clear cut sign that you needed something like furnace repair in Loveland, CO, wouldn’t it? Well, there actually are quite a few such signs,  but they may not be quite as clear as you’d like. The clearest need for furnace repair would probably be a completely broken down furnace, right? Well, sure—but you obviously don’t want to wait for your furnace to break down entirely before you have it repaired!

That’s where these tips are going to come in handy. And the “good” news is that these are problems that you are already aware of. You just may not realize that they alone are enough to justify system repairs or, at the very least, a call to us to have your system evaluated. So keep them in mind, and keep your system functioning properly and safely by scheduling prompt furnace repairs the moment that you have cause to suspect there is a problem.

Your Furnace Isn’t Blowing Warm Enough Air

That’s odd, you think, the air coming from the furnace doesn’t seem hot enough. Oh well, it’s pretty cold out. The house will heat up eventually, even if it takes a little longer than usual.

No. Uh-uh. Stop. Stop making excuses for problems like this.

Regardless of how cold it may be outside, your furnace should be capable of heating the air in your home effectively. If it doesn’t seem like the air is hot enough,  there could be quite a few problems at play. It’s possible, for instance, that you have leaky ducts that are pulling unheated air from unheated areas of the house (like between walls) into the system. You could also have a problem with your thermostat or with your fuel delivery/combustion mechanisms. We’ll figure out precisely what is going wrong so that you can go back to heating your home effectively.

Your Furnace Is Running in Short Cycles

This is called short cycling. Not the most inventive name, is it? Well, regardless of how inventive it is, it’s apt. Why? Because a heater is not supposed to run in short cycles. Short cycling is a problem. You want a heater to run in full, even cycles. So if you notice short cycling in your home, you may need repairs. We say “may,” because there is one situation that you should rule out on your own before scheduling repairs. That is a dirty air filter.

A very dirty filter can actually create so much airflow resistance that the system winds up overheating, causing it to shut down to avoid damages. Then it starts up again, only to cycle back down before long. If the filter isn’t dirty, then you likely have a problem that is going to require professional service.

Your Bills Are Going Up

There is very little that is truly “free” in this life, and heating your home is no exception. You’re going to have to pay for your comfort. That doesn’t mean that you should accept overpaying for your comfort, though. If your energy bills are too high, it could definitely be a result of a compromised system in need of repair.

Schedule your furnace repairs with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big Enough to Serve, Small Enough to Care.

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Heating Repairs

Wouldn’t it be great to invest in that heater that will never give you any problems and will never require repair service? Yes, it would be. Unfortunately, there is one major problem with this plan. That heater does not exist. If you find a heating contractor telling you otherwise, then you’ve found a heating contractor that cannot be trusted. While investing in a good heater and scheduling routine maintenance will keep repair needs minimal, there’s just no avoiding them entirely.

What you can do, however, is keep any such repair needs as minor as possible. How? By scheduling your heating repairs at the very first sign of trouble with your system. The longer that you wait to have your system repaired when it is in need, the worse off your system is going to be. Now, how do you go about doing this? You learn to recognize early signs of trouble. That’s what today’s blog is all about.

 

Your System Is Costing too Much to Run

One sure sign that there is something wrong with your heater is a steady creep upward in heating costs. However, there is a big difference between something being wrong with your heater and the actual need for heating repair in Loveland, CO. It could be that you have a dirty air filter in your system restricting airflow, for instance.  That will drive up operating costs, but it’s not something you need professionally repaired. If you continue to run a heater with a very dirty filter in it,  however, you may find yourself in need of repairs!

If there’s not an obvious solution to the problem, unfortunately, there may be any number of issues requiring repairs to get your heater and its efficiency back on track. Our team is trained to diagnose problems with your heater accurately, and we’ll make sure that any problems we find are resolved completely. We do it the right way, the first time, every time.

Your System Makes Strange New Sounds

If you hear the occasional sound from your heater, there is probably nothing to worry about. Your heater may make a bit of noise when it cycles on. Maybe its ductwork contracts and expands as it heats up and cools down. There are definitely noises that fall within the confines of normal operational sounds.

Then there are noises that can’t be explained away as being part of normal operating sounds. Grinding, screeching, booming, etc. If your system really starts to make strange sounds that it hasn’t in the past, don’t just do your best to ignore it. Schedule repairs with our team right away.

Your Heater Won’t Start Up

That’s a pretty clear sign that something is wrong, right? First things first, check your breaker box. It could be that the flip of a breaker switch is all you need to resolve the problem.

If all is well there, then call us in. It could be a faulty thermostat, it could be that there is a fuel delivery problem. Whatever the issue, our professional heating technicians will get to the bottom of it.

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

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Furnace Running Properly

Make no mistake about it—you are going to require professional furnace repair in Wellington, CO, at some point. No amount of planning or precaution is going to completely prevent the risk of problems developing. That being said, you can take some measures to ensure that any problems with your furnace are kept as few and far between as possible. That’s what we’re going to be focusing on today. Our technicians have the tips and tricks you’re looking for!

The truth of the matter is that there is really no “trick” about it. If you take good care of your furnace, your furnace is going to take good care of you. It’s just a matter of educating yourself about what your furnace actually needs from you. This is a combination of doing the things that you should do for your furnace, and not doing the things that are best left to trained professionals. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Get Your Furnace Off to the Right Start

We know that most homeowners, even those that are pretty DIY-driven, wouldn’t actually try to install a furnace on their own. However, not doing it on your own is not the same as not doing it right. While you may well know a handyperson in the neighborhood or have one in your family, this is a job for qualified professionals only. Not even the most skilled handyperson can install a furnace if they’re not trained and licensed appropriately.

When a furnace is first installed in a home, there is a whole lot to consider. This includes the sizing of the furnace to optimize performance and efficiency levels. the layout of the ductwork to be installed, electrical wiring matters, and much more. It’s a very complex job, and only a heating professional can be trusted to do it right every step of the way.

Maintain Proper Airflow

Wait, what? I thought I’m not supposed to work on my furnace myself?  

No, you’re not. And maintaining proper airflow doesn’t require that you do so. It simply requires that you change your air filter regularly to ensure that your system is not fighting against excessive airflow resistance, and that you don’t obstruct the registers in the house.

Changing your air filter is actually the best thing that you yourself can do for your system, and it’s incredibly easy. As for the registers, just make sure that you’re not pushing your furniture up against them by accident. And, if you’re looking to maintain different temperatures in different areas of your home, make sure that you talk to us about zoning your system—don’t just close off registers in an attempt to achieve the desired effect.

Schedule Routine Maintenance

This is what it all comes down to. Schedule annual heating maintenance to keep your system in the best working condition possible. Nothing is better for your heater, furnace or otherwise, than giving it a clean bill of health through professional maintenance from a qualified heating technician.

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

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Heater Running Consistently

There are a lot of different problems that may develop with your home heating system. If you think the fact that your heater is starting up and functioning at all means that all is well, then think again! Not every problem is going to result in an immediate breakdown. There are plenty of problems that can do damage over time even as your heater is still technically running. You cannot afford to ignore any signs of trouble for this exact reason.

One huge red flag that you should be aware of is short cycling. Short cycling is what we call it when a heater (or an AC, for that matter) starts up alright, but then runs only briefly before shutting back down. That heater is then going to start back up, only to complete its cycle in rapid succession once more. Why should you be concerned if the system is starting and stopping, though? Well, let’s take a closer look.

You’re Definitely Wasting Money

How do we know that? Because if you’re running a short cycling heater, then you’re definitely wasting energy! It takes more energy to get a heater up and running than it does to keep a heater up and running. That’s true of any mechanical system. So, if your system is starting and stopping over and over again rapidly, it is costing you more to run than it should. That’s not the only potential way in which your short cycling system is costing you, though.

Your System Is at Risk!

All of that starting and stopping may not cause an immediate breakdown, but you still want immediate HVAC services in Loveland, CO. Why? Because your system is suffering excessive wear and tear that it otherwise would not. All of that wear and tear will further degrade energy efficiency over time. However, it is also going to wind up increasing the risk of operational problems and, eventually, a breakdown. You’re  going to wind up paying for repairs that likely could have been avoided, had you fixed the problem to begin with.

You’re Not as Comfortable

What’s worse than overpaying to heat a home during the coldest time of the year? Living uncomfortably anyway, despite the amount that you’re paying to heat your home. It’s very frustrating, but that’s what’s going to happen if you continue to use a short cycling heater to heat your house. It just is not going to do as effective a job of it as a heater that is running in full, complete cycles.

There are a few different reasons why a heater may short cycle. It may be as simple as a very dirty air filter that is causing the system to overheat. However, you could also have a faulty thermostat or thermocouple. You could even have a refrigerant leak in a heat pump, which will literally destroy that system if you don’t have the problem addressed in a timely manner. When in doubt, reach out to a member of our team to get your heater back in proper working condition.

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

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heat pump

If you use a heat pump to keep your home warm and cozy throughout the coldest time of the year, then we certainly hope that it is meeting—nay, exceeding!—your expectations so far this winter. If this is not the case, then don’t just tell yourself that you’ll deal with the problem once the winter season has come to a close. You wouldn’t limp along the last few miles of a marathon with a sprained ankle just because it wasn’t actually broken, right?

While your heat pump may be up and running, the problems it is experiencing may still indicate that there is a serious issue in need of attention. Failing to give those issues the attention they need straightaway could result in serious damages to your system, as well as a slew of other issues including reduced energy efficiency and subpar heating output. So read on, keep these potential issues in mind, and remember that our technicians can determine the precise nature of the problem with your heat pump in Wellington, CO.

Specific Problems That Your Heat Pump Might Face

  • There’s ice on my heat pump! Well, it is winter, so there’s likely going to be ice all over the place, right? Well, maybe, but your heat pump should not be encased in it. Make sure that your heat pump is not poorly located right beneath dripping water from window eaves or anything like that. If not, remember that some icing is actually normal, which is why the heat pump has an automatic defrost cycle. If the system is becoming encased in ice, though, give us a call ASAP!
  • My system is running in short bursts! Well, at least it’s still heating the house, just in an erratic manner.  That can’t be too bad, right? That depends on how you view excessive wear and tear and increased heating costs with reduced efficiency. We’re guessing, through that lens, you’d call it “pretty bad.” You may just need to replace a very dirty air filter that is causing the system to overheat by reducing airflow.  This can actually cause the icing mentioned earlier, too. However, there is onr more problem that can be blamed for such issues, and it’s a doozy …
  • Your heat pump is leaking refrigerant! Well, it might be, anyway. Refrigerant leaks can cause icing, short cycling, reduced efficiency, and a drop in heating output, which means that any such problem should be taken seriously, even if the actual cause is not that serious. Why? Because running a system with a refrigerant leak for too long can, without exaggeration, actually destroy the system. Don’t ignore any potential signs of refrigerant leaks.

Get the Heat Pump Performance  That You Deserve

Ultimately, you shouldn’t have to use fear as a motivator to have your heat pump repaired promptly. This is your heating system, and it is integral to your comfort. That alone is cause enough for concern when even “minor” issues develop.

Schedule your heat pump services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning—the company you can trust.

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