Brown's Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

“Help! My Heat Pump Won’t Switch Modes”

Monday, November 8th, 2021
vent-low-on-wall

By the definition of most Colorado Springs residents, temperatures are still pretty “mild.” Still, though, you are probably at least itching to turn on your heater during our very chilly nights. So, what happens if you went to switch your heat pump from cooling mode to heating mode, only to discover that it won’t switch over?

First off, it’s worth mentioning that this problem is a lot less likely to happen with preventive maintenance. While a standard central air conditioner or furnace needs maintenance once a year, a heat pump does twice the work as these conventional systems and therefore needs twice the care.

Maintenance allows our professionals to thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust components that need it. We’ll also check for signs that your system needs repair, and alert you to those repair needs so you can get that on your schedule.

If you’ve already had maintenance done in the last few months, however, and you’re still experiencing this problem, then it’s very clear something is amiss. But what is it? Read on to find out!

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How Can You Tell If Your Furnace Needs Repairs?

Monday, October 25th, 2021
technician-working-on-furnace

If there’s anything we don’t want our customers to do this fall and winter, it’s sitting around wondering if their heating system is going to allow them to stay comfortable all season long without suddenly breaking down on them.

Of course, if you keep up on your maintenance sessions, this is a lot less likely to happen! Maintenance allows your furnace system to work as efficiently and effectively as possible for as long as possible. When we maintain your system, we thoroughly clean it, inspect it for signs of wear and tear, and adjust components that need it.

This all actually helps prevent repair needs. Still, it’s a good idea to be aware of the signs that you might actually need furnace repairs, in case a repair need does crop up in between tune-ups. Read on as we uncover some of the signs of a furnace in disrepair.

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Take This Important First Step in Preparing for Chilly Weather

Monday, October 11th, 2021

No, it’s not going to start snowing tomorrow, most likely. But fall is certainly upon us, which means temperatures will soon start cooling down.

This means that it’s just about time to turn our attention away from our homes’ air conditioners and turn it to our heating systems instead.

The first step in preparing for a potentially very chilly winter is making sure your furnace is actually ready for the huge decline in temperatures, through a maintenance tune-up.

This is a service that should be done annually. Now is typically the best time to have it done because it’s before you need the system the most, and so you’ll be less likely to experience a disruption in service. Read on to learn more!

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Don’t Ignore Your Furnace This Time of Year!

Monday, March 1st, 2021
woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listen

While winter has certainly brought some surprises this year, especially to our neighbors in the south, the season is almost officially over. And when it does end, we don’t need to think about our heaters again for six more months, right?!

Well, not quite. If you’ve lived in this area for even just a year, then you are very well aware of how variable our weather can be. Heatwaves come just as much as unseasonable cold snaps. As such, you need your furnace to always be in good shape. If it has repair needs now, you shouldn’t ignore them—that could leave you with a malfunctioning heater or a completely broken down one next time you need it.

Also, ignoring certain furnace problems—such as a problem with your ductwork or thermostat—can impact your air conditioner too, then what does that leave you with? Expensive energy bills and decreased comfort, that’s what.

Read on as we uncover some of the most common signs that you need repairs for your furnace sooner rather than later.

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What to Know about a Cracked Heat Exchanger

Monday, February 15th, 2021
furnace-jets

The first thing you should know about a cracked heat exchanger in a gas furnace is that you don’t want one!

Gas furnaces are not inherently dangerous devices—something we should clear up right away. However, if you don’t take proper care of your gas furnace, it can become dangerous. Just like any other powerful appliance or appliance that creates combustion gasses, a furnace can potentially create health hazards if it is not properly maintained on a consistent basis.

What we want to caution you about today is one of the most common causes for a gas furnace becoming unsafe. Cracked heat exchangers are more likely to occur in older furnace systems (10-15 years old), so we recommend looking into a replacement sooner than later if you have an aging system. Routine maintenance does help catch problems like this before they start! Be sure to call for maintenance if you skipped it in the fall.

In the meantime, read on to learn more about heat exchangers in gas furnaces.

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Boosting Furnace Efficiency: A How-To Guide

Monday, January 18th, 2021
woman-huddled-with-blanket-drinking-out-of-mug

With winter officially here, homeowners throughout Fountain and beyond are looking for ways to stay warm and cozy without paying an arm and a leg for that comfort.

Having a great heating system in place is key to making this a reality. You want a heating system that will work as efficiently as possible, right? Perhaps you think the only way to make that a reality is to upgrade to a new heater. While this is sometimes the case, particularly if your system is 10-15+ years old, there are usually steps you can take that aren’t quite as drastic to boost efficiency. Read on to learn what they are!

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Is Your Heater in Need of Help?

Monday, December 7th, 2020
woman-wrapped-in-robe-hugging-pillow-looking-cold

Nobody should have to worry that their heater will break down at any moment as we head into winter. However, if you don’t know the signs are that indicate your heater needs some help by way of repairs, then this might very well be a concern for you. It’s never fun to have to pay for repairs, but it’s even worse to have an unexpected heater breakdown and call for emergency repairs.

Our experts will be the first to tell you that it’s vital that you have your heating repairs taken care of as soon as you notice you have a problem. This will help you avoid worse problems and expensive repair bills. Plus, your system will last longer! Read on as we uncover some of the signs of a heater in need of help.

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Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning with the Defender CO Detector!

Monday, November 23rd, 2020
carbon-monoxide-monitor

One of our core values here at Brown’s Heating & Cooling is “Safety First”! This is why we can’t say enough good things about getting the right carbon monoxide (CO) detector in your home. If you have a gas furnace, gas oven, or any gas-powered appliance, there is a danger of gas leaks and therefore, CO exposure. Think you’re not at risk? You should probably know every year there are fatalities due to excess carbon monoxide exposure, and low-level exposure over a long period of time is just as dangerous as high-level exposure.

Fortunately, you need only to reach out to our team to learn about a new low-level CO detector called the Defender Low Level Carbon Monoxide Monitor. Even low levels of exposure can pose a significant risk to your health, and many don’t alert you until levels are quite high. This monitor makes all the difference. Read on to learn more about the dangers of CO exposure and how this monitor helps.

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What to Do If Your Heat Pump Is Stuck in Cooling Mode

Monday, October 26th, 2020
vent-low-on-wall

There’s no denying it—it gets cold around here in the wintertime! Perhaps you’ve gone to turn on your heat pump for the first time already this season only to discover its stuck in cooling mode and won’t switch to heat. This is of course very frustrating—you’re going to need a reliable heating system, very soon!

The first thing you should do if you notice this issues is check your thermostat if you haven’t already. Make sure it’s set to heat. This might seem obvious, but there’s always the chance that a family member switched it back over because they preferred a different temperature setting than you.

Assuming you checked this, however, and the heat pump is blowing out cool air even if you tried switching it to heating mode, it means the heat pump is stuck in cooling mode. The good news is, we have an explanation and a solution! Read on…

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5 Benefits of Furnace Maintenance

Monday, October 12th, 2020
technician-inspecting-inside-of-furnace

Do you know when the best time to schedule furnace maintenance is?

Well, it’s a year or less from the last time you had furnace maintenance done!

That’s right, what matters most in this case is how often you have maintenance done. For furnaces, maintenance is recommended once a year. Alternatively, if you have a year-round heat pump system then you’ll want a tune-up done twice a year.

Now, as for the best time to schedule this service–that would be now. Early fall is before you need your system the most, and it’s the time where technicians aren’t as busy out on emergency repair calls and such. Read on as we uncover 5 of the top benefits of routine furnace maintenance!

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