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Do My Air Ducts Need to Be Renovated?

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New Home Air Duct System

The air ducts are just like any other component in your home: they need maintenance and sometimes renovation. The air duct controls the amount of air that needs to be delivered to the room to ensure the air in the room is of the desired temperature – if the HVAC system fails to achieve the desired temperature conditions in the room, the problem can be caused not only by a malfunctioning HVAC unit, but also by ducts that are leaking, have not been installed properly or are not the right size. Renovating your air ducts professionally by a residential HVAC Denver area contractor can solve many issues related to improper operation of the HVAC system as well as issues of abnormal energy consumption, so here what the process will involve if you turn to professionals:

  • Load calculations – the renovation technician will first of all inspect the system in your home and he will determine whether the HVAC system, including the air ducts, are properly sized for your home.
  • Testing – the technician will also perform a duct blaster test that consists in applying pressure to the ducts to discover leaks.
  • Duct enhancement – if the measurements indicate a leak, the technician will replace the faulty duct, or, if your system proves to be undersized, he will create the design that matches your requirements and he will also do the installation of the new system.

When Is It Time to Call an HVAC Pro?

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HVAC Maintenance Time

HVAC units, whether used for cooling, for heating or for both, are complex, high-capacity pieces of equipment that take experienced technicians to maintain and to repair. Here are a few of the situations that require the attention of an HVAC expert:

  • The unit stops working – if your HVAC equipment stops working, even though the thermostat is set properly and the unit is switched to the desired operation mode (heating or cooling), call an expert right away.
  • The heat pump delivers cold air – if this happens, check whether the outdoor unit is not covered in ice or snow. If you don’t find any such problem outside, call a technician to check for the cause that led to the problem and to fix the unit.
  • The unit does not cool the room the way it should – if your room is too hot, even though the AC runs on full capacity, check and clean the filters. If the problem persists, make that service call because the issue might be caused by the fault of the thermostat, of the motor fans or of the compressor, otherwise call on Denver heating and cooling company technicians to inspect the unit.
  • Your energy bills are too high – increased energy consumption is usually a sign of poor efficiency that needs the attention of a professional.
  • Leaks and strange noises – two other symptoms that can be handled only by HVAC pros.

Is It Time to Replace My Air Conditioning Unit?

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AC Units

Air conditioning units are durable, high-capacity pieces of equipment, but no appliance lives forever and the time inevitably comes when you must replace your air conditioner, even if you have done your best to maintain it. Here are some of the signs that tell you that your AC unit needs to be replaced:

  • Age – the average lifespan of AC units is usually around 10-15 years, so if your unit is around that age or older, it is a good idea to prepare for buying a new appliance.
  • Strange noises coming from the AC unit and excessive dust – the presence of unusually high amounts of dust in the room may indicate leaking ducts, while the unusual noises coming from the unit might signal that the duct system is undersized.
  • Increasing energy costs – inefficient AC systems use more energy, but don’t work properly, so if none of your other consumers is broken, the culprit for your rising energy bills is probably the old air conditioner that needs replacement.
  • Inconsistent operation – if your air conditioner blows hot air when it is set to cooling or vice versa or if the humidity of the air is not consistent with the unit’s settings, it may be time to replace your air conditioner. Find a fair and honest Denver heating and air conditioning company to inspect your HVAC systems that can help maintain them versus replace them.

Tips for Maintaining Your Commercial Refrigerator

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CAFE Owner

If you are the owner of a business that uses a commercial refrigerator, you probably know that the only way to keep your freezer unit in top shape and to prevent emergency breakdowns is by performing regular preventive maintenance operations on the unit. Here is what you need to do:

  • Cleaning – neglected and dirty refrigerators are not only unsightly, but dangerous for human health as well. To prevent the build-up of bacteria and contaminants, clean your refrigerator regularly and schedule professional cleaning by a HVAC expert at least twice a year to disassemble the unit and to have impurities removed from the components inside the freezer as well. Hire a good Denver commercial refrigeration repair technician to keep up with the maintenance.
  • Check the temperature every day – fluctuations in the temperature inside the unit usually indicate some sort of fault or a malfunctioning component. If you notice that the unit does not maintain the desired temperature, call a repair technician right away to avoid a costly breakdown or to prevent energy bills from running high.
  • Pay attention to how you use the doors – do not keep refrigerator doors open for too long and make sure the hinges, the handles and the locks on the doors are properly lubricated and they seal the interior perfectly.

A Few Facts from the History of Air Conditioning

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Successful Concept

The basic concept of air conditioning was invented and used by the ancient Egyptians who used who hung reeds kept moist with water trickling from above on windows to keep the air inside cool and kept, while the Romans used aqueducts installed in the walls of buildings to keep the walls cool with the help of circulated water.

The very first modern air conditioner that used electrical cooling was invented much later, only in 1902, by Willis Haviland Carrier, an American engineer and inventor. Initially, Carrier wanted to put together a machine that could control air quality and temperature in the printing plant where he was working to prevent changes in paper dimensions and to keep ink in place on the paper. The invention became so popular that Carrier soon opened his own air conditioning company to meet the increasing demand.

Carrier’s air conditioner was first used in production plants and, by the 1920’s, the invention became used in residential units and it spread to the Sun Belt as well, allowing for rapid population growth in the hottest region of the United States. Carrier’s design was further refined over the years and in 1945 Robert Sherman invented the first portable air conditioner that not only heated and cooled the air, but was also able to adjust the level of moisture in the air and used filters for improved air cleanliness as well.  The HVAC Denver industry has come a long way since the original invention of AC and Heating.

Innovations in the HVAC Industry

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Innovative Ideas

HVAC technologies are in continuous development – researchers are working to develop features that reduce the energy needs of HVAC units, while improving efficiency and reliability. Here are a few of the latest innovations that are here to stay:

  • Movement-activated units – these modern HVAC units that are fitted with motion sensors activate only when they detect people moving around in the room, thus making sure that no energy is wasted on cooling or heating the space when there is nobody around.
  • Harnessing the power of the sun – units that use energy generated by solar panels supplemented with natural gas are among the most efficient HVAC systems available today.
  • Geothermal heat pumps – another technology used in the service of energy-efficiency. The units that use geothermal energy are efficient when it comes to both cooling and heating and they come with the additional benefit of generating free hot water.
  • Sensor-driven ventilation – these special vents fitted with advanced sensors can replace the home’s existing vents built into the floors, into the walls or into the ceilings. These modern vents can be controlled with the help of a smartphone app and they can be set to provide very accurate temperature control for each of the rooms controlled via the app. The Denver commercial heating and cooling company of choice will have knowledge in all of these new advances.

Why It’s Important to Keep Your Ducts Clean

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Vacuum Vents - Improve Indoor Air Quality

The cleanliness of the air ducts in your home is essential not only for the proper functioning of your HVAC system, but also for the freshness of the air in your rooms – here is why you should get your ducts cleaned regularly:

  • Clogging prevention – dust and other type of debris tend to accumulate in the ducts and not only in the areas near the vents and the registers, but along the entire length of the duct, posing the risk of clogging. The professional tools used by duct cleaning technicians allow for cleaning ducts from end to end, thus preventing clogging and prolonging the life of the entire HVAC system.
  • Mold removal – ducts provide a great environment for mold to grow and to spread in the air around the house. Thorough duct cleaning can make sure your ducts are mold-free, thus making your entire home a cleaner, safer and healthier place.

Duct cleaning is especially important if your home has undergone renovation, if you have pets that shed fur, if you smoke inside the home or if your HVAC system has suffered any kind of damage recently. All these circumstances can increase the quantity of airborne particles that can penetrate the ducts, clogging or damaging them.  For great air duct cleaning services, call http://alltemperatures.com/residential-services/.

How to Save Money on Home Heating Bills

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Save Money - Reduce Energy Bills

Whether the reason why you want to reduce your energy bills is to save the planet or to save money, there are many things that you can do to reduce your energy expenses – here are our top tips:

  • Have your furnace inspected and maintained by a professional furnace repair Denver company – a furnace that works all the time, but does not deliver the expected heat is a waste of money. However, in most cases the efficiency of your furnace can be easily restored, so hire a technician to check the unit and fix it if necessary.
  • Heat only the rooms that you use.
  • Get a programmable thermostat – you don’t need the heating turned up high 24/7. The easiest way to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home while also reducing your energy bills is by getting a thermostat that you can program to keep the temperature higher during the day and lower during the night.
  • Get proper insulation – insufficient insulation is another major cause of heat loss. Insulating your home does require you to make a substantial investment, but it will also make your home more comfortable and much cheaper to heat.
  • Check the caulking around the doors and windows – the areas around the doors and the windows is where most of the heat escapes from the home, so check the caulking and re-caulk if necessary.

Spring Cleaning Tips for My HVAC System

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Spring Cleaning Tips

HVAC systems work hard all the time – in winter they provide the warmth that you need to feel comfortable in your home and in summer they keep your home cool. Winter and summer being the two seasons when HVAC units work at the top of their capacities, the best time to check and to clean your HVAC equipment is spring – here are a few easy cleaning procedures that you can take care of by yourself:

  • Removing dust – you can easily get rid of the dust that has accumulated inside the furnace by removing the cover of the unit and vacuuming it with your home vacuum. Make sure you disconnect the unit from the electrical power supply and from the gas supply as well (if your system runs on gas) to prevent accidents.
  • Cleaning or removing the filters – dust and other types of debris can clog HVAC filters, reducing the efficiency of the unit or even completely ruining the equipment. Replace disposable filters and remove permanent filters to clean them.
  • Inspect, clean and free the outdoor unit – debris can accumulate inside the outdoor unit as well, what’s more, vines and branches can grow around the box, reducing the efficiency of the system. Remove the leaves and twigs that have penetrated the interior of the outdoor unit, cut the branches that have grown around it and also check the drain hole for any blockages. Obviously if your heater or AC quits working, call one of the great air conditioning repair Denver technicians as soon as possible.

DIY Furnace Maintenance Tips

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Change Out Old Air Filters with New

The maintenance of your furnace is essential for preserving the efficiency and health of the heating and cooling system in your home, but not all maintenance operations require you to hire a Denver heating and cooling professional – here are the most important maintenance activities that you can handle yourself:

  • Vacuuming the burners – burners can function properly only if they are free of dust and other debris. Turn off the power switch and the gas supply, then simply take a vacuum cleaner and run the hose around the burners and the base of the furnace.
  • Cleaning the blower and the control panel – remove the screws that hold the blower and the control panel in place as well and clean them with a soft brush.
  • Clean the pilot, too – pilots are usually small, so the easiest way to clean them is by blowing the dust with the help of a drinking straw.
  • Clean the flame sensor – the sensor can become covered in dust and other residues, so make sure it is clean. If you see any deposits, use a soft cloth to remove them.
  • Pay attention to the filters – clogged filters are the most common cause of diminished furnace efficiency. Replace disposable filters or clean permanent ones, if that is the type that your furnace uses.