What You Must Know About HVAC Purchases


Have you ever found yourself shivering during the winter, no matter how hard your furnace works? Does your air conditioner seem incapable of cooling you off in the summer? It may be time to have your old HVAC system replaced with a new one. For tips on finding the right system, keep reading.

Check the whole house before you call for help. Notice the temperature in each room. Are some cooler or hotter than others? Taking this step aids a contractor in figuring out what the problem is and how to repair it as quickly as possible.

Before you hire anyone to do any work on your HVAC, be sure to get a written estimate which has itemized costs listed on it. This will ensure that comparing one contractor to another will be simple as you can see what one offers that another doesn't, or what price they're charging for the same items.

If you want to save money once a new HVAC system is put in place, be sure to pick ENERGY STAR rated products to use. They are very energy efficient so your new system won't cost you a ton when it comes to your utility bills every month, recouping some of your installation costs.

Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. The cooler the air that the unit is able to access, the less work it has to perform.

Whenever possible, try to shade the compressor unit outside. The air that's in a place that is shaded is usually five to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Your air conditioning unit will be up to ten percent more efficient if it is properly shaded during the summer months.

Keep your outdoor units free of debris when you are mowing the lawn. Direct the grass clippings in a direction away from the HVAC unit. When blowing leaves, do the same. Always take care when passing your HVAC units while moving leaves, grass or other debris.

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.

Keep your condensers free of nearby obstructions. Keep plants, fencing, even bushes back and away from the unit. Two feet is a good minimum distance it should have from anything, including walls, but the more space you give it to breathe, the better it will work Heating And AC Companies Near Me and the less likely it will be to fail.

Do not close your vents. Keep air vents open and unblocked at all times. Many people believe that closing off a vent will save them money on cooling costs. This is not true. It can actually damage your HVAC system. Closing vents can cause your cooling coil to freeze and damage the compressor.

Whether you have an air conditioner in a window or outside your home, be sure to keep it in the shade. The cooler the air around it, and the cooler the condenser itself, the easier a time it will have of keeping the air inside your home cool as well.

Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. It it's installed properly, you might even be able to use your attic as an extra room.

If you hear a clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, immediately start looking for any obstructions. Often the issue is some sort of debris that's hitting the fans in the cooling system. You just have to take out the obstruction and the problem is solved. Look before calling in a technician.

Take a measuring tape and get the square footage of the area where the unit will be cooling. The area's calculation can help you figure out what the size is and there are 20 BTUs for every foot squared in this area. If the unit will be cooling several rooms, combine their square footage in your calculations.

Never accept the first offer you get when you are looking to hire an HVAC contractor. There are many people out there that charge more than others for doing the same services. Getting price quotes from several companies can help ensure that you are getting a rate that is acceptable.

Never hire an HVAC contractor that does not hold a valid license from your state. There are people out there that will offer to do less expensive work since they have no license. While it may seem like a bargain, you will have lots of issues in the event that something goes wrong.

Choose a contractor who knows how to work with your current system. If they work with that set-up frequently, they'll quickly diagnose any problems and know exactly how to maintain it. Choosing such a firm will save you time and money, and will also save you from unnecessary headaches.

Get bids from several companies before deciding who you are going to hire to install or repair your HVAC system. Most people know to avoid the company that has the highest quote, but you should also stay away from the one with the lowest. The price may be lower due to shoddy workmanship an/or using low-quality equipment.

Try looking at some reviews online for local HVAC companies. There are many websites and directories online that should include these services that are in your area. This can help you comparison shop. You need to look at many aspects. Pay special attention to licensing, how many years they've been around, any issues, and how they were resolved.

Ask your contractor if there are any upgrades which can boost your home's energy efficiency. For example, could extra insulation be added to the attic? Or should your windows and doors be better sealed? Once these are in place the change may be dramatic enough to allow you to install a cheaper HVAC unit.

As you can see from the above article, with great tips and ideas it is much easier to take good care of your HVAC system. Now that you understand what keeps an HVAC running smoothly, yours should last a very long time. Refer back to these tips to whenever you spot a problem.