Do not be surprised if the HVAC contractor you choose does an evaluation on your home. Any good contractor will spend time looking at the system you currently have and what the needs are for your home. They will also take a look at your duct system and look for air leaks.
If you currently have a manual thermostat, consider installing a programmable one. You can set your system for different temperatures depending on time of day and if anyone is home. Also, you can set upper and lower temperature settings to allow for a comfortable range of temperatures so that heating and cooling don't kick in when not needed.
Ask for references and be sure to call them as well. You are dealing with a high ticket item here, so you'll want to do your due diligence to make sure you are getting the best for your money. Ask for references, but don't stop there. Call each reference to check. A lot of people don't take that important last step.
Each spring it's time to clean the inside of your condenser unit, including the fan and the sensitive coil. Shut the power off before you do anything. Next, pop off the grill, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
When you are looking for a service provider to perform service on your HVAC system, look for a company that stands behind their work. This is especially important if your compressor or condenser is being repaired. Repairs to these two things are extremely expensive, so you want to ensure that the service provider warranties their work.
The correct HVAC system should have sealed air ducts to minimize heating or cooling loss as air travels to different rooms. The heating or cooling requirements of different rooms in the home should be taken into consideration. There is no reason to increase energy usage by controlling the temperature in rooms that are used very little.
When you buy a new air conditioning unit, don't let the salesperson talk you into too large of a unit. This will be a waste of money and won't efficiently cool your home. The longer a system runs, the more efficient it will be when it's running, so look for one which runs 15 to 30 minutes.
Ask your friends and relations for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who have been happy with work they have had done in the past are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. This will also help you avoid scammers.
Installing a whole-house fan can either cool your home without the use of air conditioning or make your air conditioner more efficient. It blows out all of the hot air which collects in your attic, and this air flow draws in cool air from your basement and up into your home.
Air conditioners occasionally freeze up, literally. There can be occasional freezes in their drain lines, and these are usually confused with plumbing leaks. If this happens, put your thermostat over to fan. You should still call a professional to help regardless.
If you current HVAC doesn't work that well, try testing ducts for leaks. Call local utility companies to test it for you since many do it for a small fee or even free, which is lower than HVAC contractors. Once leaks have been fixed, you will save substantial money on heating and cooling costs.
Make sure things don't get too hot or cold where your thermostat is. Any electronics or heat sources like lamps or televisions nearby can trick the thermostat into thinking the home is warmer than it actually is. This just means it runs your air conditioning longer than necessary, wasting energy and money.
The energy efficiency of a unit should be taken into consideration when purchasing a new heating and cooling system. Although you should be concerned about the price of a unit, the efficiency of the unit will save you thousands over the lifetime of the heating and cooling system and should weigh heavily on your buying decision.
For top efficiency, figure out what direction your home faces. If you have some trees that are placed in good spots, you can be sure they block the sunlight during the morning. If there is less heat coming into your home, then your air conditioning unit won't have to work as hard.
Make sure to be specific about everything that is written in your contracts. It should click here detail the work that is being done, the materials being used and the amount of time it will take to complete the job. Leaving anything out can give the contractor an exit if something goes wrong.
Now you're able to see that the HVAC unit can be something anyone can get into with the right kind of information. Approaching your HVAC system purchase as an educated consumer will help you achieve your desired results. Take the guidelines you read here and put them to work for you now!
