One of the most common questions we are asked by customers is about how to program and set the home thermostat. It seems simple enough, but programmable thermostats can appear complicated when you don’t know how to use them. And there are a lot of misconceptions about what settings to keep the thermostat at for the best efficiency. We clear up some of these in today’s guide.
Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category
Using Your Thermostat for Maximum Heating Efficiency
Monday, October 19th, 2015Need Help Choosing a New Heating System?
Monday, October 12th, 2015Your local heating technician is probably the best person for the job. However, we’ve put together a quick guide so that you can compare your options and narrow them down to get an idea of which system will work the best. Here are some of the options we recommend to homeowners searching for a new whole-home heating system.
Is Your Heating System Prepared to Operate for the Fall?
Monday, September 28th, 2015Slowly but surely, the cooler weather is making its way to our area. Soon we will shut off our air conditioners and rely on the warmth of our furnaces and boilers for comfort. Will your heater be up for the task? It is possible that your heating system suffered some damage during a period of vacation, and that it needs to be cleaned out and adjusted before you run it. It’s also possible that a looming safety issue puts your gas heater at risk. How can you prepare for the cooler weather?
Sizing a Furnace: An Important Consideration for New Installation
Monday, September 21st, 2015A new furnace can be more efficient than an older, worn-down unit, allowing you to save money on monthly energy and gas costs. It can also help you to keep you more comfortable as technological upgrades have made today’s furnaces some of the most high-performance home comfort systems to hit the market. But if your furnace isn’t precisely the right size for your home, it may actually cause a lot of trouble. Be sure you work with trained professionals when it comes to any heating installation, and read on to find out what goes into sizing a furnace and why it is such a vital part of the job.
Don’t Hold Off for Any Longer: Repair Your Faulty Heating System Today
Monday, September 14th, 2015The weather is changing quickly, and soon enough we’ll be shutting off our air conditioning systems for good. When you turn on your heating system, you may notice some problems at start up that developed last winter or over a long period of disuse. While these problems may appear to be minor, it’s so important that you get them fixed ASAP.
Can Heating Maintenance Really Save You Money?
Tuesday, September 8th, 2015Heating technicians throughout the area are encouraging customers to take the time now to get their heating systems into shape for the wintertime. Most HVAC companies offer a heating maintenance service that involves an inspection of the heating system as well as a tune-up of major and minor components.
Why It’s a Good Idea to Start Thinking About Your Heating System Today
Monday, August 31st, 2015Temperatures are generally still a bit higher than is comfortable, which makes it hard to imagine that cooler weather is approaching. When you’re still going inside to turn on the AC and beat the 80°+ weather, your heating system might be the last thing on your mind. But maintaining your heating system today can actually save you a whole lot of money and hassle later on.
How Does Zone Heating Work?
Friday, February 20th, 2015If you’ve been looking for a way to customize your heating, you may want to consider the installation of zone heating in your Woodland Park, CO, home. Zone heating allows you to heat your home in independent zones, as designated by you. There’ll be no more complaints about being too hot or too cold, issues with uneven heating or wasting energy heating space no one is in. So how does zone heating work? We’ll explain below.
The Main Components
These are the main components in a zone heating system:
- The motorized dampers
- The main control panel
- The thermostats for each zone
The first step of any zone heating installation is determining with your technician what the zones will be. Zones can be individual rooms, a group of rooms, a floor of your home, etc.; the decision is yours. Once the zones are designated, your supply ducts are outfitted with motorized dampers that are connected to a main control panel. The technician will then install a thermostat into each zone and connect each thermostat to the control panel. When the system is operational, the control panel will open and close the motorized dampers as needed to maintain the temperatures set in each zone.
Why Consider Installing Zone Heating?
Here are some reasons why zone heating may be a good choice for your home:
- Customized comfort – as mentioned above, zone heating systems allow you to customize your comfort throughout your home, increasing comfort and functionality.
- Better energy efficiency – a zone heating system allows you to use only the heating you need because you can shut down a zone without affecting the rest of your duct system.
- Less wear on your heating system – when you use only the amount of heating you need, your system runs less; this helps reduce the amount of wear on your system.
If zone heating in your Woodland Park, CO, home sounds like it may be a good option, call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning today!
Reasons to Consider a Commercial Boiler
Friday, January 9th, 2015Having your commercial space be warm and comfortable throughout the winter months is critical to your business. As such, you’ll want to choose a system that will be durable and reliable for years to come. One such system to consider is a commercial boiler. Boilers are found in all kinds of properties, from residences to churches and schools because boilers can effectively heat various-sized spaces. Here are some factors to consider about the installation of a commercial boiler in your Fountain, CO business space:
- Easy zoning – boilers use a system of pipes to deliver the hot water or steam that heats your space. It is very easy to set up different heating zones with this piping, which will allow you to customize your comfort as you want.
- Efficient – today’s boilers have an average efficiency rating over 80%, and condensing boilers have efficiency ratings over 90%.
- Fuel choices – boilers can be fueled by gas, oil, propane, electricity and solid fuels, such as pellets or wood.
- Choices for outlets – the heat from boilers can be dispersed throughout your business space by radiators, hydronic radiant floor heating or baseboard heating; you can even create a combination of outlets.
- Quiet – boiler systems are very quiet; in fact, the only noise made is when the boiler is heating the water.
- Good for allergy sufferers – forced air system keep air circulating constantly, kicking up dust and dirt that can agitate indoor allergies.
- Comfortable heating – the heat from boilers comes from a surface, not from blown hot air, so the heat is gentle and to many people, more comfortable.
- Balances indoor moisture – forced air systems can create a very dry atmosphere; because boilers heat in radiant manner, the moisture levels stay more stable, which can feel better for skin, eyes and noses.
The installation of a commercial boiler in Fountain, CO, should be handled only be a trained commercial heating expert.
Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning technicians have been serving residential and commercial customers since 1970, so if you are ready for a new commercial heater, call us today!
Is Installing a Furnace Safe for My Home?
Friday, January 2nd, 2015Long ago, furnaces were not always considered the safest systems to install in a home. But today’s models are some of the most efficient, safe, and reliable heating systems out there, able to detect safety hazards quickly and activate features to shut down the unit or turn off the gas right away. New furnace installation should be very safe for your home, as long as you choose professionals for the job.
Furnaces used to operate using a standing pilot light, meaning that the pilot light had to remain lit at all times. Today’s manufacturer’s don’t use standing pilots, but even if your current furnace still has one, it probably has a safety feature that models built decades ago were not equipped with. Very old furnaces had no safety mechanism in place to prevent gas from continuing to leak out if the flame were to ever go out. This posed health and safety hazards that were later corrected with a piece called the thermocouple. The thermocouple senses when there is no longer a flame and shuts off the gas immediately.
But modern furnaces don’t actually need a standing gas pilot light. Instead, they use an electronic ignition system to light the burner only when heat is needed. If the burners don’t light up after a few seconds, a flame sensor shuts off the gas valve. A few other parts are also in place to protect you and your family, such as the air pressure switch that shuts off the gas when combustion gases are not venting properly and the limit switch which keeps the chamber from overheating.
When you choose professionals for the job, your new furnace installation should go smoothly. Your new furnace won’t just be as safe it can possibly be; it will also help you to save money from month to month if you work with an expert to choose a unit with a high AFUE rating and the ENERGY STAR seal of approval. And if you follow up your new installation with annual heating maintenance, you can protect your home safety for years to come.
The experts at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning are trained to give you the most thorough maintenance visit possible and install your new Colorado Springs heating system safely and with utmost accuracy.
