When you are looking to learn a bit about HVAC systems, these tips are a great place to start. This article will lead you along the way so you can become a master at this. Take the time to read the article and you will do well.
If you do have a good experience with a HVAC product or contractor, let others know. Go online and post a review so that people can easily find out who and what brands to trust. At the same time, you can check reviews online to learn more yourself about what's available.
Make sure the equipment you are buying is ENERGY STAR compliant. It may seem a small thing, but it isn't. Products that are ENERGY STAR compliant can save you a lot of money in energy costs over the year. It can be over $100 easily, sometimes a lot more.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Start by turning off the power to avoid having anything move when you work on it. Take the grill off and pull the blades out to clean them.
Consider all of your alternatives before installing a central air conditioner. You can only cool certain rooms, use whole-house fans, or even make use of a geothermal system. The more efficient the system you set up, the less you'll spend on utility bills over time as you use it.
Be sure to get every quote or estimate in written form. You have no recourse on a verbal agreement, so a written contract is a must. This will allow you to follow up if something goes wrong or you don't get what you were promised, protecting you from shady contractors.
Do not allow your house to get extremely hot. It is only possible for an air conditioner to lower the temperature in a home by 20 degrees F in a short time. This means that if the weather is above 100 degrees, then you'll still be baking in 80 degree weather at first! If humidity is high, this temp is still unsafe for people.
Change your air conditioner filter quarterly, or four times a year. This not only keeps the air coming into your home easier and cleaner to breathe, it takes a lot of stress off of your AC unit itself. You get to enjoy health, money savings and reduced energy use altogether at once.
Get an estimate before agreeing to have any work done on your HVAC unit. This will help keep you from being surprised by a bill at the end. Any reputable technician should be able to look at your unit, determine the problem and give you an estimate as to how much it will cost to fix it.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, determine the direction that your home faces. Strategically placing trees around your home can block some of the heat coming from the sun, preventing your home from overheating. When you do what you can to less how much heat comes into your home, your AC unit can work less, which will save money.
If your HVAC unit is not operating as efficiently as it once was, check the evaporator coil in it? There may be some debris blocking it which is causing the issue. You can use a soft brush to clean it - like the one you find as an attachment for handheld vacuum cleaners.
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.
Think about installing a digital programmable thermostat to keep your heating and cooling bills low. These digital thermostats have timers that allow you to completely control your HVAC use. You can set the heat and cooling to only turn on when you are home and to turn off when you are at work.
Change your filter on a regular basis. This is one of the easiest HVAC tips that you can do yourself. It is also one of the least expensive things that you can do to ensure that your system is running efficiently. Clogged and dirty filters can make your unit work 5-10% harder.
Use plants to increase your air conditioner's effectiveness. An AC unit fully shaded by trees and shrubbery can operate up to 10 percent more efficiently. However, do keep spacing in mind. Air flow must not be constricted, and technicians need room to work when they come out to service your unit.
When you have a short list of contractors to consider, ask the people on their reference list about not only the service they received, but also how well the system is still running. Did they need more work down the road? Has the company come back to make things right?
Learn the rules and regulations regarding licenses and insurance before hiring an HVAC professional. This way you can check to make sure that any contractor you consider hiring meets any requirements. This can prevent a costly legal process, especially in case of an accident on site. Without insurance, you could be held liable for damages.
Don't just hire the first contractor you meet or call. Be sure to compare multiple options before going ahead with one. They should meet all of your requirements, be it offering a great guarantee to being able to come and do the work on your budget and within your timeline.
Before hiring a contractor to work on your HVAC system, you should inquire about the type of experience they have. The contractor should be experienced in handling the kind of work that you require. While someone with less experience might be able to do a great job too, you do not want to take that chance.
Buy an Energy Star HVAC unit to save money. These products are manufactured to the strict standards only qualified energy products meet. These guidelines have been set up by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Protection Agency generally. If you take the time to do your research, you may save a lot of money in the process.
You don't want to have a faulty HVAC system because that will make any homeowner miserable. Having a home that is too hot or cold is enough to drive anyone HVAC Bad Installs crazy. Then having to pay the costs to fix this problem makes it even worse. Don't let this happen, remember the tips here to ensure your HVAC system stays working right.
