What is a permit and why do i need one?

Ever heard someone talk about permits not being pulled? Or has it happened to you? Major work on your home should almost always have a permit pulled with Pike Peak Regional Building Department. Permits are an important part of a quality installation and are legally required. Keep reading to find out more!

How do i get one?

Some permits must be pulled by a licensed contractor, others may be pulled by the homeowner if they are completing the work.  Permits can be purchased in person, over the phone or online through Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. The permit must be opened before work begins on your project.  After the work is completed, an inspection will need to be scheduled to ensure all of the work was done to code.  The cost of a permit varies depending on your project.

How do inspections work?

An inspection can be scheduled for any day Monday-Friday. The inspector may arrive at any time that day, but you are able to track their progress online at pprbd.org . The inspector will check out your project and ensure all codes were followed. If there has been a change in code or if a mistake as made the inspector will explain what corrections need to be made and a new inspection must be scheduled after corrections are made to close the permit.

What can happen if we don’t get a permit?

The biggest problem with permits usually occurs when the house is being sold. Most buyers realtors will ask that all work done on the house is permitted. This protects the buyer in case any installs or construction were done improperly. If permits weren’t pulled at the time of the install, it may be difficult to locate the installing company or expensive repairs may be required to bring the project up to code to pass inspection.

Does SoCo Heating and Cooling pull permits?

Absolutely! We pull permits on every install and ensure they are closed. If you have any questions about permit or installations feel free to contact us!

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What should you do if you smell gas?

On more than one occasion, we have received call from someone who smells gas in their home. This is a serious problem that should be addressed right away. Keep reading to find out what you should do if you smell gas.

What does gas natural gas smell like?

Actually, it doesn’t have a smell, but smells have been added to help you identify when gas may be leaking. Often people describe the smell as rotten eggs or sulfur. If you smell this in your home it is important to take steps immediately!

what should you do?

Get out

Natural gas is highly flammable and can even be set off by static electricity from walking on carpet. If you smell gas immediately leave the area.

Call 911 or the utilities company emergency number

Gas leaks can be an emergency, so please call 911 or your utilities company once you are a safe distance away. Your utility company will send someone out right away to determine the cause of a gas leak.

The numbers for local utilities are listed below.

CSU (719)-448-4800

Black Hills 800-694-8989

Mountain View Electric (719) 495-2283

Do not return until your home is declared safe

Your utilities company will determine the cause of the leak and help you with an action plan. That may include shutting off the gas temporarily, a repair or a recommendation to contact a professional related to specific equipment in your house. Do not return home until they have determined it is safe.Don’t Go Back Until it is Declared Safe

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Buying a new home is a very exciting time and stressful time. Most people do their due diligence and hire a home inspector. Home inspectors often know a little about a lot of things and will create reports for you recommending when something may require the attention of a trained professional. Often this report is given to the seller to hire someone for inspection repair or replacement. This means that the repairs and inspections are being done by a company who is working for the seller and their recommendations may not be in your best interest. This is where having a buyers HVAC inspection comes in.

The most common request from a home inspector is a “furnace cleaning.” For us, this translates to a furnace tune up. During a tune-up we will examine the entire furnace, do a light cleaning, tighten any loose wires or bolts and clean the sensors. We will provide recommendations based on our findings. Often furnaces are well maintained and have zero concerns, but sometimes major repairs are needed. These recommendations can easily be hidden from the buyer by providing a receipt for the cleaning without knowing what recommendations a technician made.

It is your right as the buyer to have your own examination. We highly recommend having at minimum an independent inspection/certification. It is always best to err on the side of caution and we can help you to make sure that you are negotiating with all the information you need to close on the house of your dreams with needed repairs included, or at least not unexpected.

To schedule a tune-up call our office at 719-551-2232 or schedule online here

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Let’s Chat About indoor air quality

Indoor air quality or IAQ is a term thrown about loosely in the HVAC industry, but what does it mean for you?

Home comfort is more than just the temperature of your air.  Humidity, dust, pollens, smoke,  pollutants and even bacteria will all affect your overall comfort even if you don’t realize it.  With a full indoor air quality consultation you can love indoors more than you ever though was possible.

Humidity

First let’s talk humidity.

In Colorado dry air is a huge problem with indoor air quality. Humidity levels here are well below what would be considered to be “normal.” Humidity levels in the 30s are considered comfortable and these often drop to the single digits here in winter. This results in a lot of unpleasant symptoms including: dry skin. bloody noses, dry sinuses that are more susceptible to infection, itchy eyes and sore throats.

It is easy to combat these symptoms with a whole house humidifier. While room humidifiers will do the job, they are difficult to maintain and cannot be set to ideal percentages. With whole house humidifiers, you can set it and forget it and greatly increase your indoor air quality! Click here to read more.

Viruses, Bacteria, and odors

Viruses, bacteria, and odors are an unwelcome guest in every household. From sick children, to bringing home viruses from work, to smelly sneakers or pets, it is really hard to combat something you cannot see

We have solution for this too! The Halo is installed directly into your duct work and utilizes UV filtration light to kill 99% of germs and bacteria in your home without you having to lift a finger. Click here to read more.

Dirt, smoke, pet hair and allergens

The quality of your air is also affected by the things you can see. Dust in your home, smoke from near by fires, pet hair and season allergens run rampant in our homes. While we can see these impurities in our air and clean up after some of them, the fight can sometimes be futile.

Air Filtration technology is incredible and can now filter out 99.98% of air pollutants in your home. With a Trane Clean Effects installed in your home you will be free of all of these unpleasantries automatically. Click here to read more.

If you don’t love being home then indoor air quality may be to blame. If you are interested in and indoor air quality consultation click here to schedule one today.

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This week we are excited to announce our new home!

3013 N Hancock Ave

We started moving in this week!  I can’t even begin to describe how exciting it has been for us.  We are still working on getting everything set up, but hope to be fully moved in by the end of next week.  We want to thank all of our wonderful friends and family and customers who helped us get this far and we look forward to serving you for many years to come!

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Ugliest Thermostat in the Springs Contest

Do you have the ugliest thermostat in the Springs?
We would love to see it!
Winner will receive a new nest thermostat!
To enter to win simply post a picture of your ugly thermostat to our facebook page or email your submission to ugly@SoCoheatingandcooling.com and we will choose the ugliest thermostat to win!
Terms and Conditions:

Must be a homeowner in Colorado Springs (or surrounding areas) to win

By posting a picture of your thermostat, you are agreeing to allow your photo to be used in promotional materials.

Winner will be announced on Thursday May 31st. Winner must agree to media release for promotional materials.

Winner will receive a new nest thermostat with basic wiring.

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Why you need an aC tune up

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?

Checking your filter

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.

Cleaning your outdoor condenser

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!

Checking your coil

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.

Testing Components And Connections

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.

Peace of mind guarantee

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.

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When should you buy a maintenance agreement?

Something relatively new in the world of HVAC is maintenance agreements or memberships. Agreements all have different terms, but most will include your annual service, discounts and waived diagnostics. Since most agreements are sold in multi year packages, it can be hard to know if an agreement is for you. Check out these top reasons to get a Maintenance Agreement.

Your equipment is older

Older Equipment is notoriously untrustworthy.  Many systems live long lives without ever having trouble, but when things start breaking, you can end up having a technician out multiple times over the season.   Repeated diagnostic charges can become very costly, so maintenance agreements are a great money saving tactic to help your equipment stay running as long as it can.

You would like to be reminded when maintenance is due

HVAC systems can have a really long lifespan if properly maintained. One of the keys to extending the life of your equipment is annual maintenance. Most of us live very busy lives and it is easy to forget that it is time to take care of your equipment. With maintenance agreements, we will contact you when it is time for your included tune-up.

You are considering replacement soon

If you think it may almost be time for new equipment, a maintenance agreement is a great idea. Since most oft hem come with a discounted price for repairs you could end up saving hundreds on your replacement.

Our maintenance agreement

At SoCo Heating and Cooling, we offer our Annual Maintenance Agreement (AMA.) For little more than the cost of your annual Tune-Ups we provide all of the following: Your AC Tune-Up Your Furnace Tune-Up Free Diagnostics (which means no charge to come out should your equipment stop working) 15% Discount Emergency 24 Hour service Priority Scheduling If you think an AMA is right for you, set up your maintenance agreement today, contact us now!

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What is high efficency and what does it mean for you?

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.

80% Efficiency Furnace

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.

96% Efficiency Furnace

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 Lower Efficiency Furnaces

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

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Winterizing Your AC… The Basics

We often get asked, what should I do to winterize my AC?

Don’t I need a winterizing tune-up?

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!

Should I use a cover to winterize my AC?

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!

Is there anything i need to disconnect for the winter?

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.

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