Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Gain Control over Your Home with Woodland Park Home Automation Services

December 4th, 2014

We’ve all been in this situation before: you leave the home and are halfway to the office, your kid’s school, or the grocery store before you remember you forgot to switch off (or turn on) an important electrical device. This may be an air conditioning or heating system, a security system, or just the lights, but in any case, there is little you can do to control the situation. You can call a friend or neighbor, but this isn’t always a reliable system, and seems a bit extreme if you’re just worried about saving a little bit of money on your energy bills.

But in today’s world, new advancements in technology allow you the ability to control your home even from very far away. At Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re proud to announce that we install, repair, and maintain home automation systems so that you can keep track of your electrical appliances and your home security no matter where you are.

What’s Included in Home Automation?

A home automation system works through an app installed on your smart phone or tablet, or by logging into your home automation system account on any computer with internet access. With this system, you can control a wide range of features of your electrical system. Turn off a light as soon as you realize you’ve forgotten. Shut off your heating and air conditioning system, as these are some of the biggest energy hogs in your home. Or, turn on the thermostat, delay the automatic settings, or raise and lower the temperature so that you’re greeted by a temperate, comfortable home as soon as you arrive.

Home automation can also help you to monitor your home security. Did you leave the garage door open when you left? Find out via the app, shut it immediately, and make sure your home security system is activated while you’re at it. If you have a technician install a compatible door lock, you can even lock or unlock the doors.

To get all of these features, you’ll have to install fixtures that are compatible with your home automation system, and only a trained technician has the skillset to do so.

Call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning to find out how you can get home automation services in Woodland Park today.

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Will Thanksgiving Turkey Really Make You Sleepy?

November 27th, 2014

We’ve all heard it before: you feel so sleepy after a Thanksgiving meal because of the main event: the turkey. For years, people have credited extraordinary levels of tryptophan in turkey as the reason we all feel the need to nap after the annual feast. But contrary to this popular mythology, tryptophan is probably not he largest responsible party for your post-meal exhaustion.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means it’s something that our bodies need but do not produce naturally. Your body uses tryptophan to help make vitamin B3 and serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that sends chemicals to the brain to aid in sleep. But in order to get this essential amino acid, we have to eat foods that contain it.

Turkey has somewhat high levels of tryptophan, but so do many other foods, including eggs, peanuts, chocolate, nuts, bananas, and most other meats and dairy products. In fact, ounce-for-ounce cheddar cheese contains a greater amount of tryptophan than turkey. In order for tryptophan to make you feel sleepy, you would have to consume it in excessive amounts, and serotonin is usually only produced by tryptophan on an empty stomach.

The truth is, overeating is largely responsible for the “food coma” many people describe post-Thanksgiving. It takes a lot of energy for your body to process a large meal, and the average Thanksgiving plate contains about twice as many calories as is recommended for daily consumption. If anything, high levels of fat in the turkey cause sleepiness, as they require a lot of energy for your body to digest. Lots of carbohydrates, alcohol, and probably a bit of stress may also be some of the reasons it feels so satisfying to lay down on the couch after the meal and finally get a little bit of shut-eye.

If you feel the need to indulge in a heaping dose of tryptophan this year, go ahead! Turkey also contains healthy proteins and may even provide a boost for your immune system.

Here at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, we hope your Thanksgiving is full of joy and contentment this year. Happy feasting!

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Commercial Heating Installation: A Job Best Left to the Professionals

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

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

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

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

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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Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality

October 8th, 2014

When it comes to living comfortably in your home, your mind may automatically go towards the temperature. However, this is only a part of the overall picture in terms of comfort. In order to live truly comfortably, you must not only maintain comfortable temperatures but great indoor air quality as well. To ensure that this is the case, you may need to work with a trained indoor air quality specialist, such as the ones on the Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning team. Of course, before doing so, you must first realize that there is a problem with your indoor air quality in Colorado Springs, CO to begin with. Here are a few warning signs to keep an eye out for which may suggest the need for our quality indoor air quality products and services.

First of all, any increase in or aggravation of allergy and asthma symptoms among residents in your home are is a major red flag that your indoor air quality may be subpar. There are a lot of different factors at play here, and homes with pets or those in proximity to major roadways will likely have higher concentrations of airborne pollutants. Regardless of your situation, a good air filtration system or electronic air purifier may be necessary in order to boost your air quality to appropriate levels.

If you find that your skin is very dry and itchy, or if you have frequent sore throats and bloody noses, you may be up against issues with low humidity levels. You must have the right amount of humidity in your home if you hope to live comfortably, or else your body will feel the effects of drying out. Additionally, low humidity levels can lead to splitting wooden fixtures, chipping paint, and other problems. A whole-house humidifier is a great way to add the right amount of humidity back to the air.

No matter if your air is too dry or if biological pollutants have infiltrated your home, you need to improve the quality of the air that you breathe.

We spend a lot of time indoors, so your comfort and your health depend upon great indoor air quality in Colorado Springs, CO. Call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more. 

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Is a Heat Pump Right for You?

October 1st, 2014

Keeping your home comfortable throughout the year is a priority that you share with homeowners everywhere. The trouble that some homeowners encounter when it comes time to invest in new heating and air conditioning equipment is the simple fact that there are so many different options out there to choose from. If you want to ensure that your system is a perfect fit for your home and comfort preferences, call the pros at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll ensure that you find the right HVAC system for your needs. You may just find that a heat pump in Colorado Springs, CO is just what you’ve been looking for.

There are a lot of great heating and cooling systems on the market, but a heat pump can offer certain benefits that others do not. For starters, heat pumps are able to both heat and cool your home, allowing for year round comfort in one convenient package. This is possible thanks to the unique design of the heat pump, which features a reversing valve. This allows the system to reverse its refrigerant cycle, providing cooling in the summer and heating during the winter season.

Another great benefit of the heat pump is the incredible energy efficiency with which these systems operate. During the cooling cycle, a heat pump acts just like a traditional split central air conditioner. This means that it will pull in air from throughout the house, remove the heat, and recirculate that cool air to the farthest reaches of your home. During the winter, though, the heat pump actually makes use of ambient heat in the air outside. By utilizing this existing heat, even when the temperature outside is cold, your heat pump can heat your home with exceptional efficiency levels. In some cases, extreme cold may inhibit the heating operation of a heat pump, though, so make sure that you discuss the pros and cons with a trained professional.

If you think that installing a heat pump in Colorado Springs, CO is the right move for you, give Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning a call today.

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

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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