3 Ways to Avoid Damaging Your Heating System

December 16, 2020

If you want to be comfortable during the cold seasons, it’s crucial to ensure that the home heating system works. The best way to prepare for winter is to have your system inspected during the fall. Proper maintenance and handling will ensure that the unit is operating efficiently. The following are the ways to avoid damaging your heating system. 1. Clean Your Furnace Filter Regularly Cleaning your filter prevents the buildup of dust, soot, and spores that cause nasty clogs. Clogs in your furnace will restrict the airflow. Replacing a worn-out filter is a sure way to improve indoor air quality. The excessive heat causes the heat exchanger to deactivate. Dirty filters also result in short-cycling issues that consume electricity. You will notice that the cost of heating will increase significantly. 2. Be Wary Of Warning Signs If the furnace cycles on and off, it causes inconsistent flows of heated air. Sometimes it does not heat at all, even when you turn it on. An inconsistent furnace could signify a defective blower. If your vents don’t release any warm air when you operate the heater, it has a malfunction. Be keen on the following signs: Thermostat won’t turn on even...

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What a Burning Smell From Your Heater Means

November 18, 2020

A burning smell coming from your furnace doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem. You should find the source of the problem, though, to make sure there isn’t something wrong. What type of burning smell it is can clue you in on what’s going on. Burning Dust Smell This smell often occurs when you first turn on your furnace for the year. It’s been sitting dormant for months, which means dust has collected inside. The dust will quickly burn off, and the smell will go away. Burning Plastic Smell This smell usually means a part has broken or worn out. It is likely the fan belt, capacitor, or plastic-coated wires inside the furnace. You should have a technician inspect your furnace and make repairs. Littleton Heating & Air Conditioning is based in Littleton, CO, and helps people who need their furnace repaired. We’ve been providing quality services since 1972. Burning Electrical Smell This smell can occur when the blower motor is overheated. The motor is supposed to shut off when this happens, but if the safety feature is damaged, that won’t happen. The motor can become dangerously hot, so shut down your furnace until it can be repaired. Gunpowder Smell If...

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Top Furnace Problems That Homeowners Experience

October 20, 2020

Your heating and air conditioning equipment may sometimes fail to perform as expected. One of the most common HVAC failure points is the furnace. When your furnace fails, the entire HVAC unit may be rendered dysfunctional as no hot air will be blown to warm your home. It helps to understand some of the most common failure points of a heater. Noisy Unit Sometimes, a furnace will produce some clicking noise when running. This is an indication of mechanical malfunction in various points. One of the likely culprits is a loose inducer or worn-out motor bearings. It is particularly common in gas-powered furnaces where the motor-powered fan becomes loose, thereby producing a clicking noise when turning. Having the unit inspected as quickly as possible will ensure that the problem is fixed. Furnace Blowing Cold Air The furnace is a crucial component that provides the warm air for your HVAC system. Sometimes, it may fail by blowing cold air, even when the thermostat is set to high temperatures. One of the likely causes of this failure is an issue with the pilot light, thermostat settings, or air filters. A dirty and clogged air filter will impair airflow in the system, which...

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Best Heating/Cooling Options for a Finished Basement

September 20, 2020

A finished basement in Littleton provides a lot of space for relaxing, spending time with family or enjoying a movie. An important component of this enjoyment, though, is achieving and maintaining the optimal temperature in your space. To ensure that you maintain this comfort without wasting excess energy, it’s important to carefully consider your options when it comes to conditioning the air in your basement. We at Littleton Heating and Air Conditioning have a few suggestions to help make your basement even more inviting. Ductless System If you don’t want to cut into your basement’s ceiling and walls to run ducts for an HVAC system, then a ductless mini-split system could provide a great solution. A ductless system from Littleton Heating and Air Conditioning provides both heating and cooling capabilities to ensure your basement stays comfortable year round. Plus, you can install multiple ductless systems in various rooms in your basement to provide the ultimate climate control. Add to that the convenience of no ducts, and it’s easy to see why many people choose ductless systems for their basements. Adding to a Current System Depending on the size of your home and your basement, you have a couple of options...

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5 Things to Know About the HVAC System in Your Home

August 11, 2020

There are five things about your heating and cooling system you should know that will save you time and money. Every homeowner should learn these essential pieces of information so they know how to properly maintain their system, help it last as long as possible, and make an informed decision about when it needs to be replaced. 1. What Type of HVAC System Do You Have You should know what the different components of your HVAC system are, as there are many combinations. You may have a boiler for heating and an air conditioner for cooling. If you have a heat pump, it both heats and cools your home. Your equipment may use natural gas, electricity, propane, or some combination of these. 2. Your HVAC System’s Age HVAC systems inevitably deteriorate as they get older. Their energy efficiency goes down and they may lose some functionality. By knowing the age of your system, you’re better informed about what its problems may be and when it needs to get replaced. 3. What Filters Are in Your HVAC System The filters in your HVAC system need to be regularly replaced. There are many filters available, so you need to know which ones...

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Do I Need a Humidifier or a Dehumidifier?

July 15, 2020

The temperature in your home is one of the most important parts of the climate. However, humidity can often be equally as important. Here is how you know if you need a humidifier or dehumidifier. Air Is Too Dry If the air is too dry, you need a humidifier. It’s very easy to tell when the air is too dry. Individuals with underlying health conditions such as asthma and allergies might be coughing uncontrollably. It will also feel like you are living at a high elevation although without the lack of oxygen. If you’re constantly applying skin products such as moisturizers, this is a serious sign that your air is too dry, and a humidifier is a better solution. Air Is Too Moist If the air is too moist, you need a dehumidifier. High humidity levels feel like you are walking around inside a rainforest. You’ll be sweating regardless of the temperature, and your clothing might stick to your skin. Down in your basement, you might notice puddles of water forming at seemingly random locations. Your pets will also be sweating and consuming much more water than usual. Ice Cube Test One test that is great for reaching a conclusion...

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Air Purifiers vs Air Filters

June 16, 2020

While both air filters and air purifiers clean the air, they are different products that serve various purposes. Every central heating and cooling system has an air filter, while air purifiers have an option for a filter. Here’s what you need to know about these products. Air Filters Air filters are installed in the return air ductwork in your home. They remove dust, dirt, pet dander, and other large particles to keep them away from your furnace and air conditioner. Their primary purpose is to protect your heating and cooling equipment, but they also keep dust and dirt from reentering your house. There are different types of air filters for your central system. The least expensive and effective ones are made of fiberglass. There are also pleated ones that pick up more particles than fiberglass air filters can. There’s a limit to how thick filters can be, though, as there needs to be sufficient airflow through them so as to not damage the furnace and air conditioner. Air Purifier Air purifiers capture smaller particles than air filters can. They, too, are installed in the ductwork and can capture fungus, mold, and bacteria. These devices use filters as well, but their...

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What Are The Most Common Indoor Air Pollutants?

May 13, 2020

Your Littleton, CO, home’s air could be more polluted than the outdoor air for a variety of reasons. Indoor air pollutants can cause short-term symptoms, such as a stuffy nose or a sore throat. However, they also cause long-term symptoms, including allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Knowing which air pollutants are the most likely to be in your home allows you to take action to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Mold Mold is a common indoor air pollutant that affects homes in Littleton. Mold growth can result from poor humidity control or a lack of ventilation. The mold spores quickly germinate when they have access to an organic surface and water or condensation. They also thrive in bathrooms that lack exhaust fans. A plumbing leak, or leaky AC condensate drain line, also encourages mold growth. Particulate Matter Particulate matter is an umbrella category for many different airborne particles that could be in your home. These are tiny, solid particles that are generated inside your home from everyday activities. They include dust, pet dander and skin cells. Particulate matter also comes from cooking, environmental tobacco smoke and burning candles. Particulates smaller than 10 micrometers can get deep into your...

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Home Energy Saving Tips for the Spring

April 16, 2020

You want to keep your energy bills low while cooling your home in the summer. Fortunately, there are various ways to do this, but it would be best to consider these ways while spring is still here. Have a Pre-Season AC Tune-Up Perhaps the most important step is to have the AC maintained annually. Most companies will perform what’s called pre-season maintenance, which means a technician will come over in the spring to inspect the system and determine if anything needs repairing. That way, the AC can be up and running as it should be by the time summer arrives. With maintenance comes clean ducts and coils, which means smooth airflow. Your AC won’t have to strain to do its job, which means lower energy costs. Maintenance can eliminate other issues that compromise cooling, such as overheating. Use the Programmable Thermostat Chances are that you own a programmable thermostat but rarely program it. You should know that having the optimum cooling schedule can save you some 10% on your bills. You can create this schedule around those times when the home is unoccupied and when everyone is asleep. Perhaps you don’t own a programmable thermostat. Here at Littleton Heating and...

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Should I Repair or Replace my Furnace?

March 17, 2020

There are no hard rules when determining whether you should repair or replace your furnace, but there are a number of significant factors that should contribute to your decision. In either case, you’ll want to be sure you are ready for the heating season with a safely functioning furnace that is up to the task. Here are some things to consider when determining whether to buy a new system. Carbon Monoxide Emissions If your furnace is creating excess levels of carbon monoxide, it should be replaced immediately to avoid a life-threatening situation. This substance is poisonous. High carbon monoxide levels could be a sign of a cracked combustion chamber within the furnace, and this is not something to take lightly. Age of the Furnace Older furnaces are not as efficient as newer ones. In general, furnaces are designed to last 15 to 30 years before they need to be replaced. Of course, this varies with the furnace manufacturer and quality of the build. Cost of Repair Versus Cost of Replacement Professionals generally recommend replacing your furnace when the cost to repair it is greater than 50% of the replacement cost. New furnaces typically cost between $2000 and $7000 based on...

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