Tag: air conditioning

Why HVAC Maintenance is Important in Colorado Springs, CO

Posted on | by fellermarketing | Leave a Comment on Why HVAC Maintenance is Important in Colorado Springs, CO
furnace maintenance

In Colorado Springs, the weather changes dramatically, maintaining your heating and cooling system is crucial. Elevation Mechanical understands the importance of a comfortable living space and how regular maintenance ensures year-round comfort. They offer energy efficient solutions for your home.

Colorado Springs Weather and Your HVAC

We have four distinct seasons, each demanding different performance from your heating and air conditioning. Winters get very cold, and summers get very hot, putting a lot of stress on your system. The temperature can change drastically in one day. The dry, dusty air also impacts how well your systems work. This is especially true for your cooling system and heat pumps.

Common HVAC Problems

In winter, furnaces work too hard, leading to issues like clogged filters and breakdowns. This also increases the risk of carbon monoxide leaks. In summer, the air conditioning unit or ac unit struggles with the heat, causing refrigerant leaks and dirty evaporator coils. Dust and dry air negatively affect the indoor environment, exacerbating allergies. Poorly maintained air ducts contribute to these problems.

Why Regular Maintenance Helps

save money

  • Saves Money: Energy efficient systems use less energy, reducing your energy bills.
  • Lasts Longer: Regular maintenance prevents premature failures, providing long term savings.
  • Cleaner Air: Clean systems remove dust and allergens, improving your indoor environment.
  • Stops Breakdowns: Regular checks mean fewer repairs and less discomfort, whether you need to heat or cool.
  • Keeps Warranties Valid: Many manufacturers in the united states require proof of maintenance.
  • Steady Comfort: Consistent temperatures year-round, eliminating temperature fluctuations.

When to Get Maintenance

  • Spring: Check your air conditioning unit.
  • Fall: Check your furnace and heat pumps.
  • Older systems: Increase the frequency of your maintenance task.
  • If you use a portable air conditioner or window air conditioners, ensure they are properly cleaned and maintained.
  • Check your outdoor unit regularly for debris.

What a Check-Up Includes

Technicians change filters, clean coils, check refrigerant, oil parts, tighten wires, test thermostats, look for leaks, check the heat exchanger for carbon monoxide risks, clean drains, and test airflow.

Elevation Mechanical: Your Local Experts

Elevation Mechanical has helped people in Colorado Springs for over 20 years. They offer 24/7 help, clear prices, and they guarantee their work. Don’t wait for an HVAC emergency. Contact Elevation Mechanical today at 719-460-7091 to schedule your maintenance appointment and ensure your home’s comfort all year round. Invest in the longevity and efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

HOME EMERGENCIES: 3 REASONS WHY YOU NEED AN HVAC TEAM ON YOUR SIDE.

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emergency home hvac

Home Emergencies: 3 Reasons Why You Need A HVAC Team On Your Side.

With global warming and rising temperatures, we have erratic weather patterns ranging from shivering cold to scorching heat. Therefore, HVAC systems have become part and parcel of our life. Most of the time, we tend to ignore our HVAC systems at our homes and offices. We take these sophisticated types of machinery for granted until any problems arise.

Do you face problems with your air-conditioning or ventilation when it’s unbearably hot? Does a flaw in your heating system make you shiver in the cold? One goes through such situations often and our complacency leads to an escalation of a simple issue. Facing your HVAC systems’ problems may accentuate the need to have a reliable HVAC team at your side.

Let’s look at the three HVAC emergencies and understand the significance of having an HVAC team just a call away when the need arises.

When The Refrigerant Leaks

Air conditioners have a coolant that absorbs the ambient heat and circulates cool air in the system atmosphere. This is called a Refrigerant. The refrigerant line acts as a connector between the compressor forming the part of the outdoor unit and the Evaporator that is in the form of electrical coils forming the part of the indoor unit.

Sometimes, a hole may occur in the refrigerant line, due to which the refrigerant escapes. A refrigerant line, if damaged, can adversely affect the cooling capacity of the air conditioner and is harmful to the System as a whole. Since the refrigerant, which is responsible for cooling, continuously escapes due to the leak in the Refrigerant Line, the cooling capacity is decreased. Therefore, it becomes imperative to frequently turn the cooling on. This leads to overworking of the compressor and the electrical coils. Due to increased working, the compressor gets too hot and is damaged. Additionally, the electrical coils also get spoiled, and their functionality is irreparably damaged. There are also ice crystals that consistently keep on piling up on the refrigerant lines.

The refrigerant leak does not only deteriorate your air-conditioning system, but it also leads to an exorbitant rise in your electricity bill since you are using more of the AC system without getting the required cooling. Refrigerants also may lead to life-threatening health effects if their constituent (Freon gas) is inhaled for a long time.

Therefore, it is important to know the early signs of a refrigerant leak.

Firstly, if you notice that the air conditioner is not cooling properly and you can feel warm air near the vents, there is likely a refrigerant leak.

Secondly, if there is ice piling up on the refrigerant lines, then the refrigerant may be leaking.

Thirdly, if you hear any hissing noises near the refrigerant line, you may interpret it as a refrigerant leak.

You must be alert regarding any possible refrigerant leak. Therefore, checking the coils, compressor, and refrigerant line are important. Early detection may lead to the early resolution of the problem. Therefore, one must have an HVAC team on their side.

Gas Leakage

If your house uses Natural gas as a fuel to power the heating system, there is always a risk of a gas leak. A gas leak can lead to breathing ailments and also explosions if it goes undetected for a long time.

It is, therefore, important to know how to identify a gas leak. The easiest way is through smell. If you smell rotten eggs like odors or a smell of gas, then you can be certain of a gas leak. Sometimes, if you listen carefully, you may even listen to a faint hissing sound of gas escaping into the environment.

If you detect a gas leak in the house, cut off the electricity immediately and move out of the house. It is important to note not to use mobile phones during the gas leak situations as it can prove to be quite dangerous. Then contact an experienced HVAC team to fix the issue.

Ventilation Woes

Ductworks may suffer from damages causing ventilation issues at your home. If there is any hindrance in the system’s air ducts caused by dust or fallen insulation, then the ventilation of the house is adversely affected. The cool and conditioned air cannot flow freely into the ambient atmosphere as it faces obstructions in the air duct. The ducts can also have a hole and start leaking. The air vents can also get blocked, thus hindering the arrival of fresh air into your room. The blockages in the air vents can be because of any furniture blocking the air or any debris getting deposited in the air duct.

Several signs may point toward some ventilation issues.

Firstly, if your cooling unit is overrunning, this may indicate ventilation troubles. This is because when the ventilation is affected, more cooling may be required to be comfortable.

Secondly, if there is unevenness in the ambient temperature, it may be due to blockages in the ductwork.

Thirdly, if the ambient air is not fresh and you may feel slightly suffocated, it may be because of ventilation-related issues.

Therefore, it is advised to check the vents and air ducts routinely to detect any obstruction in the ventilation system. If that is the case, either try to clear the blockage or contact the HVAC team to resolve the issue.

Conclusion

HVAC is an integral part of our everyday life. The HVAC system helps us lead a comfortable life. While they serve many benefits to their users, these systems must be kept properly, and any unusual behavior must be detected as soon as possible and reported to an HVAC team. A professional HVAC team will help in fixing your issues and, at the same time, minimizing the loss and damages. Thus, it is not only advisable but imperative to have an HVAC team on your side to rescue you from such discomforts and potentially hazardous situations. Keep a proficient HVAC team just a call away in case you ever need any help!

IS HVAC MAINTENANCE WORTH IT?

Posted on | by Elevation Mechanical | 2 Comments on IS HVAC MAINTENANCE WORTH IT?
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Is HVAC Maintenance Worth It?

You must have a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at your home or office. It is common to find some issues with an HVAC System. That is why one needs to have a good HVAC team in their phone contacts.

The HVAC glitches are mostly during the peak seasons – summer and winter. One may have to call someone from the HVAC team to solve a problem 2-3 times or more in a year. Paying the HVAC team every time can be an expensive habit. Therefore, most people tend to enter into a service contract with an HVAC team.

There Are Different Types Of Service Contracts, And The Service Coverage Varies From One To The Other. HVAC Maintenance Contracts Mainly Fall Into Three Categories, Which Are:

  • Service Contracts cover the Labor Cost components with annual or semi-annual plans including scheduled visits for proper HVAC maintenance.
  • Service Contracts that cover Labor Costs and Scheduled Visits along with Non-Scheduled Visits for unforeseen repairs.
  • Service Contracts that cover the Labor costs and the scheduled and unscheduled visits and the Device repair parts if need be.

Thus it can be inferred from the above contracts that when it comes to HVAC Service contracts, the first category has minimum coverage. In contrast, the last category has maximum coverage.

Other sub-plans within these categories have coverage options for only furnace or only air conditioning or heating issues. A person may find a suitable plan for their requirements, considering the usage and climate.

People tend to become skeptical about the worthiness of HVAC Maintenance costs since it can be so expensive and since they are already paying their HVAC team. It is a genuine question most people have to answer before investing their hard-earned money in an HVAC maintenance plan.

Here Are Some Of The Reasons That Would Let You Know The Real Worth Of The HVAC Maintenance Plans And Their Respective Costs.

  1. HVAC maintenance plan to prevent Emergencies .

Our HVAC systems are the most overlooked things. People seldom notice them until there is some emergency like the refrigerant pipe is leaking or if the ventilation ducts are clogged, or if there is some issue that arises with clogged drains, and so on.
In order to avoid emergencies, a person must seek the help of an experienced and professional HVAC team to detect the problem and nip it in the bud.

  1. It leads to Lesser Electricity Bill Payments.

An HVAC system is an integral part of our lives. Sometimes, if the HVAC system is not taken care of some issues will arise, like improper cooling or heating of the home. That can lead to you using your HVAC system more often. This leads us to consume more electricity and increases the cost of our electricity bills.

Having an HVAC maintenance plan helps us fix scheduled visits from an HVAC team who would look into the issue and take care of the problem so that heating and cooling are optimal. This would then lower our electricity consumption, and thus, we spend less money on our electricity bills!

  1. HVAC Maintenance for longer Service Period.

HVAC Systems are expensive as they cover the heating, cooling, and ventilation requirements of your entire house. These purchases have heavy price tags attached to them. Therefore, one may think to elongate their working life to have as little depreciation as possible.

HVAC maintenance plans cover regularly scheduled visits to your home to do proper servicing for your system. If you don’t mind getting your car serviced to prolong its life, then you should also care to purchase an HVAC maintenance plan as it tends to elongate your HVAC System’s working life.

  1. HVAC Maintenance for Priority Service.

Suppose there is some unforeseen issue that has arisen causing the air conditioning to stop working. It is the peak summertime with scorching heat. How do you manage?

If you do not have an HVAC maintenance plan, any HVAC repair team will do a service visit and demand an exorbitant price to fix your HVAC issue.

However, if you have an HVAC maintenance plan, the HVAC team will prioritize your request and fix your problem right away. Moreover, they will not take any extra money beyond what the plan covers.

  1. To have insurance for Repair Costs.

Even if you regularly check your HVAC system something amiss may occur, which might damage some parts of the HVAC system. It could be the refrigerant tube or the compressor, and so on.

If you have not subscribed to any HVAC maintenance plan, then you might have to cover a huge sum of the cost to repair the damaged parts.

However, if you have an HVAC maintenance plan, the HVAC team will take care of devices’ costs if you have the device repair coverage in the Plan.

Conclusion

HVAC maintenance plans come in a variety of price ranges from below $100 USD to above $400 USD depending upon the Plan’s coverage. While the minimum coverage category starts from a little below 100 bucks, the Maximum Coverage covering sufficient device part repairs costs you over 400 bucks a year. All Plans have their benefits. While the minimum coverage plan covers your regular maintenance, emergency prohibitions, and electricity bill savings, the Maximum coverage tends to include the priority requests and repair costs for device parts too.

The cost incurred by a person not having an HVAC maintenance plan is far beyond the cost incurred for an HVAC maintenance plan. This means that if we do a Cost-Benefit analysis for the HVAC maintenance plan, the benefits in terms of cost savings like electricity bill savings, device repair costs, home visit costs outweigh the payment that one pays for the HVAC Plan. One must choose an HVAC maintenance plan that suits their HVAC maintenance requirements keeping in mind the usual local climate. These are the reasons HVAC maintenance plans are worth every precious penny!

TIPS WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT HVAC CONTRACTOR

Posted on | by Elevation Mechanical | 1 Comment on TIPS WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT HVAC CONTRACTOR
choosing the right hvac contractor

Tips When Choosing The Right HVAC Contractor.

The quality of air inside any property with an AC unit will be dependent on the unit. So it is of utmost importance that you get the best one possible. To do that you require an HVAC contractor who perfectly suits your needs. AC units (centralized or not) have to overcome a series of hurdles to provide you with the perfect indoor temperature. Therefore, they require regular maintenance so that proper climate control and pristine air quality can be ensured. As these units age they guzzle more energy and need a lot more maintenance.

That’s why you need a professional HVAC contractor who knows the work in and out, has an airtight reputation and provides after-sales services like maintenance, repairs, replacements, etc.

Why Should You Hire An HVAC Contractor?

It can be seen quite often that individuals decide against hiring a professional HVAC contractor and decide to take care of the installation part of an AC unit on their own. The high cost of hiring any contractor is arguably the biggest reason behind this. However, the problem that arises in such a situation is that it is quite easy to make a mistake and it is almost impossible for a non-professional to know all the rules, regulations, and techniques to follow when installing an AC unit.

It is entirely plausible that the individual will be unaware of all the pre and post-installation that must be completed for an AC unit installation. Finally, you also have to remember that installation faults are among the top reasons causing massive depreciation of longevity in AC units. It’s better to leave it to the professionals.

Factors To Consider While Choosing The Right HVAC Contractor

  1. Climate – The contractor whom you choose should provide you with an AC unit that can work without any problems in the climate conditions of your region. The AC unit has to withstand that type of climate during the installation and must continue working optimally for a long period after. It might be advisable to select a contractor who provides personalized systems that can easily cope with the weather conditions of the installation space and still maintain an optimal indoor climate.
  2. Background Checks – Do a proper background check on any contractor you may like. A central AC unit is a huge investment and so only select the contractor who has proper licenses, certificates, etc. That way, you can rest assured that the quality of work, services, and equipment will be of the highest quality. If a contractor does not have products with the “ENERGY STAR” (A symbol trusted by everyone which promotes energy-efficient products), and other industry certificates, it would be unwise to hire the contractor. The internet has made it a lot easier to do background checks on any contractor. You can go to each of their websites and search for references. Going through the ones they provide lets you know exactly who you are getting involved with. It would be wise to only hire a contractor who possesses the proper experience, trained employees, a solid reputation, and only provides top-notch service.
  3. Expenses – Cost is another important factor when trying to choose the right HVAC contractor to install an AC unit since it is quite a sizable investment. The expenses of having an AC unit are not just limited to the installation costs. You have to factor in the running costs of the unit since they can add up to be quite substantial, like the maintenance costs, repair costs, etc. So, when choosing the right contractor go through the packages each contractor provides with a fine-toothed comb. Check the extra services that are included in the price for buying the unit. For example, whether the installation of the AC unit comes included in the price, the length and type of warranty on the unit, the kind of maintenance and repair services they provide, etc. Maintenance will be of utmost importance regarding AC units. A prudent decision would be to opt for an HVAC contractor who provides you a very good maintenance plan, even if it may be a bit pricier than packages offered by other contractors. You should also ensure that you have a good warranty.
  4. Energy Efficiency – Energy efficiency not only allows you to lessen your bills, but there is also a big impact on the environment. As time passes, each AC unit starts to consume more and more amounts of power and requires a lot of maintenance to function optimally. So, the intelligent decision would be to single out the HVAC contractor providing a very energy-efficient AC unit. That way, you will be saving a lot on your power bills. And, since the unit will consume less energy, it exerts considerably less amount of damage to the environment.
  5. After-Sales Services – Installation of the AC unit, maintenance, repairs and replacement at regular intervals are all important after-sales services regarding AC units. The best option would be to select the contractor who offers the highest quality after-sales services. These services are so important they hold the power to severely extend the lifespan of your AC unit.
  6. References and Referrals – Recommendations from trusted sources will go a long way in narrowing down the list when trying to select the right HVAC contractor. If you are able to call or email them you might be able to find out as much as you can about the contractor. Another thing that can help you here is reviews of each contractor given by past customers. Most prior customers leave these reviews on the contractors’ websites, making it very easy to locate them. You can find out the type of work and quality of the work that any particular contractor provides.

Final Note

Hiring the perfect contractor can turn out to be a very tricky process. Even though you may have a plethora of options on hand, it is the lack of having an objective way to hire an HVAC contractor that may cause an issue. Ensure that you find out all the information you can about the contractors so that you can make an informed decision, as to who the right contractor is for your needs.

HOW LONG DO CENTRAL AC UNITS LAST?

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central ac unit

How Long Do Central AC Units Last?

Central AC units circulate temperature-controlled air through an interconnected system of air ducts (both supply and return), which can include wall vents, floor vents, or even vents in the ceiling(s) covered by grills. They supply the air from the AC unit to the building (your home, or the office, etc.). As warm air starts to build up within the room(s), it passes back to the central AC unit, via all the return ducts and registers.

Central AC units also play a part in dehumidifying the incoming air. If you run a dehumidifier within the air-conditioned building it will push the energy costs up, because both the dehumidifier and the central AC unit will also be guzzling a huge amount of power to reduce the temperature in the building. Also, this continuous extra pressure on the unit, means its entire life span is greatly reduced. The life expectancy of your AC system is heavily dependent on how it is used and strained it is on a regular basis.

Factors Affecting The Longevity Of A Central AC Unit

  1. Size – The size of your unit should be appropriate for the building, or home. Short cycles put more pressure on the AC unit’s components. A system bigger than the size needed is not optimal. Also, smaller units will stay on too long, again putting serious pressure on their components.
  2. Installation – Proper installation is key to increasing the life of a unit.
  3. Regular Maintenance – In the absence of routine maintenance, the longevity of a central AC unit can be severely reduced.

Reasons To Change Your Central AC Unit

  1. It’s More Than Ten Years Old – A Decade is a very long time in the life of an HVAC system. Only the units that undergo regular maintenance and have their parts repaired and/or replaced, ever cross this threshold. Not having your central AC unit serviced at least once each year can prove to be detrimental. Along with that, you must remember that each of the individual components has a different life span. For example, the filter(s) will need washing (or replacing) around 4 times during each year. This number can increase to around 12 times, in cases where it is running for the majority of the day. In any case, you should keep a very close watch over your central AC unit to see if it requires replacement if it’s more than a decade old.
  2. It Uses Freon – Harmful CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) that used to be released, punctured huge holes in the ozone layer and so all AC units that released any CFC were banned quite a few years back. HCFC-22 or R-22, better known as “Freon” its massively popular brand name, is one such banned Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). If your central AC unit uses Freon as a refrigerant get it replaced immediately. Not only is it harmful to nature and will cause you a mountain of expensive problems if it leaks, but almost no supplier stocks it anymore, making it nearly impossible to refill your unit with the chemical.
  3. Multiple Motor/Compressor Break Downs – An aging AC unit with a failing compressor/motor is a disastrous combination. So in case the motor or compressors start breaking down at regular intervals, you should try and replace the entire central AC unit. The costs may seem huge, but the costs to have just these major components replaced are quite high themselves, and even then the unit may break down again.
  4. Too Many Issues – Central AC units often make sounds, especially during cycling. However, if it starts making too much of a ruckus it might be time to have it evaluated to check its condition. Aggressive sounds can be proof of serious problems and even though they may not result in the need for a complete replacement. If you start replacing part after part in a central AC unit you can rack up a bill in the thousands. In fact, any time you see that the cost to maintain the AC unit is getting out of hand, like having to call the technician too frequently, and/or you’re having to replace parts regularly, you should get a new unit installed, because the running costs will only keep increasing.
  5. Issue with Installation – If any mistakes were made during the time of its installation, or issues cropped up during the installation process, it can have a big effect on the longevity of a central AC unit. They can even lead to safety hazards – like fires or even electrocution. AC units perform favorably only when installed correctly. So, in case you find any installation issues when you hire a contractor to inspect the unit, the intelligent move would be to replace it. The results and “costs” if you leave a situation like this unchecked can be severe.

Average Life Expectancy

Central AC units have to withstand a lot of abuse having to continuously control the temperature of entire buildings (in some cases), all year-round. So talking about the average life expectancy of such a unit, you need to check the type of unit that was installed. For units that are well-built and durable and made with top-quality parts the unit should be able to withstand anything thrown at it for a number of years.

However, the longevity of any central AC unit is heavily reliant on the type of repair and replacement policy in place. Conducting regular checkups of the unit and carrying out repairs and/or replacement of parts whenever necessary heavily increases the lifespan of a unit. Going by CNN’s research, well-maintained HVAC systems that receive regular tune-ups can last for up to 25 years. You will, however, require repairs and/or replacements within that period.

Final Words

There are a number of things that are extremely necessary to increase the longevity of your central AC unit, including routine checkups, regular maintenance, repairs, and replacements. However, there will be a time when this will not be enough and you must replace the entire unit. So be on the lookout for the signs, as mentioned above. That way you can stay on top of the perfect time to make the change.