Seasonal HVAC Tune-Ups in Morrison

Propane homes need a furnace set up for propane, with the correct orifices and a regulator setting different from natural gas. During the tune-up we check the burner flame, test CO, inspect the appliance shutoff and flex connector, and check for leaks at the furnace connections. The tank, its regulator and the line to the house belong to your propane supplier, and they should check them too; if the regulator vent is buried in snow or blocked by insects, let them know.

Because propane is heavier than air, a leak settles low, in basements and crawlspaces. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your supplier from outside. A working CO alarm near each bedroom is just as important in a propane home as one on natural gas.

Many older foothills houses heat with a hot-water boiler and baseboard or radiant floors. The fall visit for a boiler covers the burner and flue, a CO test, the pressure relief valve, expansion tank charge, circulator pumps, zone valves, and the low-water cutoff if the boiler has one. We look for corrosion at fittings and for signs of a slow leak, such as a system that keeps needing water. Bleeding air from baseboard loops in early fall prevents the gurgling and cold rooms that show up on the first frosty night.

Downtown Morrison's late-1800s buildings and the homes along Bear Creek have their own issues. Some vent into old chimneys that were never lined for modern appliances, so we test draft and look at the connector. Homes near the creek can have damp basements, which rust furnace cabinets and burner compartments faster. If your mechanical room has seen water before, we look closely at the bottom of the furnace or boiler and at any condensate pump.

Canyon homes sit in wildfire country, and smoke can linger for days. EPA recommends MERV 13 filtration when the system can handle it, running the fan more often, and closing any outdoor-air intake. We check static pressure before suggesting a thicker filter. Many Morrison homes do not have central air; those that do get a spring visit that cleans the condenser, checks refrigerant readings, and inspects the unit for hail and wind damage. If your home uses a ductless mini-split, the indoor heads need their filters and coils cleaned too.

Fall comes early at canyon elevations, so book furnace or boiler service in August or early September. Cooling visits fit in May. Tune-ups need no permit; replacements inside town limits go through the Town of Morrison's building department, and those outside town go through Jefferson County Building Safety. Our Colorado tune-up checklist covers the full process.