• First determine how old the heating and/or cooling unit is
• If it is a wireless unit, check the batteries
• Check the owner’s manual for the unit for troubleshooting information
• Check to ensure the filters don’t need changing
• Check the hoses leading to the outside unit to see if they have ice on them
• Shut down the power and check to see if there is any dust on the wiring
• Check the wiring to the outside unit for corrosion or breakage

An older unit may need to be replace and the professionals will be able to determine that. After you troubleshoot your thermostat and can’t find the problems, Coffman and Company is your go-to HVAC repair company in the Metro Denver, Colorado area. Coffman and Company will ensure that your home has an energy efficient unit and that it is running properly no matter what time of year it is.

If you can’t solve your thermostat problems and need a quote, call us today at 303-366-1112 then schedule a repair man to come to your Denver Metro area home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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For electrical panels in older construction homes, keep in mind that they were mostly designed to handle fewer amps than the electrical panels you will find in newer construction. Some of these homes may not have had air conditioning, hot tubs or other big energy users that are more typical in the Denver area today.

Although homes and appliances are far more energy efficient today than they were in the past, you should not risk overloading your panel. This is a safety issue and it is a wise investment to spend the money now upgrading to a state-of-the-art system rather than run the risk of damaging your system or even causing a house fire. Most of us would not continue to use a refrigerator or washing machine that is 50 years old. How much more so for an essential piece of safety equipment in your home.

For more information or to have a local expert inspect your electrical panel for integrity and safety, contact Coffman and Company through our website or at 303-366-1112. We have proudly served the Denver Metro area since 1983 and have the knowledge and expertise to take care of all your plumbing, HVAC, and electrical needs.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Hiring Tips

• Identify your need before contacting qualified electricians. Do you require the repair of existing electrical wiring or are you building a new home? Knowing what you need from the electrician can help you choose the correct electrician, and answer any questions about the job that they might have.
• Check the state licenses of the electrical contractor and his or her employees.
• Check the qualification of the contractor and if he or she is qualified as a master electrician or journeyman electrician. Master electricians have passed a standardized test and have been working as a qualified electrician for two years or more. Journeyman electricians have state licenses, but they have not qualified for a master’s license yet. Journeyman electricians are not allowed to design electrical systems, but they can install and repair wiring or equipment.
• Ask for references and check the quality of work performed. Look for work that is neat and tidy. Untidy or shoddy work should immediately disqualify an electrician from your list.
• Ask for copies of the contractor’s warranty and insurance in writing. Check if the contractor guarantees that the work will meet the applicable code, and that the contractor will repair faulty work at the contractor’s cost.
• Ensure that you receive a written estimate from the contractor for the job.

When hiring a qualified electrician, make sure that the electrician can guarantee that the work that will be performed complies with the National Electrical Code (NEC), and the National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS).

For more expert advice about tips for hiring a qualified electrician and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us at The Coffman and Companies Group. We’ve been serving the greater Denver/Boulder/Foothills area since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about qualified electricians and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Plan around your lines: If you are planting new trees or shrubs, make sure that you know where you lines are located. By planting them outside the safe buffer zone the roots will not grow deep enough to become a problem.
• Upgrade to UPVC: The new UPVC pipes directly address problems with your sewer caused by tree roots by using a material that is virtually impossible for the roots to penetrate.
• Use root inhibitors: Chemicals like potassium hydroxide and copper sulfate stunt the growth of roots around the pipe, and they are not dangerous to your landscaping or your family. For even more protection, you may want to install a metal guard on either side of the pipe to deflect roots.
• Use drain cleaners: If you use root killers every six months, you can drastically reduce the number of roots that you have enter you pipe, and cut down on the number of service calls you have to make to a plumber.
• Inspect the lines annually: At a bare minimum you should have your sewer lines inspected via camera once a year. This will let you know when a small intrusion is about to become a serious pipe break.

Deep roots cause some of the most common problems with your sewer, but they are easy problems to handle if you take the right precautions. Contact Coffman and Companies at 303-366-1112 to set up a sewer line inspection with a company that has been servicing homes in the Denver area for nearly 30 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about sewers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Make sure you avoid humidity extremes. You are probably aware that too much humidity is not good. However, it is also possible for your home to be too dry. There are many benefits of maintaining the proper humidity in your home. Here are just a few:

• Prevent damage: Air that is too dry can cause as much damage to your home and belongings as damp air. Wood items like furniture, musical instruments and flooring are especially susceptible to damage from dry air. Maintaining the proper humidity preserves your home and your possessions from damage.
• Conserve energy: In the winter, the central heating system can really dry out the air in your house. This dry air is going to feel colder than air that is the same temperature but a higher humidity. By increasing the humidity, you can keep your thermostat set lower and conserve energy.
• Enhance Comfort: Too much humidity in your home will cause your home to feel muggy and uncomfortable. It will also contribute to the growth of mold. If your home is too dry, it will dry out skin, cause respiratory problems and promote the growth of certain microbes. Your home will be more comfortable at the right humidity.

As a homeowner, your best strategy is to maintain the humidity in your home between 30 and 60 percent. A whole-house humidifier can be added to your current center heating and cooling system to accomplish this.

If you are interested in exploring your options about humidifying your residence, contact Coffman and Companies. Call 303-366-1112 to speak with our experts in home HVAC systems. We’ve been serving the greater Denver area for more than 30 years and would be happy to speak with you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about home humidity and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Check for a clogged air filter – A clogged filter can reduce airflow and lead to icing in the HVAC unit.
• Low setting on thermostat – Make sure the thermostat is set to at least 70 degrees.
• Windows are closed – Don’t run A/C with open windows.
• Check for closed vents – Closed or blocked air vents will reduce airflow and possibly lead to other problems in the HVAC unit or ductwork.
• Check if the humidifier is shut off – Humidifiers are not necessary during the summer months.

Problems within the HVAC unit or ductwork requires a professional. A qualified technician will use specialized tools to ensure the cause of the problem is found and repaired. Here are some issues that require service by a professional.

• Faulty fan motor – The fan may be running slower than normal speed.
• Undercharged or overcharged refrigerant level – Refrigerant should be handled by a professional. There are regulations concerning disposal.
• Dirty or clogged coil – A qualified technician will diagnose if the coil is operating properly.
• Broken or loose fan belt –  The belt must be replaced with the correct size and type of belt.

Problems in the HVAC unit can be hard to diagnose and lead to expensive repairs later if not resolved properly. If you find ice on your A/C, turn off the unit immediately. Expensive repairs may be avoided by acting quickly.

Please contact Coffman and Company. We have been proudly serving the Denver Metro area since 1983. You can call us at 1 (303) 800-5558.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Circuit Overload

This is the easiest electrical issue to diagnose, because the electrical breaker will trip immediately after the source of the overload has been turned on. So whether it’s the 1,000-Watt hair dryer or a new power tool, unplug the last appliance plugged into a particular circuit. Examine the number of appliances and devices on the circuit, and decide what must stay off or be reconnected elsewhere.

Ground Fault

A ground fault means the hot wire and neutral wire have somehow connected without going through a resisting appliance, and the current load is different. The cause of the ground fault could be water, or a human being shocked.

Kitchen, pool and bath areas around your home should have ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets. You can find these by their “Test” and “Reset” buttons between the two receptacles. Periodically push the “Test” button to confirm the GFCI is working. If water or a faulty hair dryer causes the outlet breaker to trip, unplug the appliance, dry out the area around the outlet, and push the “Reset” button.

A ground fault tripping an electrical breaker elsewhere in your home needs a professional remedy.

Short Circuit

A short circuit means electricity is going from hot to neutral wires with no resistance, so somehow the electricity found a new path, or shortcut. This can be from worn insulation, something physically moving the wires, or a wire break.

A short circuit may cause an outlet to give off a burned smell. It usually requires a professional electrician to remedy, since the cause could be inside your Denver home’s wiring.

For more help diagnosing and solving frequent tripping of an electrical breaker in your Denver home, call us at 303-366-1112 or contact us at Coffman and Companies.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about electrical breaker trips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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In a gas heater, sediment will build up on the heat transfer plate at the base of the system. This will reduce the transfer plate to water contact and slow the heat transfer. Some of the heat will be retained in the sediment and the gas burner will need to fire longer to reach and maintain the desired water temperature in your tank. A typical gas water heat can lose more than to 10 percent of its efficiency in this manner. A water heater sediment clean out will help restore most of the efficiency of your tank, but a small portion of the sediment will remain so your gas water heater will never reach its maximum efficiency rating again.

Electric water heater sediment removal will add even more efficiency back to the system because of the placement of the electric heating elements. The elements are not placed at the bottom of the tank, so, unless the sediment has reached the level of the bottom heating element, the heating efficiency will be unaffected. Once the sediment reaches the element, the same problems with heating in a gas unit occur. Except, if the heating element is allowed to remain covered by sediment it will burn out. The top heating element will have to heat the entire water tank and you will lose efficiency.

For expert help removing water heater sediment in the Denver Metro area, contact the friendly experts at Coffman and Companies online or by phone at 303-366-1112. We’ve been the total home comfort solution for the area for almost 30 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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However, there are preventative steps you can take for preventing water damage from going that far. Here are some of the key steps:

• Ensure proper drainage. Water that can’t properly drain settles in unwanted locations, thus causing cracks that create liquid thruways into your household. Steps to ensure good drainage include:
  • Routine gutter cleanings.
  • Directing downspouts to drain water a minimum of 5 to 10 feet away from your house.
  • Establish a minimum yard slope of 6 inches over a 10-ft. span surrounding your home. Such sloping keeps water from seeping down into your foundation.
• Ensure a properly working sump pump. Regularly testing your sump pump is important, especially during the late spring and early summer months when conditions are prime for frequent afternoon showers. When the storm clouds roll in, you want to know that your sump pump can handle the resulting heavy rainfall. To test a sump pump:
  • Slowly fill the sump pump pit with water. The unit’s ‘float’ should start to rise and trigger the pump. Once initiated, the sump pump should cause the water level to fall.
  • Switch your main unit off and test the backup pump in the same manner.
• Inspect your house for water leaks and repair as needed. Preventing water damage begins at sealing leaks as soon as the occur. Unsealed water leaks can lead to mold and mildew growth, foundation rot, and the attraction of wood-consuming pests.

For more tips on preventing water damage, contact HVAC experts at Coffman and Companies at 303-366-1112. Your experienced and trained technicians have been serving the Greater Denver Metro since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water damage and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• If your power does go out, unplug all of your major appliances (including the refrigerator and freezer) and HVAC equipment to prevent them from sudden electrical surges and spikes that occur once power returns. Remind the household to not open the freezer or refrigerator doors to preserve the interior coldness as long as possible. You can wrap these units with blankets to provide extra insulation, but be careful not to touch the compressor.
• Turn off all houselights with the exception of one centrally located light. This will help protect the majority of your electrical wiring, while still allowing you to be alert of when power does return following summer power outages.
• Before outages occur, it’s smart to put together an emergency preparedness kit. This includes a two-week supply of fresh water for family members, two-week supply of non-perishable foods, flashlight, battery-powered radio, and first aid kit.
• If you suspect a long-term outage, you may be tempted to use a home generator for back-up power. Generators can be deadly when not used properly due to their carbon monoxide byproduct. Never use a generator or any other fuel-burning device inside a home, basement, or similar enclosed area. They should always be operated outside and well away from any doors, vents or windows that could permit carbon monoxide to penetrate into your home. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless and colorless gas that can kill humans and pets when consumed in high amounts.

For more information about preparing for Denver’s common summer power outages, contact your local HVAC experts at Coffman and Companies. Our experienced and trained technicians have been proudly serving the Greater Denver Metro Area since 1983. Call us at 303-366-1112.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Denver, Colorado area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about power outages and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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