If you’re just beginning to evaluate solar heating and cooling, you’ll need to know a few basic facts.

Why solar heating and cooling?

With natural gas and electricity still relatively expensive, solar heating and cooling shines for a variety of reasons. They include the fact that solar power is:

• Free – You only have to pay to install a system to harness its power
• Clean – Solar power has a negligible impact on the environment
• Renewable – There is no end in sight to the sun’s ability to release energy

In addition to these benefits, homeowners who install solar heating and cooling systems can take advantage of tax credits that make the equipment much more affordable to purchase.

How solar works

A basic solar heating and cooling system is composed of several components working together to power up your home with electricity.

• First, photovoltaic (PV) panels are generally installed on a homeowner’s roof, tilted and angled in a precise way to maximize solar energy potential.
• Once in place, the PV panels will take the solar energy and convert it to electricity.
• You can choose to have enough panels installed to power just your home’s heating and cooling equipment, or to supply electricity to your entire home, including lighting, the water heater and so forth.

One of the primary benefits of using solar power is that you may be able to tie your system into your local utility company’s power grid. Once connected, you can source power from the utility company on days when your solar system doesn’t generate enough power for your home. However, when your equipment produces an extra supply, that power is sent to the utility company, and you’ll receive a credit on your utility bill.

With solar heating and cooling in place, you’ll be set to exploit the benefits of this free, renewable energy source. For expert advice in the Greater Denver Metro area, contact Coffman and Companies today (303-366-1112).

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

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

Solar image via Shutterstock

Unfortunately, the reverse is true: Federal regulations have already sharply reduced the amount of R22 Freon that can be produced in the U.S., and the reductions will continue every year until 2020. The result? Soaring Freon prices.

The problem

R22 Freon, chemically known as hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), is known to emit greenhouse gases that are thought to affect climate change. As part of the international environmental agreement, the Montreal Protocol, the U.S. and other major nations agreed to eventually zero out the production of R22 refrigerant.

We are now starting to see the impacts of the changes that limit R22 production. And this is where it will begin to hit your wallet, because in order to reduce the amount of R22, the government created a schedule for its phase-out, with another significant decrease in production occurring this year.

As a result, most regions in the U.S. are now seeing a supply and demand issue. The supply of R22 has decreased, but the demand for it has not. In fact, the majority of most homeowners — not to mention commercial — still use R22 in their A/Cs.

What to do

There’s good news and bad news for homeowners. You can still obtain R22 to top off your cooling system, but at a much higher cost. Most experts are recommending that you:

• Beat the rush for service – As the cooling season gears up throughout the country, schedule a maintenance appointment now to ensure that you can get your system charged with R22.
• Upgrade – This will require an upfront investment, but newer systems are manufactured to work with environmentally friendly refrigerant, and they are more efficient, getting you better energy savings each month.

Changes in R22 Freon laws mean all homeowners will eventually have to convert to environmentally friendly air-conditioning systems. To talk to an expert about your options, contact Coffman and Companies today. Call us at 303-366-1112, or visit our website. We serve the Greater Denver Metro area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about R22 Freon and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

The electrical voltage that flows into your home can fluctuate for a variety of reasons. When it increases, there’s particular cause for concern, because the stronger current can damage sensitive electrical components. This can either occur as a result of sudden changes in the current or gradual surges over time.

Surge protection is necessary because most homes are subject to several types of power surges, including:

• Lightning – While it’s one of the more common causes of very strong increases in current, lightning is not the most frequent cause of power surges.
• Equipment that utilizes a large amount of power – Equipment that draws a large amount of power from a home’s main electricity source, such as your refrigerator, is a frequent cause of surges. When the equipment cycles on and off, it consumes a lot of electricity. In the process, its demand for power creates a fluctuation in the electricity supply to other home equipment. And in this scenario, over time, these power surges can damage electrical components in your heating and cooling equipment.
• Miscellaneous – Other causes of power surges include factors such as faulty wiring and trouble with utility lines, due to downed wires or maintenance work.

In order to prevent damage to your costly HVAC equipment, you can choose:

• Whole-house protection – This option will generally cost more to purchase and install, but it will provide protection for all of your home equipment, because it’s installed at the home’s incoming electricity supply line.
• Point-of-use protection – You can also select surge protection for just your heating and cooling equipment, installed at the point where your equipment draws electricity. This is the strategy most commonly used to protect computers.

Get the ultimate in protection for your home heating and cooling equipment, and choose surge protection. For help selecting or installing a system, please contact Coffman and Companies today at 303-366-1112. Serving the Greater Denver Metro area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about surge protection and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

Preventative Maintenance image via Shutterstock

A standard programmable thermostat allows you to schedule temperatures in your home based on a pre-set schedule. This way you can save energy, and money, when you’re not at home or when you’re sleeping. At the same time, you can program settings so that the thermostat will call the heating and cooling systems back into action, so that your home reaches a comfortable level before you arrive home or awaken.

Manufacturers recently have taken programmable thermostats a big step further with “smart” technology, much like the technology that has revolutionized cell phones. With this new technology, you can purchase a smart programmable thermostat that offers several unique features allowing you to better manage and adjust home temperatures.

Here are some of the benefits of this new technology:

• Smart thermostats give you control over your home’s temperature through remote access, either via a mobile phone, laptop or computer.
• Some models will allow complete control over scheduling, offering 365-day programming capabilities. These devices go far beyond the abilities of even top-of-the-line standard devices, which offer, at most 7-day programming.
• A model with a lock-out feature will allow you to remotely disable the thermostat itself, limiting any home occupants from adjusting the home’s temperature. This is helpful if you have kids in your household.

Homeowners desiring even more convenient features can choose a device that monitors more than just temperatures. Some models will also monitor your heating and cooling equipment, providing an early detection warning if something malfunctions, freezes up or overheats. Some will tell you when it’s time to change the HVAC filter. Further, if the power fails, you’ll receive an alert.

These advanced thermostats offer the ultimate in temperature control. For more information, and to find out how you can boost energy savings with a smart thermostat, contact Coffman and Companies today at 303-366-1112. We serve the Greater Denver Metro area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers 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.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

Efficiency ratings

When you’re comparing systems, look for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings, which will show you how much energy the equipment consumes to heat your home. While the federal government requires that new systems manufactured today begin at 78 percent AFUE, you’ll gain valuable energy savings by investing in a high-efficiency system, starting at 90 percent AFUE. The percentage shows how much of the fuel that powers the furnace gets converted into heat.

Sizing

Once you select the efficiency rating, you’ll want to have the equipment sized so that it meets your home’s heating load. An expert heating technician should conduct the calculation, which takes into account the home’s size in cubic feet, its heat gain from the sun, insulation levels and overall airtightness, along with several other factors.

Choosing a contractor

Experts estimate that more than half of all HVAC systems installed today perform poorly due to improper installation, so it’s important to use due diligence when choosing your contractor.

You’ll want to interview your  contractor, and ask about:

• Qualifications – At Coffman and Companies, we have North American Technician Excellence (NATE)-certified technicians, the most highly prized certification in the HVAC industry.

• Guarantees – We offer some of the best guarantees around.  We have been in business since 1971 and willl be here when you need us.

When replacing your furnace, make sure that you choose an efficient system, have the equipment properly sized, and use a reputable contractor. The experts at Coffman and Companies are happy to help. Just give us a call today at 303-366-1112 or check our website for more information. We serve the Greater Denver Metro Area.

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

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

Maintenance Checklist image via Shutterstock

When the air inside your home is dry, you could end up dealing with a variety of problems, including:

• Dry nasal passages
• Cracked skin
• Sore throat
• Aggravated allergies or asthma
• Damage to wood products around your home

Installing a whole-house humidifier will provide lasting solutions to these problems, particularly when indoor activities such as showering or cooking aren’t producing enough moisture to effectively affect humidity levels.

Generally installed in-duct, a whole-house humidifier works by emitting even levels of water vapor into the airstream as it circulates through your home. Once your HVAC equipment conditions the air, the humidifier adds moisture, sending comfortably humidified air through the ductwork, and then into every room in your home.

Whole-house systems provide several key advantages over portable units:

• They require little maintenance. An annual preventive maintenance tune-up will ensure that the system is free of buildup. During the maintenance visit, your technician will also perform a comprehensive inspection of the system, and will suggest replacing parts that are worn.
• They monitor humidity levels, with sensors that can read the indoor air, and then adjust the system’s output accordingly.
• They connect directly to your home’s main water supply, so you never have to fill the tank, and you don’t have to worry about monitoring water levels.
• They send moisture into every room in your home, as long as there’s ductwork extended into those spaces.

Take care of low relative humidity inside your home, and use a whole-house humidifier to make your home a safe refuge from dry air. For help in the Greater Denver Metro area, contact the indoor air-quality experts at Coffman and Companies. Just give us a call at 303-366-1112 or check our website for more information.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about whole-house humidifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

Benefits of seasonal tune-ups

When you have your equipment serviced each year, you’ll lock in several benefits, including:

• Optimal efficiency. A clean system will operate at peak capacity
• Reduced utility bills. A system that can operate efficiently uses less energy, which will help you save more money each month
• Reliability. When you ensure that your system is serviced on a regular basis, it will be less likely to break down. So you get peace of mind, knowing that you can depend on your air conditioner to run continuously throughout the cooling season
• Fewer repairs. When your system is clean, its parts are less prone to wear and tear, helping you to avoid sometimes costly repairs
• Longer life span. A finely tuned A/C will last longer when it’s less susceptible to wear and tear
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions, helping you contribute to a greener planet

Service Club Membership Program

Because your systems require regular preventive maintenance, why not take advantage of an HVAC Club Membership, which gives you additional benefits for a service that you need anyway?

Coffman and Companies’ service club membership program includes perks like:

• Priority service – When you need service or repairs, we move you to the head of the line
• Discounts – The plan includes lower rates for repairs and parts
• Savings – You’ll get access to special savings available only to our club members
• Tune-ups – The plan includes one FREE precision cleaning and tune up per year for your heating and cooling equipment

Give your heating and cooling equipment the attention it needs with an HVAC service plan. Call Coffman and Companies today at 303-366-1112, and ask about our service club membership program, or to schedule a preventive maintenance appointment. We are a full-service heating, cooling, ventilation and indoor air-quality company, serving the Greater Denver Metro area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC service plans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

Customer Service image via Shutterstock

Ultraviolet light

UV light, like the light the sun releases, can be artificially created, such as the lights used in tanning beds. UV lights have long been used in medical facilities and by food manufacturers to produce ultra-clean environments, and now technological advancements have made it possible to use UV lights for residential air-cleaning.

How UV lights work

When certain organic matter passes through UV light, the rays are able to penetrate through to the core of the organic matter’s cell. At this point, the UV rays irrevocably change the cell’s DNA, which ultimately means the cell cannot reproduce, and the pollutant is no longer a threat to your health or indoor air quality. This is a distinctly different process than standard filters, which simply trap particles. A comprehensive air cleaning strategy will employ both air filters and UV lights, to maximize removal of both non-organic and organic particles from your home’s air.

Whole-house systems

With UV lights powering a residential air purifier, such a system will radiate small doses of UV light, targeting pollutants in the home’s airstream. These types of systems are generally installed “in-duct,” which means the UV lights are installed upstream of the HVAC equipment.

Here’s how they work:

• The air in your home circulates through the system, pulled in by the return ducts
• The air is either heated or cooled, and passes through the UV lights
• Only the portion of air that’s moving through the UV lights is exposed to its rays (so home occupants are completely safe, never exposed to the rays)
• The air that is then delivered into the home has been purified
• The air circulation cycle runs continuously throughout the day, so the air in your home becomes cleaner with every pass through the system.

Use in-duct UV lights for better indoor air quality. For help in the Greater Denver Metro area, contact the indoor air-quality experts at Coffman and Companies. Give us a call at 303-366-1112, or visit our website for more information.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about UV lights and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

But A/C maintenance offers other benefits, too:

• With improved efficiency, you’ll see lower energy bills for cooling
• You will maximize your investment in the air conditioner when it runs at peak capacity
• A well-cared for system will last longer, thereby extending its life span
• Regularly maintained equipment is reliable, and you’ll know that your system will be able to provide top-notch cooling, no matter how hot the weather gets.
• Regular tune-ups also ensure that your equipment operates safely

Knowing the peace of mind that A/C maintenance offers, the next step is to call your local HVAC experts at Coffman and Companies and schedule an appointment. During the tune-up, our cooling technician will conduct a thorough inspection of your air conditioner, including:

• Assessing the system’s refrigerant levels, and inspecting it for leaks
• Cleaning the outside coil and checking the inside coil, compressor and fans
• Inspecting the unit’s electric controls, cleaning the connections and contacts
• Cleaning the motor and fan blades, and lubricating where necessary.
• Checking the system’s sensors, ensuring that when the thermostat calls for cooling, the A/C cycles on, and at the right temperature.
• Inspecting the condensate drain, clearing out clogs and ensuring proper drainage
• Assessing the home’s ductwork for leaks and airflow
• Testing the motor and the air handler so that the right amount of air will circulate through the system
• Clean or replace the regular 1″ filter for less restriction
• Testing the expansion valve’s operations
• Checking the condition of the coil fins, ensuring that they’re straight and allow for adequate airflow

Don’t forget to schedule A/C maintenance before it really heats up. In the Greater Denver Metro area, contact Coffman and Companies. Visit our website or give us a call at 303-366-1112, and we’ll walk you through the steps of our comprehensive seasonal tune-up.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioner maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

AC repair man image via Shutterstock 

An air conditioner’s evaporator coils, housed in the indoor unit, and the condenser coils, housed in the outdoor unit, are both prone to dust buildup. That’s because dust that circulates throughout your home, and in the outside air, can get inside the coils.

If dust buildup occurs on either set of coils, inside or outside, problems will ensue, including:

• The coil will ice up
• The unit may overheat
• The system’s efficiency will decrease
• Indoor air quality suffers, as bacteria, dust, pollen and other contaminants build up on the coils

In essence, a coil that has dust buildup will not be able to transfer heat properly. As a result, the system will have to consume more energy to produce cooled air. In fact, a dirty coil can contribute to more than a 30 percent increase in energy consumption, as well as reducing air conditioning capacity by up to 30 percent. Worse yet, dust buildup will lead to increased wear and tear on the A/C, and possibly an early system failure.

Maintenance
As you can see, it’s important to keep the coils clean. And that’s why annual spring A/C maintenance is a priority. As part of preventive maintenance, your cooling technician will clean the outside unit coil,check the inside coil as well as lubricate the motor, clean the condensate drain, and other maintenance tasks.

Don’t let dust buildup affect your comfort. Contact Coffman and Companies today to schedule a preventive maintenance appointment, and ensure that your air conditioner runs smoothly and efficiently all summer long. We serve homeowners in the Greater Denver Metro area. Visit our website or call us at 303-366-1112.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioner maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Coffman & Companies services the greater Denver area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!