Seasonal HVAC Tune-Ups in Edgewater

Edgewater requires a permit when a home converts from electric heat to gas, and some older houses have done exactly that. If your furnace or gas line was added after the house was built, we check the gas piping connection at the appliance, the sediment trap, and the shutoff valve. In older ranches with the original chimney, we test draft at the furnace and water heater. At about 5,370 feet, gas input should be roughly 21 percent below the sea-level rating, and we verify the manifold pressure and orifices.

Large new homes in Edgewater frequently have two-stage or variable-speed equipment, zoned ductwork, and an AC coil in an attic. In the first year we check the condensate lines and traps, which builders sometimes leave unprimed or poorly sloped, confirm zoning dampers work, and verify the thermostat is set up for the equipment it controls. This is also when we read the serial numbers and confirm registration. Trane and Lennox give owners 60 days from installation, or from closing on a new home for Lennox, to register for their longer warranties.

Outdoor units near the lake and on narrow side yards pick up cottonwood fluff and leaves. A spring tune-up cleans the outdoor coil, checks refrigerant pressures against the manufacturer's chart, tests capacitors and contactors, tightens electrical connections, and checks the unit is level on its pad. We also look for hail damage, since the Front Range sees more hail than almost anywhere else in the country. Inside, we clean or inspect the evaporator coil and clear the condensate drain.

Edgewater's location between busy roads and an active construction market keeps filters loaded. When wildfire smoke drifts into the metro, EPA recommends a MERV 13 filter, running the fan, and closing outdoor-air intakes. Older ranch duct systems may not tolerate a thick high-MERV filter, so we measure pressure drop before recommending one. A media cabinet is an option if the existing rack is too thin.

Colorado law requires CO alarms within 15 feet of every sleeping room entrance when a home with gas appliances is sold, or when a permitted furnace or water heater replacement is done. Remodeled homes sometimes have bedrooms that were added later without an alarm nearby. Book furnace tune-ups in September and AC tune-ups in April or May. See our HVAC tune-up checklist for Colorado homes for the complete list.