Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

3 Common Signs that It’s Time to Schedule Furnace Repair

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Have you noticed anything unusual with your furnace lately? Oftentimes, homeowners sense something strange with the furnace, but they still don’t suspect their system is in trouble. This means they’ll end up waiting to schedule repairs until later on assuming that there is no risk for their unit at the present time. But many of these same people end up discovering this is not true in the most jarring way—when a sudden heating breakdown occurs.

When you notice any type of problem with your unit, small or large, it’s time to call for heating repair. A furnace problem is indicative of a single part or many parts that are wearing down, and when this happens all of the other parts have to work a little bit harder to keep up. This means that the other parts could become worn down as well until a component failure causes your entire unit to stop working. Look for the following warning signs and call a technician at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning for heating repair in Woodland Park.

  • Low Heating Capability: If you feel some heat, but the unit never quite seems to reach the temperature you desire, you may think that heating repair can wait. But this means that something in the unit is not quite right, and an eventual failure is unfortunately inevitable.
  • Unusual Noises: Strange noises are indicative of a number of problems, from a faulty electrical control (often a buzzing noise) to a gas buildup in the furnace (a banging noise which can be very dangerous).
  • Short Cycling: “Short cycling” is a term used to describe a heating system that starts up only to shut down shortly afterwards. If your system is short cycling, it could be for number of reasons. You may simply have a faulty blower motor or a malfunctioning thermostat. Or your flue gases are not venting properly, causing the safety control to shut off the unit after running for only a short time.

Don’t delay! Contact Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule service with quality technicians heating repair in Woodland Park today!

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Commercial Heating Installation: A Job Best Left to the Professionals

Monday, November 17th, 2014

Replacing an older commercial heating system is a tough decision that takes a lot of careful consideration. You may have just begun to notice reduced heating capability or other problems with your business’s heating system. Or, maybe multiple repair needs in recent years have led to the decision to replace. But finding the right technician for the job can be a stressful situation when you’re not certain how to find someone you can trust.

When you finally make the choice to replace your older commercial heating system, be sure to call on specialists with experience in commercial units. This is simply the only way to ensure that the installation is done properly and that there are no safety hazards remaining after installation. Ask your technicians about their previous experience on large commercial units or search through their website to find out more information about the company. While it may seem as though any heating technician will be sufficient, only a select few know the ins and outs of large commercial units.

One of the foremost reasons to have your commercial heating system installed by a specialist is sizing. Commercial systems can be very difficult for the average technician to size, as there are a lot of factors that must go into the decision. Technicians make precise calculations based on the size of the business, the number of rooms, units, or offices, and the number of people in the building, as well as factors like insulation and the placement of windows. Whether or not you need zone control to vary the temperature throughout the building is also an important consideration that a residential technician may not be prepared for. If your heating system is too small, you won’t get enough heating power, while if it is too large, it will consume too much energy and may have a problem due to short cycling.

Another reason to only rely on trained and experienced technician is time constraints. For a busy commercial property, you want heat restored as soon as possible so that you can get back to work and keep your customers, clients, employees, and/or tenants happy and comfortable.

When you want installation completed quickly and thoroughly, choose the experts on commercial heating in Colorado Springs. Call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning today!

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3 Common Reasons for Boiler Repair

Monday, November 10th, 2014

Boilers may operate in different ways than most other heating systems. They are still imperfect, however, and that results in their occasional need for repairs. Below, we’ll take a look at three of the most common reasons for boiler repair, and what can be done about it.

Kettling

Over time, minerals in the water can build up in the heat exchanger of your boiler. After a few years, these minerals can form deposits large enough to actually restrict or even block the flow of water through your boiler’s heat exchanger. This causes a massive buildup in pressure, as the water evaporates and expands inside the heat exchanger. The result is a rumbling sound, called “kettling.” If left alone, this condition can cause extreme damage to your boiler. If your boiler is making this kind of noise, turn it off and call a professional immediately.

Pilot Light Won’t Stay On

If your pilot light won’t stay on, chances are you have a bad thermocouple. The thermocouple is a metal wire that acts as a sensor for the pilot light. When it senses the heat from the pilot light, it opens the gas valve to keep fueling the flame. A bad thermocouple has often lost the ability to sense the heat from the pilot light. As a result, the gas valve stays closed and smothers the flame.

Boiler Keeps Turning Off

If your boiler keeps turning itself off shortly after being turned on, it is likely that something in the system is triggering a safety measure. Usually, these measures trigger when the system is in danger of overheating or even exploding. Honestly, though you’ll need an HVAC professional to determine the exact cause for you. It is quite possible that your boiler is overheating or experiencing a pressure spike. It is equally possible, however, that a malfunctioning thermostat or blocked water line is the cause. Either way, it’s not something you should ignore.

If you are experiencing problems with your boiler, call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide boiler repair services throughout Fountain, CO.

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The Steps of a Professional Heating System Tune Up

Monday, November 3rd, 2014

Have you thought about the state of your heating system recently? Your heater works hard to keep you warm all winter long, which means parts may wear down and reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of your unit. You can prevent this from happening by scheduling a heating system tune-up from a skilled contractor every year. A heating system tune-up can help reduce your utility bills, extend the life of your equipment, and ensure that you need few repairs over the years. It can also improve the performance of your heating system. In this guide, we’ll go over the steps of professional heating maintenance so that you can feel confident that scheduling your next heating tune-up with an experienced technician is well worth the time.

Full Inspection

The first step of a heating system tune-up is a thorough inspection of all of the major and minor components. This includes starting the unit to check for proper ignition capabilities monitoring the flue draft and checking for any leaks, and measuring the voltage. Besides inspecting your issue for proper operation they will also look for any safety concerns. A cracked heat exchanger may leak carbon monoxide into the home, a health hazard you cannot afford to ignore. Technicians will check any safety controls as well and look for any signs of gas leaks.

Cleaning and Adjustment

Additionally, a heating system tune-up involves some cleaning and any adjustments that can be made on site. Technicians will lubricate all moving parts, adjust the thermostat if necessary, and tighten any electrical connections. Finally, they may also clean and adjust the burner assembly, blower components, ignition assembly, and may change or clean your furnace filter, although you should also change this yourself every 1-3 months.

At Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer a thorough precision tune-up annually or semi-annually for your heating system and air conditioner when you sign up for our Residential Energy Savings Agreement.

You’ll get a 15% discount on repairs and many other great benefits for your unit when you join. For a thorough heating system tune up in Fountain, CO, give us a call!

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Why It’s Good to Change Filters Regularly

Monday, October 27th, 2014

If you have a furnace in your home to provide winter warmth—and chances are high that you do; furnaces are the most common form of home heating system—one of its essential components is the air filter. The air filter is there to protect the inside components of the furnace cabinet from debris that can come in through the return vents. If your furnace shares the same cabinet with the air conditioning system, the same filter will work to protect both.

It’s important that you change the air filter on a regular basis (or clean it regularly if your furnace uses a permanent filter). During the winter, when the furnace will run frequently, you should change out the filter once a month. At other times of the year when the comfort system isn’t working as often, you should change it every two or three months. Doing this is an important part of keeping a furnace running efficiently and effectively, and it will help you avoid unnecessary repairs in the future.

You will still need to schedule annual maintenance for your furnace from professionals, however. Call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, where we have more than 40 years servicing furnaces in Colorado Springs, CO.

The benefits of changing the furnace filter regularly

It only takes about a month of regular operation for a furnace filter to trap enough debris inside it that it will start reducing the airflow into the cabinet. This will become a serious problem for the furnace, because it will force it to work harder to circulate air. The strain will cause an increase in your heating bills, and it will also mean a reduction in the airflow from the vents. You will start to notice a drop in comfort as this happens, so you will end up paying more money to receive less comfort.

Worse, a clogged air filter can start allowing debris inside the furnace cabinet. Dust and dirt in a furnace will damage components such as the blower motor and spread grime over the burner or the pilot light, causing them to fail. If dust develops inside the furnace, the stress on the motors will eventually cause them to burn out and require replacement. In some extreme cases, a furnace filter can become so clogged that it actually collapses and falls into the furnace, causing a large amount of damage. We hope you never allow your furnace to reach this level of congestion!

Changing the furnace filter is one of the few maintenance tasks for your heater that you can do on your own. For the rest, you must contact technicians.

Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning offers a Residential Energy Savings Agreement for furnaces in Colorado Springs, CO that will give your heating system the tune-up and cleaning it needs.

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Why it’s good to Have Annual Maintenance on Your Heating System

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Most people tend to neglect the maintenance of their heating system until it begins to show signs of a problem. This is pretty easy to understand. When you only use something part of the year, you probably don’t think too much about it as long as it works properly. This kind of attitude can actually lead to a great many problems, however. Let’s take a look at how annual maintenance can actually save you lots of money and frustration.

Preventative Maintenance

Problems that arise in your heating system can almost always be prevented or at least mitigated by regular maintenance. An extremely serious problem, like a cracked heat exchanger, can be caused by something as simple as a dirty air filter. Regular maintenance checks can catch things like bad air filters before they have the chance to cause any serious damage, saving you a great deal of money in the process. It is far easier and cheaper to replace a disposable part than it is to replace something central to the operation of the heater.

Timing

Regular maintenance can ensure that your heating system is in the best condition it can be when you need it most. The best time to have your heating system checked is during the fall season, right before the winter season when the demand for heat is highest. By scheduling your annual maintenance to take place every fall, you are making sure that your heating system is up to the challenge of increased operation for the next several months. After all, the very last thing you want is for your heating system to break down in the middle of winter. Demand for HVAC repair tends to spike during this season, so you may even find yourself without heat for several days before your local technician can get to you.

If you haven’t scheduled your annual heating maintenance yet, contact Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning. We conduct heating maintenance throughout Colorado Springs.

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Keep Your Heating System and Your Family Safe with a Pre-Season Maintenance Visit

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

If your home uses a natural-gas powered furnace or boiler to provide warmth during the winter, it is very important to schedule regular maintenance service from professionals before you start using it for the season. Maintenance will not only help your furnace or boiler work at its most energy-efficient throughout the winter and avoid unnecessary repair calls, it will also catch any spots where the heater is developing malfunctions that could lead to unsafe conditions, such as leaking carbon monoxide.

At Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we want your family to stay both warm and safe during the coming cold season in Colorado Springs, CO and the surrounding areas. We provide the maintenance services you need to make certain your natural gas-powered heater works without presenting danger to anyone in your household.

Why do I need maintenance to keep my furnace or boiler safe?

We don’t want to panic you: today’s manufacturers of gas-powered heating systems design them so they offer few safety hazards. As long as you keep up with annual pre-season maintenance for your heater, it should present no greater danger than an electrical heating system.

However, maintenance is essential to find where gas leaks could occur. The most important part of a furnace to have a technician check is the heat exchanger. This is a clamshell-shaped component that collects the high-temperature combustion gas from the burner and the transfers the heat from its metal walls to air from the blower moves past it. As the heat exchanger expands and contracts, it can start to crack—especially if the furnace is venting poorly and allowing corrosion to develop along the metal. A cracked heat exchanger will allow carbon monoxide exhaust to escape, and this will pose danger from both toxic fumes and combustion. Because carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, it is difficult to detect. Keep your furnace up to date with maintenance checks so that you will have few worries about escaping carbon monoxide. Technicians will replace cracked heat exchangers to maintain the furnace’s safe operation.

Your gas-powered boiler also requires maintenance checks to see that there are no leaks along the gas line or blockages that might also lead to the escape of carbon monoxide. Please keep in mind that you should never attempt to search for CO leaks on your own or attempt any DIY repairs. Only professionals should work on natural gas lines: if you suspect a gas leak or a faulty heating system, shut down the gas and call for trained technicians immediately.

When you contact us for maintenance on your furnace or boiler, we will send over a technician with the best training and experience to make sure that your heating system will keep you and your family safe and warm for another winter season in Colorado Springs.

Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has taken care of gas-powered heaters since 1970. Call us today for an appointment.

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