How Colorado Springs Altitude Affects Your Furnace

Furnaces are combustion appliances, and combustion behaves differently at Colorado Springs elevation than it does at sea level. With less oxygen available in the air at 6,000-plus feet, a furnace that has not been properly adjusted for altitude burns fuel less completely, produces more carbon monoxide as a byproduct, and works harder to generate the same heat output. A properly altitude-adjusted furnace in Colorado Springs runs cleaner, more efficiently, and with lower CO production than one that has been installed or serviced without accounting for our elevation.

Furnace Performance During Colorado Springs Winters

Colorado Springs winters put serious demands on residential furnaces. Temperatures regularly drop into the single digits during Front Range cold snaps, and a furnace that is struggling – whether from age, deferred maintenance, or improper altitude tuning – will fall behind on the coldest nights when you need it most. WireNut’s technicians see this pattern every winter in Colorado Springs and know how to diagnose the difference between a furnace that needs a repair and one that needs to be replaced.

The Most Common Furnace Problems in Colorado Springs

The furnace issues WireNut sees most often in Colorado Springs homes are dirty flame sensors, failed ignitors, cracked heat exchangers, clogged condensate drains on high-efficiency models, pressure switch failures, and blower motor issues. Many of these are maintenance-related and can be prevented with annual service. Others are signs that the furnace is reaching the end of its useful life and replacement should be on the table.

• Furnace repair. Diagnosing and repairing all common furnace failures including ignition issues, flame sensor problems, heat exchanger cracks, pressure switch failures, and blower motor issues. WireNut accounts for Colorado Springs altitude in every furnace diagnosis.
• Furnace tune-up and maintenance. Annual furnace maintenance including combustion analysis, altitude-adjusted burner tuning, heat exchanger inspection, filter replacement, and a full safety check before the Colorado Springs heating season.
• Furnace replacement. Full furnace replacement for systems that have reached end of life or are no longer safe to operate, with proper altitude commissioning of the new system.
• Heat exchanger inspection. A cracked heat exchanger is a CO safety hazard. WireNut’s technicians inspect heat exchangers on every furnace service visit and take any finding seriously.
• Condensate drain service. High-efficiency furnaces produce condensate that drains away from the unit. A clogged condensate drain can shut the furnace down as a safety precaution. WireNut clears and services condensate systems on high-efficiency Colorado Springs furnaces.
• Blower motor service. The blower motor circulates warm air through your Colorado Springs home. A failing blower motor results in reduced airflow, poor comfort, and a furnace that overheats and shuts down on high-limit.

Here is a look at the furnace work our licensed technicians handle most often for Colorado Springs homeowners.

When to Replace Your Colorado Springs Furnace

A furnace that is more than 15 to 20 years old, has a cracked heat exchanger, has required multiple repairs in recent seasons, or is simply struggling to keep your Colorado Springs home warm during Front Range cold snaps is a candidate for replacement. A new high-efficiency furnace properly sized and altitude-commissioned for Colorado Springs will cost less to operate, require fewer repairs, and provide better comfort and safety than an aging system. WireNut’s technicians give you an honest replacement recommendation without pressure – we tell you what we find and you make the call.