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Air Conditioning Duct Leaks

Air conditioning duct leaks can cost you money by both increasing your energy bill and by forcing you to run your system longer to keep rooms at your desired temperature. But don’t worry! The experts here at Brothers Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric are always here to help you solve your leaky air duct problems.

The Signs of Air Conditoining Duct Leaks

The hardest part of resolving a leaky ductwork problem is simply knowing when you have one. There are several signs that point towards leaking air ducts that include:

  • Sign 1 – Increased utility bills
  • Sign 2 – Hot or cold spots (hard to cool rooms)
  • Sign 3 – Visibly Damaged Ductwork

Sign 1 – Increased Utility Bills

The first sign of an air conditioning duct leak is definitely not the most obvious thing in the world. If you have noticed your utility bills increasing each month and you’re certain that you haven’t increased your use of energy-hungry appliances, then an air conditioning duct leak may be the culprit. When ducts leak, your HVAC system has to work harder to deliver the cold (or hot) air to the desired location. This increase in workload increases the amount of energy that your HVAC system consumes, which in turn increases your utility bills. If you have noticed spiking energy bills at your home or business, then give the HVAC professionals here at Brothers a call right away.

Sign 2 – Hot or Cold Spots

The second sign of leaking ductwork is hot/cold spots in your home or business. When you notice that certain rooms/locations in your building are significantly harder to keep cool, then leaky ductwork may be the problem. The ductwork delivers climate controlled air to the various supply vents in your building. If a section of that duct is leaking, then the supply air is not reaching its final destination and you will notice hot and cold spots when running your system. In addition to being a sign of leaking ductwork, hot and cold spots can also signify a poorly done air balance. Either way, if you have hot or cold spots in your building, then get in touch with the Brothers team of air conditioning experts as soon as you can.

Sign 3 – Visibly Damaged Ductwork

The third and most obvious sign of leaking ductwork is visibly damaged or collapsed ducting. If you have peaked your head into your attic or crawlspace lately and noticed collapsed or otherwise visibly damaged ductwork, then leaks are basically guaranteed. If you see damaged ductwork, then please contact the team of experts here at Brothers for service.

Cost Effective Ways To Cool Your Home This Summer

Cost effective ways to cool your home this summer banner image featuring a fan and happy kid
Summer is here! With the season comes much warmer days and a likely increase in how much you use your home air conditioning system. However, using your AC isn’t always the most cost-effective way to cool your home. Also, you may not have an AC in the first place (this is Colorado, after all). So, to help, the cooling experts here at Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric compiled a quick list of a few of the more cost-effective ways to cool your home.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some easy, affordable, and effective ways you can cool your home this summer!

Learn When To Open Your Windows And When To Leave Them Closed

One of the first things most people do when it gets a little too warm inside is go to the window and throw it as wide and open as it’ll go. Unfortunately, that’s not always the best course of action. While sometimes opening your window gives you a nice cool breeze, other times, all you’re doing is inviting hot air into your home or business. But that begs the question: when should you open your windows, and when should you just leave them closed?

Well, the easiest way to tell if you should open your windows or leave them closed is to see if it’s hotter outside than it is inside your home. If it’s warmer out, then leave your windows closed. If it’s colder outside, then go ahead and open them to your heart’s content.

Furthermore, if the sun is out, then keep those blinds and curtains closed! Doing so will definitely help keep the heat out, even if it does make things a little more dreary throughout your home.

Circulate The Air To Help Keep Things Cool

If it’s too hot to open a window or two, then one of the things you can do to help keep cool your home this summer is to just turn on some fans. Simply circulating air with fans is a great way to help keep your home cool, and to help prevent any single room from getting too stuffy. When trying to set up the optimum air circulation system for your home, keep cross-breezes in mind. The goal is to move air from one side of your home to the other with as few obstacles in the way as possible.

Additionally, moving air almost always cools you off, even if it’s the same temperature as your home. It can help wick heat away from your skin. And, to get a little boost to your self-cooling power, lightly wet your hair or spray a little water on your exposed skin. By adding water to the fan equation, you’re effectively turning yourself into your own, self-contained evaporative air cooler! Sounds cool, right (pun definitely intended)?!

Try Freezing Your Sheets, Clothing, And Anything Else You Can Fit In Your Freezer (Even Your Underwear)!

If you’ve got room in your freezer, then another great way to keep your home (and yourself) cool this summer is to toss your sheets (and any other linens or clothing you like) in there! There’s almost nothing better than getting into a nearly frozen pair of shorts and a set of sheets on a hot summer’s night! Talk about refreshing!

For further cooling power, you can swap out any non-cotton sheets and clothing for cotton varieties (if you have them). Cotton sheets and clothing (notably lighter colors) do not retain as much of your body heat, therefore keeping you much cooler overall.

Contact Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric For Air Conditioning Service Or Installation

The best thing you can do to help keep your home cool this summer is to contact us for air conditioner start-up, repair, maintenance, replacement, or installation services. Home air conditioning is, by far, the most effective way to maintain a cool, comfortable home during the summer months. Moreover, getting and using AC doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! If you’d like to learn more about how our HVAC professionals can help you with any of your AC needs, then feel free to give us a call at 303.468.2294, or contact us online. We’re open and always standing by to lend you a helping hand!

And, from the team here at Brothers, have a safe, fun, and cool summer!

We’re Hiring!

We're Hiring

Here at Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric, our team members are all part of the family. Our company values every team member and we pride ourselves on providing each member of our company family with a great opportunity to grow in their field.

We dedicate ourselves to providing the Colorado area with top of the line plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical services. The Brothers Family also dedicates itself to providing a fun, all-inclusive work environment where you’ll always receive the recognition and appreciation you deserve for the work you do with us.

What Does Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric Offer Their Team Members?

As we said above, we treat our team members like they’re one of the big, happy Brothers Family. When you choose to join our family, we offer the following:

  • Health Insurance
  • 401K Plan with company match
  • Dental & Vision insurance
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Paid holidays and vacations
  • Tool & Education accounts
  • No 24 hour on call!
  • Hourly plus monthly bonuses and commissions
  • Fully stocked company truck saves on gas
  • Paid ongoing weekly training
  • Contests, spiffs & recognition and fun company event

What Qualifications And Requirements Must New Team Members Meet?

Prospective team members must meet teh following qualifications and requirements:

  • Prior experience in the area of job site customer service
  • Valid Colorado Driverā€™s License
  • Have and maintain a Motor Vehicle Record in compliance with auto insurance requirements
  • Successfully complete all background checks, drug testing and employment screening
  • Neatly groomed per dress code policy

How Do You Join The Team?

To join the Brothers Family, all you have to do is meat the above qualifications and give us a call at 303-450-4148! You can also check our employment page to see a regularly updated list of our current job offers. Click here to check the employment today!

Pre-Season Air Conditioning Start-Up Hints and Tips

summer
Summer is almost here! And, even here Colorado, that means warmer temperatures and an increase in the usage demand of your home or business’ air conditioning system! If you haven’t used your AC in the last few months, then please follow these hints and tips before you start it up this Spring. Doing so can save you quite a few headaches (and potentially quite a few dollars as well)! And, if these hints and tips seem too technical to you, then please do not hesitate to contact the air conditioning experts here at Brothers Plumbing, Heating, and Electric!

Step 1: Always Check and Change Your Air Filters

One of the essential pre-season tips we can give you is to make sure that your air filters are changed/cleaned when necessary. These filters help keep the air you circulate through your home free of debris, and they also help make sure that your air conditioning system does not get clogged or ruined by stray dust and dander. To check/change your filters, just follow the following steps:

  • Find the filter (s)
    You should find the filter (s) in your system before you can do anything else about them. Most of the time, air filters for air conditioning systems can be found at the return vent closest to your air handler.
  • Change Disposable Filters
    If your filter is of the disposable type, simply remove it and throw it away. But, before you toss the old filter, write down the dimensions found on the filter housing itself. These dimensions will help you find the exact match filter at your local hardware store. Also, pay attention to the arrows on your filters. These arrows are there to help you see which direction to place your new filter. The arrows always point in the direction of airflow through the system.
  • Clean Reusable Filters
    If your filter is of the reusable variety, then simply remove it and run it under clean water until the color of the discharged water is as clear as the water coming into the filter. Once the filter is clean and has dried for about 3 hours, simply put it back in your system, and you’re done!

Step 2: Check Coils

There are two coils in every air conditioning system: the evaporative coil and the condensing coil. Each coil does a different job in the system.

The Evaporative Coil
The evaporative coil’s job is to turn low-pressure liquid refrigerant to a gaseous form by passing outside air over itself. This is the primary coil on the cooling side of your air conditioning system. These coils are almost always located right next to the air handler and should only be cleaned by a professional.

The Condensing Coil
This coil is always located outside. Its primary function is to take the gaseous refrigerant provided by the evaporative coil and to help transform it back into a low-pressure liquid. This works by forcing outside air over the coil to help cool the refrigerant. Then the compressor itself takes said refrigerant and finishes the job of transforming it back to a liquid before it starts the cycle all over again. To clean a condensing coil, simply turn the power off to the system and run hose water over the entire unit until it comes off clean.

Step 3: Check the Fan Blades and Belts

There are a couple of different fans on your home or business’ HVAC system. One fan moves air throughout your home and is located at the air handler. The other fan is the one we talked about in the coil cleaning step of the process (see above paragraph).

Each of these fans needs to be checked for balance and be cleaned. To clean the condenser fan, just run water over it while power is turned off to the unit. To clean the air handler fan, simply turn the power off to the unit and wipe the fan blades down with a damp towel or cloth.

Checking for balance is relatively simple. Just listen to the fan in operation. If it makes any strange noises or if it looks like it has a significant wobble, then the fan is out of balance. Never try to balance a fan yourself, always leave it to the professionals here at Brothers Plumbing, Heating, and Electric.

To check the fan belts (if your fans are belt driven, that is), just turn off power to the system and run your fingers along the inside of the belts. If there is any fraying or the belts feel a little too loose, then simply replace them with belts of the exact same size and width.

Step 4: Check Refrigerant Levels

This step should always be performed by an air conditioning service technician, and no one else. Never attempt to check refrigerant levels on your own. Checking levels requires specialized gauges and knowledge. It is also very dangerous for you and potentially for the environment.

When a professional HVAC service technician checks refrigerant levels, they attach special gauges to the refrigerant lines. If they find that the balance of gaseous and liquid refrigerant is too high or low, then they will add/subtract refrigerant as necessary.

REMEMBER: Never attempt to check or fix refrigerant levels on your own. Always leave it to a professional!

Step 5: Program Your Thermostat for Summer

After you have made sure that your air conditioning system is up to snuff, then it is time to finally program your thermostat for summer conditions. Here at Brothers Plumbing, Heating, and Electric, we recommend the following settings for your average Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM workday and schedule:

Thermostat Schedule

Too Much To Handle? Call Brothers Plumbing, Heating, and Electric Instead

Does all this sound too technical and complicated for you? Don’t fret! We can help! Simply give us here at Brothers Plumbing, Heating, and Electric a call today, and we’ll make sure that your pre-season air conditioning start-up goes as smoothly as humanly possible. So, don’t hesitate! Give us a call today!

Summer 2020 Hints & Tips

Summer is almost here! And with it comes warmer temperatures, increased use in electricity, and sprinkler systems. Because of the increased demand and use of these home systems, our team of professional plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians want to give you a few tips, tricks, and reminders to help you this summer!

Electrical Hints to Stay Cool

Here are some electrical hints and tips that will help you stay cool this summer:

  • Attic Fans – Attic fans help to vent the heat from your attic. This, in turn, helps to keep the rest of your house cool. Remember, heat rises.
  • Whole-House Fans – Whole house fans, especially when used in concert with attic fans, can help maintain a cool temperature in your house this summer.
  • Ceiling Fans – Make sure your ceiling fans are all set in the right direction this summer (Counterclockwise to push air down)

Summer Electrical Safety Tips

Here are some tips and tricks to help keep you safe around electricity this summer:

  • Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
  • Use outlet covers on your outdoor receptacles.
  • Use GFCI protection for all power in and around swimming pools, hot tubs, etc.
  • Electricity and water don’t mix, keep your cords and devices away from water sources.
  • Make sure all swimming pool electronics and outlets are grounded.
  • Never handle electrical devices when wet.
  • Do not swim during a thunderstorm.
  • Don’t let your children climb trees near power lines.
  • Only allow children to fly kites or play with airborne toys in wide-open spaces, far away from any power lines.

Summer HVAC Tips and Hints

  • Invest in a programmable thermostat – Programmable thermostats allow you to control your HVAC units even when you’re not there. Match your thermostat to your schedule, use a timer for when you leave for work and when you come home, set it for particular rooms, and even set specific temperatures.
  • Don’t forget about your air filters – Air filters should be replaced monthly to promote a more efficient system performance. Clogged or dirty air filters can cause a disrupt in the airflow and even lead to health concerns.
  • Protect your HVAC from sun and debris – An awning or tree can provide shade to your unit and cut energy consumption while helping your unit operate more smoothly. However, note that shrubbery or branches that can get into the system and can hinder the performance of the system and may lead to permanent damage.
  • Make sure that your vents are clean and open – It may be obvious, but it is truly remarkable what you may not notice about your own home. Vents can be accidentally shut for cleaning purposes and never reopened. If you see an unusually warm room or area in your home, don’t forget to check the vent.
  • Think gravity – Heat rises. During those hot summer months, the heat in your home will rise to the ceiling or the second floor of your home. To help that hot air on its way out of your home, fans can be a great tool.

Plumbing Summer Hints and tips

These are some useful plumbing hints and tips:

  • If you’re vacationing away from your home for several days, turn down your water heater to save energy. It’s also important to know that the average life of a water heater is anywhere from 8-11 years old. If you don’t know the age of your system, check the last four digits of the serial number on the tank. This will show you the month, and the year it was manufactured.
  • Water your lawn at the right time! It’s suggested that the best time to water gardens and landscapes is in the early morning and evening after the sun goes down. If you decide to tend to your lawn in the middle of the day, that water can be lost due to evaporation from the heat throughout the day.
  • Do you have trees planted on your front lawn? Any kind of tree growth can cause roots to make their way to your sewer line in search of water. If you suspect any damage (ie, sewage backups in your lowest level), give us a call to check your lines.

Call Brothers Plumbing, Heating and Electric

Giving us a call to come out and make sure that your cooling and/or air conditioning system is up to snuff can help you beat the heat this summer. Our affordable technicians are always just a quick phone call away. Give us a call at 303.468.2294 to schedule service today!