Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Tag: Laporte

Now that winter is settling in for another cold season, many homeowners are really scrutinizing their heating systems. This is understandable. After all, you are not going to live comfortably throughout the heating season if you are unable to successfully heat your home. However, there are other considerations to make.

Your indoor air quality in Laporte, CO is equally as important as the temperature in your home. Subpar indoor air quality can not only leave you living in discomfort, but it can negatively affect your health as well. Following are two examples of air purifiers that you may want to consider using in your home.

Electronic Air Purifiers

Many homeowners are just fine using air filters in order to clean the air that circulates throughout their homes. For any number of reasons, though, basic air filtration may not be enough. That is when air purification comes into play.

With an electronic air purifier, you can take a more proactive approach to removing pollutants from the air in your home. There are different makes and models of electronic air purifiers, but the most common include devices such as electrostatic precipitators. These air purifiers give pollutants in the air an electric charge as they pass through an ionization chamber. The pollutants are then trapped on oppositely charged plates, which are easily removed and cleaned by the homeowner.

This is fine for pollutants like dust and dirt, which can simply be removed from the air. Biological pollutants, however, should not just be removed. They should be destroyed.

UV Air Purifiers

Biological pollutants include viruses, mold, and bacteria. These pollutants are living microorganisms, so it is not really enough to just remove them from the air in your home. They are generally too small for effective filtration, but that’s not the only problem.

Because they are living microorganisms, these pollutants can reproduce. If you trap them on a filter or in an electronic air purifier, they can continue to reproduce. Using a UV air purifier, on the other hand, such as ultraviolet germicidal lights, allows you to destroy the pollutants. You can disrupt their biological processes and render them incapable of reproduction. This is a much more effective way of dealing with these pollutants.

Generally speaking, a multi-pronged approach to improving indoor air quality is usually the best. Schedule your IAQ services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

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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Forced air heating systems are very popular, and offer prompt comfort thanks to their method of heating air and then distributing that heated air throughout homes via ductwork. However, there are a few potential drawbacks to using a forced air heating system in your home. Many of these drawbacks are made clear by the benefits that radiant heating has to offer.

There is no heating method or system that is going to be a perfect fit for every home or homeowner. There is certainly one, though, that is right for your personal preferences and heating needs. Read on, and you may just decide that radiant heating in Laporte, CO fits the bill.

Why Choose Radiant Heating?

The major difference between radiant heating and forced air heating is that a radiant heating system does not heat air to distribute throughout the house. Instead, a radiant heater applies heat directly to surfaces in the home. Electric panels may be installed in walls, or coils beneath the floor. Because of the cost of electricity, though, hydronic heating systems, in which water heated by a boiler is circulated beneath the floor via hydronic tubing, is generally preferred.

The heat applied to the walls or floors then radiates out into the living space, and warms objects within that space. This includes not only furniture, but also human bodies. The result is very even heat distribution, and outstanding comfort. Another result is very efficient heating, and that is one that is a big benefit of radiant heaters.

When you use ductwork to distribute heated air throughout a house, you run the risk of encountering air leaks in that system. When that happens, you are going to struggle to heat your home evenly. The system will have to work harder than it should in order to overcome the challenge, driving up heating costs. Plus, leaky ductwork can negatively affect air quality, distributing pollutants throughout the house.

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

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When your air conditioner is not cooling your home as effectively as it once did, or if it is costing more to run than it used to, you may start to sweat—and not just because it’s still so hot out. You may just be getting nervous about the prospect of costly AC repair needs. Before you go exploring all of the worst case scenarios out there, though, you should keep in mind the fact that it may just be a problem with your thermostat.

Now, your thermostat is an integral player in your HVAC system, and we don’t mean to downplay its importance. The fact is, though, that dealing with a malfunctioning or even just an out-of-date thermostat is preferable to, say a failing condenser unit. Whatever the case may be, give us a call to schedule great thermostat services in Laporte, CO.

Misreadings, Misplacement, and Misuse

If your AC is really failing to cool your home effectively, it’s very possible that your thermostat is misreading the temperature in your home. This is obviously a serious problem, and one that you need to have resolved as soon as you can. It may be possible to re-calibrate or repair the thermostat to get the system as a whole back on track.

It could also be as simple as having your thermostat in the wrong place in your home. Is your thermostat mounted near a window or door? An outward facing wall? If so, then it may be reading temperatures accurately, but not the temperature that is representative of conditions throughout the home.

Finally, you may just not have the right thermostat for your needs. Upgrading to a programmable model eliminates the temptation of fiddling about with a manual thermostat all of the time. This can help your system to operate not only more effectively, but more affordably as well.

Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’re big enough to serve, but small enough to care.

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You want to keep your home cool and comfortable, but you also don’t want to drain your budget when cooling your home with your air conditioning system. While replacing your entire air conditioner in Laporte, CO with a more efficient system may seem like your only option, it most certainly is not. Read on to learn more about how you can boost energy efficiency in order to cool your home more affordably this summer season.

  • Insulate your home properly. Investing in additional insulation for weak spots in your home will pay back month after month throughout the year. Insulation works both ways, keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer. That means that you can enjoy year round energy savings.
  • Recover energy that you’ve already paid for and used with an energy recovery ventilator. An ERV also works year-round, allowing you to ventilate your home sufficiently without wasting the energy that you’ve used to heat or cool your home.
  • Consider the use of a zone control system. A zone control system allows you to distribute conditioned air throughout your home in a more planned way. No longer will you need to cool your entire house to one set temperature throughout.
  • Don’t forget about your ceiling fans. While it is true that these fans don’t actively cool the air in your home, as your air conditioner does, they can help to distribute cooled air throughout your home more effectively, taking some strain off of your air conditioning system.
  • Upgrade your thermostat. If you are using an old manual thermostat, there is no way that you are regulating the operation of your AC as successfully as possible. Opting for programmability, or even smart technology, can make a huge difference.

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

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Chances are that, if you use a forced air heating and/or cooling system in your home, that you are heating and cooling your entire living space to just one temperature throughout. Have you ever stopped to wonder why, though? After all, you don’t walk into your house and flip one master switch that turns on every light, right? By using a zone control system in Laporte, CO, you can take greater control over the way in which you distribute heated and cooled air throughout your home. Just remember to schedule service with us, so that you know that your zone control system is designed, installed, and serviced properly.

How Does the Use of a Zone Control System Benefit Me?

We understand that homeowners are wary of upgrades that they may not really need, but a zone control system is the type of upgrade that really pays off. The benefits are numerous, and cannot be denied. With a zone control system in place, you can enjoy the following perks:

  • Improved Comfort: Different people are comfortable at different temperatures. If you live alone, maybe a single temperature zone will suffice. If you have a spouse and children in your residence with you, though, that really just is not going to cut it. By maintaining different temperatures in different areas of the home, you can ensure that everyone living there is comfortable.
  • Reduced Energy Costs: If improving your comfort is not enough of a selling point to convince you of the benefits of investing in a zone control system, what if we told you that you could actually enjoy greater comfort while cutting down on energy costs? Because you can maintain truly comfortable temperatures in areas in use, while maintaining more moderate temperatures in seldom used areas of your home, you can do just that.
  • Decreased Wear and Tear: It is vital that you schedule routine HVAC maintenance if you hope to keep your system in prime working condition. Because your system will have a reduced workload when operating on a zoned design, though, you can cut down on its wear and tear. This can help to maintain great efficiency and reduce the risk of repair needs.

Schedule your HVAC services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

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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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The autumn season may still just be getting started, but it is not uncommon for winter to really sneak up on residents in this area. Hopefully you have a great heater in your home, and one that was professionally installed by a trained technician. Even if you do have a high-quality heater, though, and even if it was and is professionally installed and serviced, there is just no way in which you can hope for that heater to function with 100% reliability. You are going to need heating repairs in Laporte, CO at some point. When you do, it is always in your best interest to schedule them as promptly as possible. When that time comes, make sure that you hire the pros here at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to get the job done right.

  • Strange sounds may not seem like that big a deal to many homeowners. After all, it’s not as if any heating system actually operates entirely silently. However, you should have some level of understanding regarding the normal sounds of operation associated with running your heater. If your heater is suddenly making much louder noises than usual, or is making sounds that you’ve never heard before, then you may have a serious problem on your hands.
  • Uneven heating can be quite annoying, but it can also indicate that there is something seriously wrong with your system. It could be that your heater has damaged ductwork, or that its fan is not functioning properly. Whatever the case, a professionally sized and installed heater that is functioning properly should not be leaving cold spots throughout your home.
  • Unusually high heating costs also suggest that your heater is in trouble. Sure, you are going to pay to heat your home. This is not something that you’ll be able to do free of charge. If you are shocked when you start to get your heating bills in, though, it may well be time for professional heating repairs of some sort.
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Although the ductwork of your house remains mostly hidden from your sight, there are still ways to tell if you need professionals to seal up breaks or gaps in your ducts. If you detect low air pressure, incorrect temperatures, or musty smells emanating from your vents, then chances are good there’s a break somewhere in them. (Even if there isn’t, something is wrong and it needs investigating.)

Duct sealing isn’t only about restoring your home’s correct temperature. It will save you money. Here are some of the different ways that our Laporte, CO, duct sealing team at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning can help you save money with repairs on your ducts.

Here’s Why Duct Sealing Will Save You Money

  • Increased efficiency for your HVAC system: The most immediate problem that breaks and gaps in ducts will cause is a reduction of air pressure. Ductwork requires an airtight seal along its length to maintain the air pressure from the blower all the way to the vents, and when any leaks occur along the ducts it will lead to a drop in airflow and a loss of heating and cooling. Your HVAC system will work harder to overcome this loss, leading to a noticeable spike in your bills. Duct sealing will restore the airtightness of the ducts and take pressure off your comfort system.
  • Less need for duct cleaning: Duct cleaning is something you should schedule on a regular basis—dust will enter your ventilation system no matter what—but the amount of dust and other contaminants that will enter the ducts will leap dramatically because of breaks. Often, these breaks occur in hidden and dusty areas of your home, which makes the dirt and debris problem worse. You could find yourself needing duct cleaning more than once a year unless you seal up those holes.
  • Reduced chance of needing mold remediation: Another danger from having leaks that open up onto hidden and unused areas of your home is that moisture can get inside the ducts, and this will encourage the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. To protect your indoor air quality, as well as to prevent further damage to the ducts, you will need to have mold remediation done using the installation of UV germicidal lights. Avoid this extra expense with timely duct sealing.

Duct Sealing Needs Professionals

If you thought that perhaps you could just seal those holes with duct tape, you need to know that duct tape isn’t for ductwork. Sealing ducts requires special metallic tape and resin sealant. It also requires technicians capable of accessing your ducts. Call in the professionals for this job: Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning has the duct sealing and HVAC service specialists in Laporte who can help you save money.

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