Colorado Heating & Air Conditioning Prep as Spring Arrives
Let’s hope that you have been changing filters regularly throughout the Colorado winter months. If you have then you have enjoyed better, cleaner air and slightly small fuel bill throughout the coldest months of the winter. If you have not replace the filter with a high quality “pleated” filter, then start today. It is good for the furnace and good for your health so start a regular program right away.
After you have turned off the power to the furnace and all fans have stopped spinning, you may want to wipe down the blower cage and burner chamber with a damp cloth. Remember the area around the burners may be very hot, so you may want to wait of bid to let things cool off and stop spinning before you start working. Did you know that you can save at least 5% of your fuel bill if the burners are kept clean and free of dirt and dust?
If you have a humidifier on your furnace or attached to it, you may want to service it right away before warmer weather gets here. That would entail changing the media pad, wiping off the inside of the humidifier so that it is free of the mineral deposits that have formed of the year. Check the humidistat to see that it is working properly. The only way to do that is to test it against another hand held humidistat to see if it reads the same amount of moisture in the air for the winter or spring months. Everyone seems to like the humidity level a little different, but one thing is for sure, if your windows are bleeding from all of the moisture in the house, then you have it set to high and should be lowered to get away from this condition which could rot the window casing and frames or cause mold to grow. You will have to find the happy medium where you get enough moisture that you do not get shocked when you touch someone or something, your skin fees moist but and not too much that the windows are bleeding water. Another sign that the window is leaking heat is the moisture (can be ice in the winter) that forms where the glass meets the frame. This gap in sealing your window will leak heat out in the winter and cool in the summer.
The last think you want to do before turning on the air conditioning condenser outside is to clean off any debris, leaves, or grass that has built up around the unit. This will allow the condenser to breathe a lot easier. The head pressure will be lower and the compressor motor will live longer because it will not over heat. Condensers are designed to reject heat and if they cannot, they may suffer a shortened life.
If these comments have provoked a few questions, please give me a call because the advice is free. (Denver 303-952-8668 or Summit and Eagle County 970.328.6001 ).
Tom D’Agostino, Service Manger
Kimmel Mechanical, Inc.
Why you should upgrade your appliances
“Why should I spend money now to upgrade my furnace/water heater/boiler/swamp cooler/air conditioner?”
I am sure you have heard all of the reasons why it is important to change these older appliances RIGHT NOW, but let me review the obvious reasons and then give you a few compelling ones you may not have heard:
Let’s begin with the reasons you may already have heard:
1. Federal tax credits up to $1,500.00
2. Utility rebates direct to you in the form of a check.
3. Life safety because the old appliance may be leaking toxic gases in your home
4. Increase efficiency (and a reduced energy bill every month)
5. Peace of mind knowing you do not have to wait for a disaster before you changes out the appliance.
These are the top five reasons that you may have read in your newspaper, on a radio ad or on an advertising piece you have received in the mail.
Let me tell you why I feel it makes sense to upgrade or buy better quality appliances as soon as you can. First, now that more energy efficient appliances are becoming more affordable, the cost of putting in an 80% efficient appliance often is about the same as a 95% one. If there is a financial incentive to put in the better quality, you may get a longer life out of the new one than you would otherwise and for close to the same price.
A singular point not mentioned in any discussion about a conversion from old to new is very basic: upgrading to better and more efficient equipment simply adds to our everyday comfort. We live in our homes year in and year out and we rely on that equipment for consistent hot water, regular heating and cooling. Being comfortable in our home is found in the simple yet important things like the temperature being controlled better with the new furnace or boiler system or the hot water temperature is consistent after the third shower in a row by family members. Today’s equipment gives us better heating and cooling and more consistent hot water than we have ever had in the past which is a valid reason alone for making the upgrade. Yes, there are brands that claim to offer certain performance and may not perform as well as those claims in actual use, but do your research and check out what are proven brands and models are available and you can enjoy better “creature comfort” than ever before. One of the free services that I can provide to you through Kimmel Service is help in guiding you to the best appliances and equipment that meet both your budget and lifestyle needs.
When we install a higher quality piece of HVAC equipment and tell the customer the benefits (and differences) from their previous equipment they are amazed and pleased. One of the first comments that customers tell me is that they have been living in a cold or warm house for so many years that this will be a pleasant change. They of course want to save money but often they will think “now that I have a furnace which puts out better heat at a lower price, I will move my thermostat up a few degrees and not pay any more money”. This is a common misunderstanding, but you have not studied you’re your new furnace or boiler can do for you without turning up the thermostat.
I encourage the customer to some time reading the literature for the equipment and talking to the experienced technicians or company managers so the customer is aware what it takes to get superior comfort at a better that expected utility bill and to make the best selection.
Also, did you know that adding a humidifier can actually lower your thermostat temperature? Yes, you can feel just as comfortable at a lower temperature if the humidity level in your home is increased. We experience a two to four degree drop in temperature when you raise the humidity level in your Colorado home.
If you have any questions or want input and guidance regarding your upcoming purchase of new appliances or equipment, please feel free to give me a call.
Thanks,
Tom D’Agostino, Kimmel Service Manger, Denver 303.952.8668 Summit & Eagle County 970.328.6001