Are you ready to enjoy your summer rather than sweating through it? When temperatures start to go up outside, you can keep cool indoors. However, if your air conditioning in Colorado Springs, CO, isn’t up to the challenge, it can make the sweltering summer months unbearable.
Don’t worry. Along with making sure that your AC gets the services it needs to operate effectively, there are a few things to help keep yourself cooler too. This way you can stay cool all summer long.
Summer is here and so is the heat! Now is when you need your air conditioner the most. However, this is a challenging season for your cooling season and increases the chances that it will encounter a problem.
If something seems wrong with your AC, it is best to reach out to a professional ASAP for your air conditioner repairs in Colorado Springs, CO. That is what our team is here for!
First things first, you may want to keep tabs on what your system sounds like while it is running. Odd noises are often a big indicator that you need to talk to a technician and have your system inspected!
When it comes to keeping your home cool throughout the summer, you have a pretty big challenge to face. The heat in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas can be formidable. But thankfully you aren’t alone when you’re facing this issue.
SoCo Heating and Cooling provides expert air conditioner services in Colorado Springs, CO and beyond. We work with a majority of AC systems and offer comprehensive services to ensure that you can enjoy a truly comfortable home. Read on to discover how our team is your one-stop shop for all of your home comfort needs.
Spring is here and that means another summer is just around the corner. This is also the time of year people start thinking about adding or replacing the air conditioner to make sure this summer is more comfortable than last year was. But where do you begin? How do you know you are making the right choice for your home? Most importantly, how do you make sure you don’t get ripped off? These are all great questions homeowners ask all the time.
The first and most important thing is your contractor. Do your research. On line reviews are great, but look for an recommendation from someone you know who used that company. Not all contractors are the same and neither are the technicians. Make sure you feel comfortable. Here are some good questions to ask and things to look for.
Next up is the age old question: Who makes the best unit? Are you ready for the answer to a question that has baffled home owners for eons? The answer is “Whatever the preferred brand is of your trusted, licensed and vetted contractor”! That’s it. The truth of online reviews for heating and cooling products is that people’s overall happiness is in most cases determined by the quality of the install rather than the quality of the equipment. I like Trane equipment. Bob likes Carrier Equipment. Homeowners like working equipment.
Ok folks, stay with me now… It’s time for some technical stuff.
SEER – This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. It basically goes like this. The Higher the SEER rating, the lower the cost of operation but the higher your initial investment.
TONS – Technicians and contractors will often refer to the TON size of your outdoor condensing unit. This is short hand for the BTU rating, or amount of cooling created, of your system. 12,000 BTUs equals one TON of capacity. In very general terms, you need 12,000 BTUs of capacity for every 600 sqft of conditioned space. There are many other conditions that contribute to the proper sizing of your unit. A quality contractor will perform a load calculation to ensure the right fit.
Single Stage, Two Stage and Variable Speed – Modern air conditioning units come in a number of configurations these days. A single stage unit is the AC we are all familiar with. It comes on, it goes off. Two stage units will operate at half their capacity during the cooler parts of the day. This makes for more consistent temperatures inside your home without the hot and cold spikes most people are familiar with and does it all while using much less energy. Variable speed units are the Rolls Royce of AC, allowing you to maintain exact temperature controls at all times while using far less power and much quieter operation.
The last question I get asked a lot is “Do I have to replace my furnace too”? The answer is, not always. But if your furnace is more than 10 years old, it is likely that the added work and stress of running the AC will shorten the life span of your furnace. You can generally save money when installing both at the same time too. So if your furnace is less than 30 years old and your contractor tells you you MUST replace the furnace too, get a second opinion just to be safe.
Here is my last tad bit. Want to know the best time to get a deal on a new AC unit? It’s now in early springs. While the temps outside hover right around perfection, no one needs us. So in order to entice homeowners to do their planned upgrades now, many contractors will offer special promotions and discounts.
It is that time of year again. That time of year where everything is fine until you finally break down and turn on the A/C. If you find yours isn’t working when you fire it up, here is what you should check.
Dirty filters cause the majority of A/C problems. Your filter is located in your furnace and your air conditioner relies on the furnace to blow the cold air. When the filter is dirty the air can’t get through. If your filter IS dirty, often this can cause the unit to ice up. If you see ice, turn your A/C to off, and turn your fan to on. Allow it to thaw before using it with a clean filter.
If your A/C isn’t running at all, check the breaker. Keep in mind some houses have more than one breaker box and it could be in a secondary box as well. A tripped breaker can indicate a problem, so if it happens repeatedly, have it checked by an expert.
First of all, if the house is new to you, be sure you have A/C and check for the outside unit. Many houses in Colorado do not have A/C by default as in many other states and it can be an unpleasant surprise for new home owners. If you do find an outdoor unit make sure it is not covered in debris and that air can circulate through it easily. This may require a quick rinse with the hose or removal of weeds.
If all of the above fails, just give us a call 719-551-2232 or schedule online here and we can help get you cool! Stay Cool Colorado Springs!
An A/C tune up is basic maintenance for your AC system. We are used to maintaining and tuning up our cars to increase their life spans and catch problems before they happen. The same is true for your A/C.
A/C Tune Ups should be done once a year. They keep your system running at peak performance and help find problems before they happen so you aren’t stuck mid-summer sweating it out!
During our A/C Tune Up your technician will:
Inspect your coil
Test and measure outputs on components that more commonly fail over time
Inspect your filters
Tighten components and terminals that become loose over time
Check all safety controls
Inspect refrigerant lines and insulation
Test refrigerant pressures and temperature
Verify the air output at the vents
Clear debris
Calibrate thermostat
At the end of your tune-up you will receive an easy to read score sheet to keep that will go over everything about your system and give a clear picture of its performance.
This is probably the most common question we are asked in the HVAC industry.
The majority of homes in Colorado Springs do not have AC. If you aren’t a native, you may have learned this the hard way. We have had more than one customer who reported the AC not working only to find that they never had one installed in the first place. If your home does not have AC or has one that isn’t working well, adding AC or replacing one isn’t a huge problem at all. They key is knowing when to buy it.
The best time to buy a new AC or any HVAC equipment is always in the spring or fall. When the weather is extreme (cold or hot) most HVAC companies are very busy and are booked several weeks in advance. At this time there are little discounts available and a long wait home to get your home cool. During the spring and fall when HVAC equipment isn’t working as hard companies slow down and have the availability to install equipment sooner and at deeper discounts.
Getting a new Air Conditioner is a simple process.
Schedule an estimate
During an estimate, we will assess your home and determine the appropriate sizing. We will go over how the system works and how it will perform in your home and help you understand the differences in the available systems, so that you can choose the perfect one for your lifestyle and budget. During this time, you can find out what specials or discounts are available.
Next we will set up a day to do your installation. A new AC installation will take about a day to complete.
On installation day our crew will arrive with your new equipment. An air conditioner consists of 2 major components. The coil (which is installed next to the furnace) and the condenser (which is installer outside.) They will need access to the area where the furnace sits, the thermostat, the electrical panel, the predetermined area where the condenser will sit and possibly a few places in between. When the install is complete packing and old equipment will be removed.
All equipment installed should have permits pulled and be inspected by the regional building department. We will schedule an inspection for you, when your install is complete.
If you are interested in getting a quote for a new AC system now is the time! Visit our scheduling page here or give us a call 719-551-2232 to schedule today.
AC Tune-Ups should be done annually to make sure your system is performing correctly. But what exactly is involved in a tune-up and how do they help your system?
Filters should be changed monthly, but it is easy to forget. Dirty filters block air flow and can freeze up your air conditioner. This could lead to some very uncomfortable days while you wait for it to thaw. During a tune-up, we make sure these are being changed regularly.
Your outdoor condenser pulls in outside air. Over the winter the condenser can become covered in dirt and debris, restricting air flow. During a tune-up, your condenser will be cleaned to ensure top performance!
Your air conditioner has 2 parts the coil and the condenser. The condenser is outside and the coil is inside near the furnace. The indoor coil can also become impacted with dirt and debris. During a tune-up we can evaluate it’s condition and ensure you will be good to go for summer.
Over time, wires can become loose, bolts can loosen and individual parts can fail. We thoroughly evaluate your system to catch and repair minor aging and measure output of all components to ensure proper functionality.
At SoCo Heating and Cooling, we always include our peace of mind guarantee. We stand behind our evaluations of our system. Should any problems occur within the season of your tune-up, all diagnostic charges will be waived. So don’t wait for the summer heat to find out if your AC is ready for another season. Schedule your tune-up today! Click here to schedule online now! Find out more about our tune-ups here.
You hear it all of the time… Upgrade to a new high efficiency furnaces. It is a new trend across the HVAC and large appliance industry, but what is high efficiency? And how does it impact you? To be efficient equipment must be able to do its job using as little resources as possible. This could mean less water used by your washing machine, less electricity used by your refrigerator and less gas used by your furnace. Think about gas mileage in your car. Cars used to be incredibly inefficient. In the 1960’s cars were only able to get around 14 miles per gallon. These days high efficiency cars can get up to 40 miles per gallon. These new advancements in efficiency are now moving into your home. Many new standards are being released to move to more efficient equipment. These are great for utility companies and the environment as they use less electricity, water and gas. Many even offer rebates and discounts when these products are purchased. The most direct impact of high efficiency equipment is the impact it has on your wallet. Let’s talk furnaces. Furnaces are often offered in a standard 80% efficiency or a 96% (or above) high efficiency.
An 80% efficiency furnace, is 80% effective at doing it’s job. So 20% of the money you spend to heat your home goes right out the roof. Meaning for every $1 you spend 20 cents is wasted.
With a 96% efficiency furnace, your furnace is 96% effective at doing its job. This means only 4% or less of the money you spend heating your home is wasted. That is only 4 cents for each $1.00 you spend.
Older furnaces from the 70’s and 80’s can be as low as 65% efficiency… which means almost half of the money you spend is wasted.
If your average gas bill is $100, you could be spending as much as $45 a month more than you need to to heat your home. It is pretty clear how quickly these high efficiency upgrades can add up. Often, they can pay for themselves. High efficiency products are the way of the future. They save resources and money, and do their job better than any previous models. Consider upgrading yours today. You can schedule your free furnace estimate by visiting www.socoheatingandcooling.com/schedulenow
We often get asked, what should I do to winterize my AC?
It is a common misconception that you should do a fall AC tune up to winterize your AC, since you wont be using it for several months. The truth is this is better done in the spring. During an AC tune up, we will clean up and dirt or debris that accumulated throughout the winter, do a full inspection and get you up and running for the season. This is best done before you use it each year in the spring to ensure maximum efficiency!
While covers themselves dont actually harm your AC, we do recommend against them. An air conditioner works by drawing in the outside air. Covers are easily forgotten on the first day of the year. If there is a cover protecting the exterior of your outside unit it will not be able to breathe and can cause the need for expensive repairs. So, to play it safe, ditch the covers!
Nope. Not all. Your air conditioner is ready to be used or not used at any time. Nothing needs to be disconnected otr adjusted. Just switch your thermostat to heat and make sure to have a spring tune up next year!
Get ahead of the game and schedule your spring tune up now! Give us a call 719-551-2232 or visit www.socoheatingandcooling.com/schedulenow.
