Category: HVAC

Energy bills make up around half of the monthly expenses in most households. Fortunately, with some easy measures, you can reduce your heating and cooling bills by as much as 30%. Here is how:

• Regular maintenance – your heating and cooling system works hard to maintain the temperature in your rooms stable and comfortable, so they deserve your attention and care or the attention of Denver air conditioning professionals in periods when they are out of use. Heating systems should be cleaned, inspected, maintained and repaired during the summer and you should do the same for your air conditioning system in fall or in spring;
• Insulate your home – having insulation of the right type and thickness on your walls as well as in your attic is the best way to reduce the amount of energy needed for cooling and heating your home. The investment into new insulation can be substantial, but reduced energy bills is only one of the benefits – suitable insulation improves the quality of the air inside your home and prevents the appearance of mold and mildew as well;
• Seal the areas around your doors and window – the thin cracks that develop around wall openings are a major cause for energy loss. Fortunately, they are easy to get rid of, all you need is some caulk.

 

Getting a new HVAC system installed is a costly and complex process that involves the assessment of the essential features you need with your new equipment, decisions about the system’s capacities and the consideration of many other aspects, too. To have the HVAC that cools and heats your rooms efficiently, without increasing your energy bills to unreasonably high levels, you need to find the answer to a lot of questions before you commit to one unit or another – here are some of the most important questions to ask about your new HVAC:

• AC capacity – the capacity that you need your HVAC system to have is calculated using the measurements of the space that the unit will be installed in. To find out the exact size, you can use online calculators or you can ask your HVAC contractor to do the math for you;
• Ductwork – if you already have ductwork installed in your building, the question obviously arises whether you can keep any of it for the new HVAC. You need a professional to answer that question: the ductwork needs to be professionally checked for faults, such as holes or other types of damage;
• Energy efficiency – modern HVAC systems use much less energy than older models. Before you buy a new HVAC, ask a Denver AC repair expert about the energy efficiency ratings of the units available.

The basic principle of physics behind cooling and heating the air in closed spaces is very simple: warmer air is lighter than cold air, therefore it tends to rise, this is why the air will always be warmer close to your ceiling than at is at floor level. This means that mixing and moving the air inside the room is essential for maintaining the temperature comfortably stable, that’s why Denver HVAC systems include not only heating and cooling functions, but ventilation as well.

The role of the HVAC system’s ventilator is, however, more complex than that of moving the air inside a room. To make sure that the air in your room is not only of the right temperature, but it is healthy as well, you also need a certain amount of air exchange, especially if the room is frequently used by a lot of people. Living beings inhale oxygen and exhale CO2 and other substances, so without proper ventilation, the CO2 in the air of the room will increase, causing the air to turn stale. The breathing process and the simple presence of living beings in the room can also fill the air with viruses and other unwanted components that can spread diseases and need to be evacuated, so proper ventilation is responsible not only for out thermal comfort, but for our health as well.

 

Yes, location is very important when installing your air conditioning.

Position of the internal unity

The air conditioner must provide a uniform air flow in the room where it is installed. Therefore, the location of the unit must be at an optimum height for cooling/ heating the space as quickly as possible. However, the air flow must not be directed to the occupants of the room, as it may cause allergic reactions, colds or discomfort. Specialists also recommended mounting the unit at a distance of 5-10 cm from the ceiling.

Location of the external unit

This must be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, of which a local air conditioning Denver technician will know. It is important that installation is performed by professionals, who know how to properly place the unit on the outside wall, near the window, without obstructing it and providing adequate access for interventions.

When it is possible, air conditioning manufacturers recommend installing the outdoor unit at relatively small distances from the ground, or on a flat surface (a flat roof, for example).

The condensate drain line must be clean and also correctly positioned.

By respecting these requirements, you ensure the efficiency of the air conditioner and you also reduce energy consumption.

 

If you own a heat pump, you are responsible to check it regulary, if you want to keep it in good shape and increase its life span.

A heat pump is a smart device that ensures the comfort we need all year round. It works on the basis of well-defined algorithms and provides efficiency if rest of the installation (pipes, valves, flow meters etc.) work in optimal parameters.

Checking your heat pump and the equipment is easy and you can do it yourself.

First, you must ensure that the system is properly ventilates, then check the interior pressure and make sure it stays between 0.5-1.5 bar. Keep the exhaust air and filters clean. The radiator thermostats and floor heating must be fully opened. You also have to check the circulation pump operation and ensure that the correct Heating Curve is selected.

Check if the heat pump is in the correct mode (winter mode or automatic mode) and also that there is nothing clocking the flow in the installation.  Make sure the outside temperature of the heat pump is at a real temperature.

If you want assistance in checking and optimizing your heat pump, please contact an authorized Denver HVAC service.

The best way to handle the preventive maintenance tasks for your air conditioner system is to outsource the job to professional HVAC maintenance technicians, but if you are looking for a way to reduce your costs, the good news is that you can do a lot to prevent the break-down of your AC unit. Here are some tips for you:

• Replace the furnace filter regularly – clogged filters reduce the efficiency of the system and can also cause faults that are expensive to fix. Filter replacement is easy to do – just turn off the thermostat, disconnect the unit from the power source, open the filter door, remove the old filter and insert the new one;
• Clean the electronic filters and cartridges that neutralize smaller airborne particles – disconnect the unit, remove the filter and the cartridges, wash them according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then put them back into their place;
• Clean and flush the drain lines – you can use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner for the purpose;
• Clean the outdoor unit regularly as well – remove the cover and use a vacuum cleaner or a brush to remove dust and small debris. To avoid clogging while the unit is not in use, keep the equipment covered while not in use.

Find professional and exceptional HVAC services at https://pasterkamp.com.

HVAC systems are nowadays present everywhere, in our homes, in our offices, in our stores, ensuring our thermal comfort, heating the air in winter and cooling it in summer, yet most of us pay no or very little attention to them. However, to be a responsible homeowner, you need at least some basic understanding of how these essential systems work, so here are some details for you:

• The heating process – most HVAC systems in homes today are forced air systems that use a furnace to heat air and ducts and in-room vents installed around the house to disperse the heat;
• Ventilation – HVAC systems also move and filter the air in the building, controlling its quality a well as the level of moisture in the air. Most HVAC systems use multiple filters to purify the air circulated in the building, removing allergens, volatile organic compounds and other airborne impurities;
• The cooling process – most AC systems use some type of refrigerant to cool the air in the indoor space. The unit collects heat from the air and expels it from the building. The liquid created through the process is also evacuated, that’s why many HVAC units have ducts protruding through the building’s exterior wall and dripping water.

It’s important to have an HVAC professional like Pasterkamp of Denver that you know and trust and can call on whenever they are needed.

Furnaces have a great importance in people’s homes, whether powered by electricity or gas.

If you want to know what type is right for you, you must take into account a few variables, including the size of your home, the required level of maintenance, the initial cost, the local fuel price and the eco-friendliness.

Using these criteria, we will highlight the differences between gas furnaces and electric furnaces, to help you make an informed choice.

Upfront costs

Electric furnaces are significally cheaper than gas furnaces ($500-1000 compared to $3500-4000). Installation is also less expensive.

 Cost difference in the long run

In this case, the operating costs of a gas furnace are 2.5 lower than of an electric model (this affirmation is based on the average prices for gas and power). Additionally, an electric furnace will cost you more if you have a bigger home.

Durability and maintenance

Modern gas furnaces are designed to last up to 25 year, but require periodic maintenance from an HVAC Denver CO company. On the other hand, an electric furnace will likely last longer and the maintenance is greatly reduced.

Eco-Friendliness

When it comes to this aspect, none of the two types of furnaces is perfect, so deciding which one is best for you should rely rather on their efficiency and other criteria presented above.

 

We all want a modern HVAC system, efficient enough to provide the thermal comfort we need, while reducing the bills. We are willing to invest in the most appropriate solution for our home, because we actually invest in our own comfort. But this is not all. In order to remain fully functional for a long time, we must maintain our HVAC system regularly. Maintenance by HVAC contractors Denver area is one of the most important steps, and it can make your system operate up to 20-30 years.

Besides the mandatory technical check-ups every two years, a duct cleaning is a recommended process to be performed periodically. Over the years, corrosion affects the proper functioning of the entire system. Residues reduce heat transfer from radiators as well as the overall efficiency of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. Therefore, you must consider cleaning the ducts every time you start using your system it for a longer time. By removing harmful waste streams and debris, you eliminate the main cause of corrosion. Additionally, by eliminating black mud (iron oxide) and limestone deposits, you improve the circulation of the thermal agent, and reduce fuel consumption as well as the noise caused by the operating system.

Cleaning out your furnace is an operation that can be performed by a Denver HVAC specialist as a part of the annual maintenance and will help you keep heating bills and repair bills low. If you have some basic skills, you can do the cleaning yourself, but if you are not sure about this, you should call a HVAC technician who can safely do it for you.

Before starting to clean out your furnace, you must turn off the gas and electricity to your furnace and open all access panels.

First, you need a vacuum cleaner and some of its attachments. With the vacuum brush on, clean dust and debris around the motor, inside the burner compartment, from other mechanical parts and from fan blades. For hard to reach areas, change the brush with the crevice tool. Be extra careful not to disconnect wires in the vacuuming process. Use a soft cloth, slightly damp, and wipe down your furnace. If you notice any loose terminals, use a screwdriver and tighten them.

Check the motor belt; if it is loose or if you see cracks, take it to the hardware store, find a match and replace it. Clean the ducts too, with a high-powered vacuum cleaner with filter that prevents dust from scattering throughout the house.

When you change the filters of your furnace, make sure to buy quality products, for a better efficiency.