Tag: HVAC contractor

Furnace Repair Colorado Springs: Your Guide to Warmth and Savings

Posted on | by Elevation Mechanical | Leave a Comment on Furnace Repair Colorado Springs: Your Guide to Warmth and Savings

Save money with HVAC repairs

Hey Colorado Springs! Dealing with a broken furnace in the middle of winter is the worst, right? As an HVAC expert with 15+ years of experience at Elevation Mechanical, I’m here to help you avoid that nightmare.

This guide covers everything you need to know about furnace maintenance in Colorado Springs:

  • Why it’s important
  • What it costs
  • DIY vs. Professional Service
  • Benefits of a Monthly Maintenance Plan
  • Furnace Maintenance: It’s an Investment, Not an Expense

Think of your furnace like your car. Regular tune-ups prevent breakdowns, and the same goes for your home’s heating system. Factors like the age and condition of your furnace will affect the price of a tune-up.

Investing in regular maintenance now can save you big bucks on repairs later.

What Happens if I Neglect My Furnace?

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Ignoring furnace maintenance can lead to some expensive problems:

  • Higher energy bills: A dirty furnace has to work harder to heat your home, using more energy and costing you more money.
    Frequent breakdowns: Neglected furnaces break down more often. Repairs can be pricey and inconvenient. Furnace replacement in Colorado Springs can vary in cost, so it pays to get multiple quotes!
  • Shorter furnace lifespan: A poorly maintained furnace won’t last as long, meaning you’ll need to replace it sooner.
  • Safety hazards: A malfunctioning furnace can leak carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly.

While you can handle some basic tasks yourself (like changing your air filter), it’s usually best to leave major repairs and tune-ups to the pros at Elevation Mechanical. Here’s why:

  • Expertise: Our HVAC technicians have the training and experience to diagnose and fix problems correctly. They can spot potential issues before they become major headaches, saving you time and money.
  • Safety: Furnaces have gas lines and electrical components. DIY repairs can be dangerous. Our professionals have the knowledge and equipment to work safely.
  • Efficiency: Elevation Mechanical can optimize your furnace for peak performance, saving you money on energy bills.
    Discounts: We offer discounts on repairs, especially if you have a maintenance plan with us.
    DIY Furnace Maintenance Tips

Want to keep your furnace running smoothly between professional tune-ups? Here are a few things you can do yourself:

schedule your hvac maintenance

  • Turn off the power: Before any maintenance, turn off the electricity to the furnace at the breaker panel. For extra safety, turn off the gas supply too.
  • Change the air filter: Aim to change your filter every three months. Dirty filters restrict airflow and make your furnace work harder.
  • Check the pilot light (older furnaces): Make sure it’s burning blue. A yellow flame means it’s time to call Elevation Mechanical.
  • Clean the vents: Remove the vent covers and vacuum out any dust or debris to improve airflow and indoor air quality.
  • Clean around the furnace: Keep the area around your furnace clean and free of clutter to prevent dust from getting into the unit.
  • Clean the drainage tube: This tube drains condensation from your furnace. Make sure it’s clear of any blockages.
  • Inspect the heat exchanger: Look for any cracks. This is a serious safety hazard that needs immediate professional attention from Elevation Mechanical.
  • Listen for unusual sounds: Scraping, screeching, or banging could indicate a problem. Call us if you hear anything concerning.

Benefits of a Monthly Furnace Maintenance Plan in Colorado Springs with Elevation Mechanical

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We offer monthly maintenance plans that provide regular check-ups, cleaning, and tune-ups for a fixed monthly fee. Here’s why they’re worth it:

  • Peace of mind: Regular maintenance helps prevent unexpected breakdowns and expensive repairs.
  • Priority service: You’ll get faster service if you have a breakdown.
  • Improved efficiency: Regular tune-ups keep your furnace running efficiently, saving you money on energy bills.
  • Avoid higher costs: A maintenance plan helps you address issues proactively and avoid more expensive problems down the line.

Need furnace help? Call Elevation Mechanical today!

HVAC GUIDE FOR NEW HOME OWNERS

Posted on | by Elevation Mechanical | 1 Comment on HVAC GUIDE FOR NEW HOME OWNERS
hvac guide for new homeowners

HVAC Guide For New Home Owners.

Have you recently bought a new home? That’s great news! Perhaps, this is not the first time you have bought one. Whether it is your first time or fourth, there are a few things that you should take care of in your new home.

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or the HVAC provides heating and cooling to residential buildings. If you have one installed at your home, you must take care of a few things. To ensure that the system remains in good and functioning condition, you need to conduct yearly tune-ups.

Apart from the annual maintenance, you need to take care of a few other things as well. To ensure the HVAC system’s optimal working, we have formulated an HVAC guide that is a must-read for new homeowners.

Know Your HVAC System Better

Be it an air conditioner, a water heater, boiler, or a heat pump; you should be aware of how it works to understand how the house gets cooled or heated. There are a few things that you must be aware of about your HVAC System.

  • Efficiency Rating: The heating and cooling system installed in your home has some specific ratings, as listed below.
  • Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor.
  • Energy Efficiency Ratio or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.
  • A highly efficient system has a higher rating and vice versa.
  • Unit’s Age: If the home that you have purchased is five to ten years old there is a chance that the HVAC system installed is old too. You should find out your HVAC system’s age and plan to get it replaced with a new one if it is too old. An old system requires relatively high maintenance and breaks down often.
  • Warranty: If your new home’s HVAC system is still in warranty read through the terms and conditions of the warranty carefully. If you have recently bought a new HVAC system understand the terms properly so that it doesn’t become void because of a minor mistake.
  • Inspection Reports: You should ask the former owner to provide you with the HVAC inspection reports. These reports prove that the HVAC system has gone through annual maintenance and you can learn about any problems previously reported. These reports will also help you understand what kind of performance to expect from the system.

Maintain Your Grounds

Make sure the area around your HVAC system is well-maintained so that the system can operate efficiently. You should always keep your plants, shrubs, and all other foliage at least two feet away from the HVAC system’s outdoor unit. Also, all garden tools should be kept away. In case dirt and dust fall on your HVAC system, get it cleaned as soon as possible.

Change Filters When Required

Changing the HVAC system’s filters on time and when required will help you keep it in working condition. Manufacturers recommend changing filters after a regular interval. A few systems are equipped with alarms that will remind you to get your filters changed when it’s time.

Even if you have a unit in the attic you should get its filter changed too. An unclean filter will disrupt the cooling or heating system. Moreover, dirty filters reduce the system’s life expectancy, and its efficiency is hampered. If required, get your filters changed even during the summer season.

Check The Ductwork Of Your Home

If you experience a musty smell in your home, if it feels extra humid, you experience fluctuating temperatures, or if you are receiving extremely high bills, get your ductwork inspected. These are the signs that something is wrong with your ductwork. It would help if you got it inspected by a team of specialists as soon as possible. If your ductwork has leaks, then the performance of your HVAC system will be negatively affected.

Do Not Close Your Vents

A few homeowners often close the vents to a few rooms that they don’t use much. As a new homeowner, you should not make the same mistake. Even if you have a few extra rooms, keep the vents open. People do it to save energy costs, but you should know that it doesn’t help save energy costs. It is simply because, when you close the vents, the HVAC system will have to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature level throughout. Because of that, it helps if you keep the vents open and you keep the areas near the vents clear of any clutter.

Maintenance Of Your HVAC

Annual maintenance of the HVAC system is critical. You should get your furnace and AC checked every year to know if there are any potential damage. The best time to have your system serviced is during spring or fall. It will help increase the life expectancy and efficiency of your system.

Remove The Ice

During the winter season, call for a professional as soon as you see ice forming on your HVAC system. If your HVAC system develops tiny heaps of ice, large sheets, or blocks of ice, you should get the system assessed by professionals to get to the root cause and protect your HVAC from getting damaged further.

Hire A Professional Company

You should always hire a trusted company for all your HVAC repair and replacement needs. It would be best if you did not wait until there is a severe problem with your system, and you will then have to look for an expert service provider. You should also check if the contractor has been in business for enough years to have the required expertise in the field. Professionals will be able to provide emergency services as well. Reliable and genuine contractors are aware of the tips and tricks to keep your system in perfect working condition.

Conclusion

Owning a new home will give you a sense of security. Though homeownership is exciting, it brings several responsibilities along. Follow the steps mentioned above and take care of your HVAC system to keep it working as expected.

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.