HVAC Repair in Fort Collins, CO
If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Larimer County will get in touch.
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Ten months of heat a year in Fort Collins
Furnaces here run from September through June. That is ten months of the year the burner is lighting, cycling, and lighting again. On winter nights that average 15°F, it runs long and often to keep the house warm, and every one of those cycles puts wear on the igniter and the flame sensor. When one of those parts fails, it tends to happen on a cold night, not a mild one.
Most homes here heat with gas, so the furnace carries almost all of the load, while summer asks little of the system with afternoons only averaging 76°F. This area has logged 97 winter storms and 102 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like that knock out power. A gas furnace still needs electricity to run its blower and controls, so when the power goes out in the coldest months, the house goes cold even though the gas is still on.
- 10 months
- September through June, your system heats
- 15°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 76°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
A new furnace and air conditioner would cut about $130 a year off heating and cooling for a typical Larimer County home.
Estimates for a typical Larimer County home, compared with an older unit built to the previous federal minimum, from EIA household energy data, Colorado fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when one part has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the furnace's heat exchanger is cracked, the air conditioner's compressor has failed, or repairs keep coming.
- Why is my heat not working?
- Most often it is the igniter, the flame sensor, or the thermostat losing power or a setting. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and the temperature is above room temperature. Check the breaker and the furnace switch, which looks like a light switch near the unit. If the furnace is trying to start and shutting off again, that points to the igniter or flame sensor, and a contractor will need to look at it.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- If the fan runs but the air is not cold, the most common cause is a dirty filter blocking airflow across the coil, or the coil itself is frozen up. A clogged filter starves the coil of air, and the coil can ice over as a result. Check the filter first and replace it if it is gray or thick with dust. If the filter is clean and the air is still warm, the system may be low on refrigerant, and that needs a contractor with gauges to confirm.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Check the thermostat settings, the breaker, and the filter before anything else. Make sure the thermostat is set to heat or cool as needed and the batteries are not dead. Look at the breaker panel for anything tripped, and pull the filter to see if it is blocking airflow. If the unit still is not running or cooling right after that, a contractor will need to diagnose it further.