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Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Furnace Failure and Frozen Pipes

Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Furnace Failure and Frozen Pipes: "During the recent Arctic cold that moved thru the Colorado Springs region we received numerous calls from homeowners requesting emergency re..."

Furnace Failure and Frozen Pipes

During the recent Arctic cold that moved thru the Colorado Springs region we received numerous calls from homeowners requesting emergency repair service for heating systems that failed. Many of these situations could have easily been avoided with a little preventative maintenance to the systems. We found many furnaces that failed due to overheated blower motors and dirty flame sensors. The majority of the motor failures were the result of severely clogged air filters, resulting in diminished airflow and thus additional strain on the motor itself. In some cases the motor itself did not fail but the furnace overheated, causing the limit safety control to shut off the gas flow to the furnace, resulting in a no-heat condition. In many of these cases a $400-$500 middle of the night repair could have been avoided if a $5 filter had been replaced on a monthly basis as recommended by most furnace manufacturers.
Dirty flame sensors also caused many furnace breakdowns. If the furnace had been serviced during the fall, this situation also would have been avoided. Every gas furnace should be cleaned and checked once a year. Approximately 75% of heating system failures that we encounter are the result of dirt, dust, dirty filters and other preventable causes that would have been avoided had the furnace been cleaned and serviced by a professional heating technician.
Unfortunately, many homes had water pipes freeze during the harsh conditions. This resulted in hundreds if not thousands of dollars in additional damages to the homes and property that in many cases could have been completely avoided by simply keeping a clean filter in the heating system or having had an annual service performed.

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Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Frigid temperatures headed to Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Frigid temperatures headed to Colorado Springs: "Frigid temperatures are forecast for the Colorado Springs area over the next several days. Be sure to take precautions against frozen ..."

Frigid temperatures headed to Colorado Springs

Frigid temperatures are forecast for the Colorado Springs area over the next several days.  Be sure to take precautions against frozen pipes in your home. Check your furnace to be sure it is running properly. If you haven't had it serviced within the last year, now is a good time to schedule a cleaning and inspection.
If you have poorly insulated walls and ceilings, be sure to open any cabinet doors under sinks or faucets that are along exterior walls to prevent pipes from freezing. It may be advisable to crack open those faucets and let water trickle out into the drain during the evening hours. Running water is much less likely to freeze within the plumbing pipes.
Check your furnace filter and replace it if necessary. Many heating systems fail simply due to a dirty or plugged up air filter.
If in doubt or if you have any questions regarding your home heating system call Basset Heating & Air Conditioning at 719-266-1114. We are here to help you.

Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Red Tags issued by Colorado Springs Utilities

Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Red Tags issued by Colorado Springs Utilities: " Colorado Springs Utilities issues red tags when they find a gas appliance to be operating in an unsafe condition, s..."

Red Tags issued by Colorado Springs Utilities

     Colorado Springs Utilities issues red tags when they find a gas appliance to be operating in an unsafe condition, such as a furnace or water heater that has a severe gas leak or is leaking carbon monoxide.  When a red tag is issued, the gas supply to the appliance is turned off and the homeowner or occupant of the home is issued a redtag warning and must have the unsafe condition corrected by a licensed heating contractor within 5 days. Failure to have the unsafe condition corrected within the specified time may result in the gas supply being turned off to the entire home by CS Utilities.
     Red tags must be cleared by a licensed heating contractor who must note the specific correction has been made, sign the form, then must either mail or fax the completed form to CSU in order to avoid interruption of gas service to the home.
     Redtags are issued when a furnace, water heater or other gas appliance is operating in such a manner that can cause a threat to either life, property or health. A red tagged appliance is a serious matter and should be addressed immediately.
     In many instances where a furnace has been redtagged, there is a carbon monoxide issue with the heating system. Carbon monoxide problems can arise from improperly vented appliances, insufficient combustion air, or dirt and soot accumulation within the appliance. Many of these situations can be avoided by having your heating system serviced and inspected annually by a qualified heating contractor.
     Basset Heating & Air Conditioning can remedy redtagged appliances in many cases. Generally a redtagged appliance can be serviced and safely put back into operation. Sometimes, however, such as in the case of a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger or extreme buildup of black soot, it is necessary to replace the furnace.
     Installing carbon monoxide detectors in the home is strongly recommended. It is better to be safe than sorry, as the saying goes. CO detectors, like smoke alarms, should be tested on a regular basis to ensure they are working properly. Avoid a possible tragedy in your home and be sure to have working CO and smoke alarms in your home.

Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Central Air Conditioning Installation

Colorado Springs Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Central Air Conditioning Installation: " If you reside in the Colorado Springs area you are well aware that unlike, say, Phoenix Arizona, having a cent..."

Central Air Conditioning Installation

     If you reside in the Colorado Springs area you are well aware that unlike, say, Phoenix Arizona, having a central air conditioner in your home may not be a necessity, but there are many days during our summer months here in Colorado that having a central air conditioning system in your home would certainly be welcomed.
     If you are considering adding central AC to your home there are some important facts to remember. Cost, of course, is utmost on people's minds these days in this unstable economy. You can expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 up to $5,000 or more for a quality central AC system, depending on several factors, including the size of your home and the specific model and brand you choose to have installed.
     Often overlooked when choosing a new cooling system is the installing contractor. Many of today's modern heating and cooling systems are very similar in performance and design and also come with good manufacturer warranties. However, a poor installation can lead to poor performance regardless of the brand that is installed.
     In the HVAC field, unfortunately, there are many contractors just looking to make a quick buck, and they'll give you the lowest price but often will not provide a quality installation. Many of these contractors may simply be moonlighting from their regular job, and some may not be properly licensed to do the work.
And their poor installation can end up costing you hundreds, even thousands of dollars, in the end.
     Be sure to ask for and check references before you hire a contractor. In today's world, most reputable companies will have an online reputation, reviews left by other consumers, that will give a good indication of their business practices. Just type the company name and city into the Google search bar, and you can research their online reputation easily. I also suggest checking their local BBB rating.
     Whether you're having a furnace or air conditioner replaced, repaired or installed, it's a good idea to make sure the local heating and air conditioning company you hire is not only qualified to do the work, but also that they will stand behind their products and services in the event there is a problem somewhere down the road.
     Keep this in mind; the quality of the installation is more important than the brand or model that is being installed. A poor installation job even with the most expensive brand will result in far more problems than would a high quality installation of even a low priced system.
     For more information regarding home heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality products in the Colorado Springs area, visit http://www.bassetheating.com or call our office at 719-266-1114.

     Regards,
          Michael Machado
          President
          Basset Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.