Whether you’re using a furnace or a heat pump in your Northern Colorado home, it’s designed to keep your home a consistent temperature throughout. However, when you leave your heating system running in the dead of winter, you throw energy efficiency out the window—or do you?

One of the most common suggestions for saving energy during winter is to shut off bedroom and closet doors in the home—but how effective is this for saving energy?

Why Some Think Closed Doors Reduce Heating Costs

The idea of closing doors in the home to reduce heating costs is not just an old wive’s tale. There is a bit of logic behind the idea. Let’s say if you were to close doors all around the home—what would that do? Well, it would limit the amount of air movement required, for sure. Suddenly, the space that needs to be heated would be smaller—and thus, energy costs should be lower…right? Not exactly.

Why Closed Doors Don’t Improve Energy Efficiency

Closed doors don’t necessarily improve energy efficiency or reduce heating costs around the home. While the argument for this idea is sound—and it seems logical—that’s just not how it works.

In reality, closing off doors around the home obstructs airflow (which actually makes your system work harder!). When doors are closed, rooms become pressurized and the air pressure pushes heated air through any small opening it can find. Closed off rooms will eventually start to leak air—and that leaked air will be replaced by the system working even harder.

What’s that leave you with? Significantly higher energy bills, unfortunately.

How to Improve Energy Efficiency

So, what’s the best remedy? And, how does one actually improve energy in the home? Here are a few ways to do just that.

• Don’t shut off doors on purpose.
• Add new home insulation.
• Upgrade to an energy-efficient furnace
• Operate your thermostat properly.
• Schedule regular maintenance for your heating system.

Good Guys Home Services: Your Fort Collins Furnace Experts

Want to keep your home’s heating system efficient? Then, it’s a good idea to have a service technician regularly maintain your furnace. When you choose Good Guys Home Services near Fort Collins, CO, you won’t have to fret about your furnace’s performance. Our HVAC professionals perform regular furnace maintenance like tune-ups, inspections, cleanings, repairs, and more at the start of every season.

Fort Collins and other Northern Colorado residents will not find a better HVAC provider than Good Guys Home Services. We are here to help with all of your heating needs throughout the coldest months and beyond. Contact us today to schedule a maintenance appointment or learn more about our HVAC services here. Want to chat with a technician? Give us a call at (970) 818-8008—we can’t wait to speak with you!

We offer year-round HVAC services for heating, cooling, and more throughout Northern Colorado. Located in Fort Collins, we also serve the following areas: Loveland, Ault, Greeley, Denver, Windsor, Boulder, and Longmont, Colorado.

Are you a first-time homeowner? Not sure how to replace your air filter—or even what air filter to buy? No worries—we’ve got you covered with our guide on how to replace an air filter in a gas furnace.

How To Replace An Air Filter In A Gas Furnace in 3 Steps

First thing’s first, you need to replace your system’s air filter every 2 to 3 months to keep your furnace running at peak efficiency. Replacing the air filter on a regular schedule also helps keep your indoor air quality pristine (which is ideal if anyone in your home has allergies or asthma!).

Fortunately, replacing a furnace air filter is a simple task. Here’s how to replace an air filter in a gas furnace in three simple steps.

Step One: Determine Your Filter

To determine which filter you have, start by turning off the furnace. Remove the existing furnace filter and examine it thoroughly. Check to see which way the air flow goes, and make note of it—this is how you know which way to install the new furnace filter once it’s purchased!

Then, note the furnace filter size (it should be printed on the cardboard frame around the old furnace filter).

Step Two: Purchase the Correct Replacement

Most local or big box home improvement stores will have furnace filter replacements available for purchase. Remember which furnace filter size you need and pick up at any location. Disposable filters (which is what you’ll need!) are typically 1 to 2 inches thick. Filters that are even thicker can help improve air quality, but may only work with highly-efficient (and new!) furnace units.

Step Three: Install the Filter.

Installing the filter should be as easy as pie. Remember which way the old filter went in and replicate the process. Keep a record of the date installed so you’ll know when it’s time to change the filter again.

Need Help? Call Good Guys Home Services For Furnace Service Near Fort Collins, CO

Want to stay warm throughout the Northern Colorado winter? You’ll need a furnace that’s operating in optimal condition. Have your furnace inspected, repaired, and maintained by the best team in the business—yes, that’s Good Guys Home Services. With over 15 years of experience, we’re always ready to take on any furnace challenge you may be facing.

Schedule your gas or electric furnace service with us today—give us a call at (970) 818-8008 or contact us online now.

We offer year-round HVAC services for heating, cooling, and more throughout Northern Colorado. Located in Fort Collins, we also serve the following areas: Loveland, Ault, Greeley, Denver, Windsor, Boulder, and Longmont, Colorado.

Waking up on a cold winter morning in Northern Colorado to a broken furnace is no good. The problem? Your furnace is blowing cold air…but why?
We’ve got the answer. Don’t panic—read on to learn why the furnace in your Northern Colorado home is blowing cold air.

5 Reasons Why Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

Here are 5 of the most common reasons furnaces blow cold air and how to fix it fast.

Furnace Hasn’t Warmed Up

Is this the first time you’ve turned on your furnace this season? Sometimes it takes a bit for your furnace to heat up on the first round each season. If it’s only been a few minutes, don’t panic. It’s normal for cool air to be expelled from the vents at first. If it doesn’t warm up after several minutes, it might be another issue.

Thermostat Is Wrong

If your furnace isn’t blowing warm air after a few minutes, check your thermostat first. Is your unit’s fan set to “on”? If so, the thermostat is likely your culprit because it’s blowing air even when the furnace isn’t heating. Set the thermostat to “auto” and you should be fine.

Flame Sensor Is Dirty

Did neither of the previous solutions fix the problem? Does your furnace have a pilotless ignition? Check the flame sensor. The flame sensor is what keeps a pilotless ignition furnace warm once it starts burning—if it’s dirty, it won’t do its job properly and you’ll be left with cold air.

Pilot Light Is Out

Is your gas furnace older? Does it have a pilot light ignition? Chances are, if it’s blowing cold air, your pilot light has gone out. To fix it, it’s advised that you read the section in the manufacturer’s manual on “how to relight the pilot light” or call your local HVAC technician as soon as possible.

Air Filter Is Dirty

Another culprit of a furnace blowing cold air? A dirty air filter. Dirty air filters limit airflow into your furnace and can cause it to overheat. An overheated furnace will likely blow cold air—so the best solution here is to replace your air filter ASAP with a new, clean filter.

Need an HVAC Technician Near Fort Collins, CO?

When your furnace is blowing cold air—or you are experiencing HVAC issues—you want to call the best technician in town. Good Guys Home Services is always on call and ready to assist you with any furnace issue. We serve homes in and around Fort Collins, Colorado. Contact us today—online or by phone at 970-818-8008—to learn more or schedule an appointment.

We offer year-round HVAC services for heating, cooling, and more throughout Northern Colorado. Located in Fort Collins, we also serve the following areas: Loveland, Ault, Greeley, Denver, Windsor, Boulder, and Longmont, Colorado.

At the start of every winter, most Northern Colorado homeowners expect to click on the heat with no issue—but you can’t forget to check the furnace filter. Modern furnaces have become quite advanced, but they still need a little tender love and care at the start of the season—especially if you haven’t changed the filter.

Filters are crucial to the functionality and efficiency of your furnace, so it must be changed regularly in order to keep everything operating optimally. But, how often should you change your furnace filter? And, why’s it so important? Here are your answers.

How Often Should I Change My Furnace Filter?

It’s recommended by professionals, like us, to change your furnace filter every 90 days. But how often you change your furnace filter really depends on your lifestyle and special needs. Ask yourself these questions to decide when you need to change the furnace filter in your Northern Colorado home.

Does someone in your home have asthma and/or allergies?

For family members with asthma or allergies, indoor air quality is so important to maintain. If you or a loved one suffers from asthma or severe allergies, change your filter every 6 weeks to ensure indoor air quality is at its best.

Do you have pets?

Pet hair and dander floats into your air vents and can stick around for quite some time. To ensure optimal furnace performance, change your filter every 2 months.

Do you have young children?

It’s important that kids also breathe fresh air, even in the home. Focusing on your indoor air quality can help reduce sickness and lessen breathing related ailments later on in life. With kids around, it’s recommended to keep your home clean and the air quality under control by replacing your filter every 2-3 months.

Why It’s Important to Change the Furnace Filter in Your Northern CO Home

Replacing your furnace filter can do a lot of things for your Northern Colorado home—including improve indoor air quality and increase your furnace efficiency by up to 15%. Dirty furnace filters prevent air from passing through the system and into your living space—so you end up with bad air quality in your home. A clean filter, however, allows the furnace to work as designed.

It is also important to remember that a dirty furnace filter increases the chances of a furnace issue—and, in turn, a costly repair. To avoid this, change your furnace filter on the recommended schedule that fits your lifestyle.

Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance with Good Guys Home Services Near Fort Collins, CO

In addition to changing your furnace filter regularly, it’s a good idea to have a service technician regularly maintain your furnace system. When you choose Good Guys Home Services near Fort Collins, CO, you won’t have to fret about your furnace’s performance. Our HVAC professionals perform regular furnace maintenance like tune-ups, inspections, cleanings, repairs and more at the start of every season.

Fort Collins and other Northern Colorado residents will not find a better HVAC provider than Good Guys Home Services. We are here to help with all of your heating needs throughout the coldest months and beyond. Contact us today to schedule a maintenance appointment or learn more about our HVAC services here. Want to chat with a technician? Give us a call at (970) 818-8008—we can’t wait to speak with you!

We offer year-round HVAC services for heating, cooling, and more throughout Northern Colorado. Located in Fort Collins, we also serve the following areas: Loveland, Ault, Greeley, Denver, Windsor, Boulder, and Longmont, Colorado.