Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Tag: Wellington

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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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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Winter in this area can be truly beautiful. It Let Your Pipes Freezecan also be a whole lot of fun! Of course, coming home to a house full of frozen pipes or a flooded basement due to a burst pipe sucks the fun right out of things. Trust us on that one. That is why our plumbers in Wellington, CO want to ensure that homeowners have some tricks up their sleeves. What kinds of tricks? The kinds that will help you to limit the risk of frozen pipes this winter season!

No, you do not need to purchase expensive heating units designed to keep your pipes warm in order to keep them safe this winter. These tips are practical, effective, and, best of all, simple! If you’ve ever experienced problems with frozen pipes, then you know how much you want to avoid them. And, if you haven’t, consider yourself lucky—but don’t push that luck. Instead, keep these tips in mind and reach out with any questions that you may have.

Keep Your Cabinets and Drawers Open

Okay, this one is not going to result in a finely tuned aesthetic for your home, but do you really care that much? We’re talking about the purely functional, here, and keeping cabinet doors and drawers open is actually a very effective way to keep your pipes from freezing over. It may look strange, but the benefits outweigh any such concerns.

Basically, you’re just allowing for airflow around any pipes passing under your cabinets, behind drawers, etc. You heat your home in the winter, but keeping these doors and drawers closed can prevent that heat from warming up pipes in these areas. That missing airflow may mean the difference between water moving through your pipes or freezing up and leading to ruptures from the pressure within!

Insulate Your Pipes

Normally, we’d be telling you that adding insulation to your home is something that only trained professionals can do. And this is true, in most cases. When it comes to insulating your pipes, though, you can do the job yourself. You just need some pipe insulation tubing and something to cut it down to size .

There is no messy spray or R-value calculation to worry about here. Just buy the tubing, snip it to size, and pop it over your pipes. While you’re at it, be sure to check if your hot water line is insulated, too. If not, then you’re allowing heat to transfer through that pipe out into the air surrounding the water heater. Just an extra tip for you!

Keep the Water Trickling

You’ve probably heard this one before, but you may have written it off as a waste of water. Water is only wasted, though, when you’re really not using it. In this case, you are using the water. Just not for what you normally do.

Keep a small amount of water flowing through your pipes, and you’ll be investing in the safety of those pipes. Sure, you’re paying for water you’re just pouring down the drains—but at least there is water flowing to drain, right?

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

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Have you made the surprising discovery of a pool of Leaking Waterwater surrounding your indoor AC unit? If so, you may be a bit confused. After all, the AC cannot be leaking water because it does not use water in its operation. Right? Well … sort of. No, that water is not the result of a “leak” in the terms that you are likely thinking of. However, this actually does not mean that your air conditioner is not the source of the water.

This water not only may be coming from your air conditioning system, but could also suggest that you are dealing with a very serious problem. Or it could be something very benign that you can resolve on your own. Like most air conditioning issues, there are various reasons why you may encounter this particular symptom. Getting to the source of the issue is the best way to protect your property and your air conditioner in Wellington, CO.

Dirty Filter

What could a dirty air filter possibly have to do with the water surrounding your air conditioning system? Well, a very dirty air filter could significantly restrict airflow through your home cooling system. When that happens, the evaporator coil will struggle to draw a sufficient amount of heat out of the air. This will cause the coil to get much colder than it should, which could cause the condensation on the coil to freeze up. When that happens, the ice melting off could overwhelm the drainage system and leave water all over the floor.

Refrigerant Leak

This is a much more serious issue than a dirty air filter, but can result in the same icing of the evaporator coil. The condensation that is removed from the air during the cooling process collects on the evaporator coil. If there is not enough refrigerant in your system due to leaks, that coil won’t effectively remove heat from the air. The remaining refrigerant stays too cold, ice develops, ice eventually melts, and you wind up with a puddle around your system. Your AC does not consume refrigerant, remember, so low levels suggest a leak. Continuing to run your system in this condition could prove fatal to your AC.

Drainage Issues

Your air conditioner’s primary function is, obviously, to cool your home. However, it does have a dehumidifying effect on the air that it cools. The moisture removed from the air condenses on the evaporator coil, drips off, and is drained out of your home via the condensate drain line and drain pan.

If the pan is corroded, or even if it is just misaligned, this water may leak out into your property. The drain line could also be backed up—an issue that you can resolve with a wet vac, some rags, and a homemade vinegar solution. If you have any questions about your condensate drain assembly, or if you think you need to replace the pan or the hose, just give us a call.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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We hope that you have taken our frequent bit of Air_Conditioning_heat_wave_coming_business_man_holding_a_electric_fan_Heat_Wave_Heat_Temperature_Sweat_Summer_Electric_Fan-cu_e260x180advice to heart and been diligent in scheduling routine air conditioning maintenance in Wellington, CO. If not, you are putting your comfort, your budget, and even the overall operating condition of your cooling system at risk. While annual air conditioning maintenance is definitely the best way in which to keep your AC functioning at peak performance and efficiency levels, there is also one important step that you should be handling yourself: changing your air filter as needed.

It may not sound like much, but simply changing out your air filter as needed is one of the best things that you can do for your air conditioner. Of course, it is important that you use a filter that is the right for your air conditioning system. If you have any questions about how frequently you should be changing your filter, how to actually replace the filter, or what type of filter you should be using, do not hesitate to give our technicians a call. In fact, you just may find some more helpful tips right here in upcoming posts.

Increased Airflow Resistance

When you leave your air filter in your air conditioning system for too long, it is going to get very clogged up. Obviously, the whole point of your air filter is to create enough resistance to filter pollutants out, but to allow air to flow through that filter as well. If the filter is clogged, then the AC is going to start to struggle to pump air through that filter effectively. That will cause the system to work harder, driving up your energy costs.

Decreased Comfort Levels

Know what is even worse than paying too much to cool your home due to a dirty air filter? Paying too much to do so, even as your comfort plummets! This is a real risk if you let your air filter get too dirty. Not only will your system burn through more energy as it struggles to cool your home, it will also fail to deliver cooled air throughout the whole house effectively. You may notice that areas further from your air handler simply are not as comfortable as others.

Increased Risk of Damages

Perhaps the greatest reason for changing your air filter regularly–even more than protecting your comfort and your budget–is protecting the air conditioning system itself. If your AC is trying harder and harder to force air through a clogged filter, that wear and tear can result in serious damages to the system. The decreased airflow could also lead to ice on the system as the evaporator coil gets too cold, and this layer of insulation will only impede operation further.

Changing your air filter as recommended by the manufacturer and being careful to use only those filters designed for use with your specific system are some of the best ways in which to get the most out of your AC. Do so, and you’ll be able to keep your cool this summer.

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

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If you’ve looked at the weather forecast for the coming weeks, you probably realize that you are not going to be needing your air conditioning system for some time. This does not mean, however, that you should put your air conditioner entirely out of your mind. If you’ve been thinking about replacing your air conditioner in Wellington, CO, you may want to do it this year. Not only do you not have to wait for a complete breakdown with your AC before replacing it, you really shouldn’t do so. 

So When Should I Replace My System?

A completely broken down air conditioner is really the only situation in which a complete replacement is your obvious course of action. However, because you don’t want to wait for such a breakdown to develop, it pays to keep a few other factors in mind.

  1. The age of your system is a big one to consider. You want to get the best possible return on the investment you made in your air conditioner. Pushing your system far beyond its projected lifespan, however, will likely result in a breakdown when you need it most. It’s better to replace the system before this happens, allowing it to go out on a high note.
  2. The efficiency of your system is another major point of consideration. You don’t want to overpay to cool your home, after all. If you invested in a lower efficiency system to save some money at the time, or if your older system pales in comparison to the efficiency standards of today, then investing in a more efficient system today is a great way to save money in the years to come.
  3. Finally, keep your overall satisfaction at the top of your priority list. Maybe you inherited a system that you would not have chosen yourself with your home. Maybe you want to try eliminating air ducts from your AC setup. Whatever the case, we’ll help you to find a great new system.

Schedule your AC replacement with Fort Collins Heating & Air

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There are a lot of appliances and systems that we use these days to keep our homes comfortable and our lives convenient. When it comes to the hardest working appliance in any given home, the water heater is usually a big contender. You use hot water whenever you shower, do the laundry, wash the dishes, or just clean up in general. If you’re in the process of choosing a new water heater, you really need to know that you are making that decision carefully.

This means that you should weigh all of your options before deciding which water heater is right for you. We recommend that you consider using a tankless water heater in Wellington, CO. These unique systems have a lot to recommend them.

Where Is the Hot Water Stored?

If you are wondering where the hot water in a tankless water heater is stored, the answer is simple. There is no stored water. Instead, a tankless water heater operates in an on-demand fashion. Water is heated only as it is called for, while passing through the system. The unique design and operation of tankless water heaters allows for some significant benefits to homeowners.

  • Compact size means that tankless water heaters can fit into tight spaces, such as utility closets. This is ideal for homes with little storage space.
  • On-demand heating of water eliminates standby energy loss. There is no heated water stored that could cool down, so you don’t waste energy reheating water.
  • Long lifespans, generally in excess of 20 years, means you get a great return on your investment. Tankless water heaters simply last longer than tank models.

Of course, no system is perfect, nor is any single water heater the best option for every homeowner. Tankless water heaters are much more expensive than tank models. This price gap can be closed up over the years via energy savings, but some homeowners want to take advantage of a cheaper purchasing price. Tankless water heaters can also be more easily overwhelmed when a lot of hot water is called for at multiple points of use throughout the house.

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

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When the chill of winter is in full swing, you want your heater to act fast in order to heat your home successfully. Obviously, that means that you don’t want to be dealing with a heater that is too small to do the job effectively. However, you also don’t want your heater to be bigger than it needs to be. This can cause just as many problems as a heater that is too small, in fact.

If you think knowing the square footage of your home is all that you need to get the right sized heater, think again. There is much more to consider when sizing your heater in Wellington, CO. Fortunately for you, our technicians are here to guarantee that your heater is of the right size for your home.

But Bigger Is Better, Right?

Wrong. This misconception is one that many homeowners share, and it is one that results in serious heating issues for many homeowners. Here are a few of the ways in which an oversized heater will fail you.

First of all, you’ll be wasting money as early as the time of purchase. If your heater is too big for your home, you’ve already paid for more heating capacity than you’ll ever really need. Keep that money in your pocket by buying an appropriately sized system.

Secondly, an oversized heater is probably going to short-cycle. This means that it will actually bring the temperature of your home up too quickly. That may not sound like a problem, but it will cause the heater to switch on and off more frequently than it should. This puts a lot of wear and tear on the system, and drives up energy costs.

An undersized system will also drive up heating costs and suffer excessive wear and tear. It will run longer than it should as it struggles to heat your home, and that will burn through energy even as you live in less comfort than you deserve. Avoid all of these issues by scheduling your heating services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

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If you are working with an HVAC company that does not offer emergency services, then you are working with the wrong HVAC company. It’s just that simple. You cannot plan on when you are going to encounter a true heating emergency during the winter season. If you could do that, there would be no risk of an emergency, right?

We understand that heating problems can happen at any time. We also strongly believe that you shouldn’t have to wait around in discomfort or vacate your home until normal business hours resume. If and when you encounter a heating emergency in your home, give us a call. Our answering service will page a service technician and they will return your call within 30 minutes.

Is It Really an Emergency?

Sometimes, problems may develop with your heating system that seem like an emergency, but which actually have very simple solutions. If you use a heat pump to heat your home, for instance, and that heat pump is blowing cool air, be sure to check that you have it in heating mode. It’s possible that it was accidentally switched back over to cooling mode while adjusting the temperature.

While you’re at it, make sure that you have the temperature set correctly. If an individual unfamiliar with your thermostat tried to reset it, or if a heating program was set up incorrectly, the temperature may simply be set below what feels comfortable. Maybe you’ve only got the fan on, so cool air is circulating throughout your home.

One more item to check is the circuit breaker. Your heater is most likely running on a designated circuit. If it shuts down entirely, you should double check to make sure that the breaker didn’t trip. We really appreciate our customers, but we doubt you want to see us at your home in the middle of the night just to flip a switch.

If there is no obvious cause of the problem, do not hesitate to schedule emergency heating services in Wellington, CO with a member of our team. Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning is there for you whenever you may need us. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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We recently talked about strange boiler sounds and what they may mean for your home heating system. Strange sounds are a common sign that you need heating repairs in Wellington, CO, but they are far from the only indicator. Here are a few more tips that should help you to get out ahead of heating repairs.

Cold Spots in Your Home

If your heater is not the right size for your living space, or if it was not properly installed, then it may never have heated your whole home effectively. However, if your heater used to work just fine in this regard, but is now leaving cold spots throughout your house, it is likely that there is a problem with the heater that can be repaired. Uneven heating is likely the result of a damaged heat distribution system. This may mean that you need to have ducts repaired, or even that the hydronic heating pipes are compromised. That can lead to serious problems for your home, so schedule service immediately.

Increased Heating Costs

Not all problems with your heating system are going to make themselves immediately known. Some issues won’t necessarily impede the heating process, but they will cause the efficiency with which your heating system operates to drop. That is why it is important to monitor the costs associated with running your heater. If they spike without clear reason, you are likely dealing with a heating problem compromising the efficiency of the system.

Strange Odors

Just like strange, unfamiliar sounds can signify a problem with your heating system, so too can strange odors. When you first turn a system on for the year, you may smell a burning odor. This could simply be dust burning off of heating elements or burners. If the issue persists, though, or if you should smell fuel when running your heater, you need to have a professional come assess the situation and complete any necessary repairs.

Schedule your heating services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, the company you can trust. 

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