Seasonal HVAC Tune-Ups in Centennial

At about 5,720 feet, furnaces should run at roughly 23 percent below their sea-level rating. We check gas pressure against the manufacturer's high-altitude instructions, inspect the burners and heat exchanger area, clean the flame sensor, test the igniter, and test for carbon monoxide at the flue and in the house. If your furnace is from the 1990s, we look especially closely for signs of heat exchanger stress, such as rust streaks, flame rollout, or a flame that changes when the blower starts.

Hail season brings bent fins and dented fan guards. We comb fins where practical, wash the coil, and test the capacitor, contactor, and fan motor. In two-story homes, a refrigerant charge that is slightly off or a dirty indoor coil shows up first as a hot upstairs. We measure superheat or subcooling rather than topping off by guesswork.

Systems installed before 2010 may use R-22. If yours does, we will tell you, so you can make a plan before a leak forces the issue.

After each tune-up you get written findings: the readings we took, what we cleaned or adjusted, and anything that needs attention, with the cost in writing before any repair. For Centennial homes with a 1990s system, we also note the equipment's age and refrigerant type so you have the facts in hand when deciding between continued repairs and a replacement. If you are thinking ahead, our guide to heat pumps versus furnaces in Colorado covers the trade-offs.

Homes with a heat pump or with both a furnace and a heat pump should be serviced in spring and fall, since the outdoor unit works in both seasons.

Centennial addresses get gas and electricity from either Xcel Energy or CORE Electric Cooperative, depending on location. That matters if you are weighing efficiency upgrades and rebates later. Your bill or the city's property search will confirm it.

Denver-area records put the average first freeze around October 7 and the first 90-degree day around June 10, so September and April are the easiest months to get on the schedule. Keep each tune-up invoice: it helps with warranty claims and tells the next owner the system was maintained. See the annual tune-up checklist for every step.