Content create by-Gustafsson Hudson
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.
Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. It is going to be hard to get a price estimate on the phone if the current system isn't something they've seen. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. Understand this information beforehand.
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.
Make sure you ask for an estimate in writing before choosing a specific HVAC vendor. There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to purchasing these big items. You'll want to compare not only the cost of the equipment, but also the set up and the overall energy costs.
When you have an outdoor unit, be sure to keep all plants, flowers, shrubs and trees at least two feet from it. Anything that grows inside it, either above the ground or even roots beneath the soil, can block it up and cause it to break. Give it some breathing room.
Before you choose someone to do HVAC work, figure out what they need to do for you. Providing
24hr hvac phoenix with an accurate estimate over the telephone may be difficult to impossible is they can't see the system you have. If
visit the next web page do not know what you want, the process can become tedious, especially over the phone. Having this information handy will make the process much smoother.
Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out if your HVAC system needs to be fixed or needs to be replaced. If your system frequently breaks down, is always turning on or off on its own, or if your bills are too high, it may pay to have it replaced. Otherwise, little things can just be fixed.
When you are no longer using your outdoor air conditioning unit, be sure to protect it with a tight cover. This will keep it free of debris, frost and snow so that you'll have a working unit when the spring comes and you are ready to uncover it and use it again.
You should have your HVAC system inspected at least once, but preferably twice, per year. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. These few simple things will help your system to run at its peak performance.
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.
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 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.
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.
If you are thinking of installing a new roof and want it to also boost the efficiency of your HVAC, choose white materials. They reflect the sun's heat so that your attic doesn't get hot, and that means your air conditioner doesn't have to labor as hard to cool your home.
For your outdoor HVAC unit, make sure that your foliage is cleared around it. Two feet distance between the HVAC unit and shrubs is a good amount to remember. If you let the foliage creep up on the unit, it can cause all sorts of issues with debris and growth into the system.
If you can, find a way to create shade over your outdoor HVAC unit. This can actually save you money as shaded air being pulled in by the HVAC unit is typically 5 to 6 degrees cooler than air that's heated by direct sunlight. It's a smart solution to lowering those energy bills.
Any contractor that gives you a quote over the phone shouldn't be trusted. To truly evaluate your needs, they must come into your home and check it out basement to attic. If they make promises without even seeing your house, there is no way they'll be able to keep them.
Once you decide who you are buying from, talk to them about what they recommend. While you may have a certain system in mind, the contractor might have some good advice that leads you in another direction. Remember, all manufacturers are different, and you want a system with a good warranty.
Whatever you buy should be energy efficient. That means you need to purchase something with an Energy Star label. In particular, you should take a look at the SEER rating. The larger the number, the less you should have to pay in energy costs each month. Even if the unit is a little more expensive initially, you should get that investment back over time.
While it is common practice to negotiate a rate quoted by a contractor, you should not offer an amount that the contractor will find offensive. They have to pay for things like insurance and overhead costs. Keep this in mind when you are trying to haggle with them for a better rate.
Check in on the contractor's references. Lots of folks take them at face value, but that is not always smart. This will not take a lot of your time.
Would you know what to do if your air conditioner or furnace system were to fail just when you needed it most? As long as you have spent some time learning about what makes for a terrific HVAC service professional, you should answer in the affirmative. Keep the above advice handy, and you will never go wrong.