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.
Get any agreement with an HVAC contractor in writing. Some contractors try to skip over this step and charge customers a fortune. If you have a certain price and warranty in writing, they cannot go back and change this information. If they do, they could have a lawsuit on their hands.
Look for discounts wherever possible. HVAC systems can be rather costly, so you'll want to seek out whatever discounts and deals that may be out there. When shopping around, ask about any current specials running, and look for discounts that are related to ENERGY STAR compliance. Both can save you a lot of cash.
Check to determine if the fan condenser on your HVAC system is equipped with oil ports, and if it is, be sure to lubricate every year. Such ports tend to have coverings made of rubber or metal. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don't want to put in too much.
If you have a window air conditioner without a timer, use a regular outlet timer to control when it is on or off. These are the same ones you use for holiday lights, so all you have to do is plug get more info your air conditioner into the timer and set it to cool you during the day.
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.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once a year. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don't overfill it.
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.
Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. If a person had a good experience with a company, they are likely to share it. This will also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid hiring.
When dealing with HVAC contractors, make sure that you get everything in writing. While verbal contracts are legal in many places, it is usually very difficult to prove them. Having everything on paper is a great way to make sure that no ons is confused about any aspect of the process.
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.
As you compare new HVAC system, be sure to look at the energy ratings for each unit. The higher they are, the better they will be. Efficiency will not only get your home comfortable faster, but it will save you on your energy bills when you are running your new unit.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not up to snuff. You can call in your local utility company to do the testing for you, often for free or at a lower cost than a contractor. If a leak is found, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
Don't let the idea of hunting down an HVAC contractor intimidate you. Still, a little research goes a long way. Hopefully you now feel prepared to hit the ground running the next time you have an issue with your systems.
