You may have asked yourself why your furnace has to labor more than one in Denver or a relative’s place out in the flatlands of the east. A new AC unit that still has trouble on a hot afternoon? Or a heating bill that is more than what you would expect given the square footage of your house?

Do not think it is all in your head. High altitude is hard on your heating and cooling equipment. We at Peak Home Performance put that kind of stress on our own radar; we do HVAC, plumbing and electrical for homes in the Pikes Peak and Colorado Springs area and come across altitude issues of one sort or another on a daily basis. Give us a ring at (719) 888-5705 and we can discuss your system with you.

With Colorado Springs at about 6,000 feet and places like Monument or Woodland Park higher yet, the mountain air is thin and will alter the performance of your units. But an awareness of these problems is the best way to forestall costly repairs down the line.

Why Your HVAC System Is Affected by Altitude

For the most part, manufacturers rate and design their products for sea level. Put them a few thousand feet up where there is less oxygen in the air and you have an impact on the combustion of a furnace or the heat transfer in an air conditioner. Unless the equipment is made to accommodate the elevation it will not function as it should. Proper installation is key in the Front Range; a furnace that is no trouble at sea level requires some fine tuning here.

Furnace Combustion and Derating

A gas furnace needs oxygen to make its heat. At altitude that is in shorter supply so the unit must be derated, i.e. the gas input is scaled back. To forgo this is asking for it.

Altitude will routinely cause any number of furnace troubles:

• Fuel is wasted through incomplete combustion and your gas bill reflects it
• The furnace short cycles, turning on and off in excess and overheating
• Improper burning leaves soot in the unit
• You get early wear on the heat exchanger
• Safety sensors will shut the system down

All too often a homeowner is none the wiser that his furnace was never put in order for local elevation until it fails. Should you find your furnace running hot or putting in a lot of cycles, derating is likely the reason.

Air Conditioning Up Here

An air conditioner has to contend with thinner air when it comes to shedding heat outside, making for less efficient cooling. Add in the sun and the kind of temperature swings you get in Colorado Springs and the AC is put to the test. Some of what you might see are:

• It takes longer to get to the temperature you have set
• On the warmest of days the airflow and cooling are not as strong
• The system uses more energy in its efforts
• More wear on the compressor in time

Humidity and Dry Air

The climate in the Pikes Peak high desert is dry enough, but altitude makes it worse. In the winter a home can feel colder than the thermostat reads, which is an invitation to put the heat on higher and use more fuel. Not to mention the effect on your sinuses and wood floors. A whole-home humidifier with your HVAC is something many in the area make use of.

Shorter Lifespans

When equipment is called upon to work harder parts go bad quicker. If a system has not been sized or put in right for the locality, expect to be making repairs and it will not have the longevity it is supposed to. Our maintenance programs are there to safeguard your investment.

We Know the Area

Problems stemming from altitude are no great concern if you have someone who knows the territory to set up and service your system. Michael Gallegos of Peak Home Performance is a native of Colorado Springs and he knows what our climate is like. We are a local operation, licensed (#23608) and insured, BBB accredited and our technicians hold EPA certification. As a Certified Installer for The Home Depot we have a division dedicated to that and Service Finance can provide financing.

Suspect your furnace or AC is having a hard time because of the altitude? There is no need to put it off. From Parker to Pueblo we are on hand for homeowners around the clock. Contact us at (719) 888-5705 and we will have a look at things.