A central and important element of your home is just how it gets heated and cooled. To ensure that this continues to happen, it's important to care for the system properly. Without taking care of the HVAC system, you will be uncomfortable while you wait for an expensive repair. There are many useful tips and tricks within this article you can use to keep your home's HVAC healthy.
When purchasing a new HVAC system for your home, be sure it is energy efficient. These days, most new HVAC systems are energy efficient; there is a energy star label on the equipment. However, to be sure your utility costs do not go through the roof, choose equipment that is energy efficient.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, tour your home before calling a technician. Figure out which rooms are too cool or warm. This will allow a contractor to quickly figure out what the issue is and how it can be fixed fast.
Your system should be checked twice a year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best. Even if you don't think anything's wrong, it's still worth an inspection.
Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. Make certain the debris goes away from it. The same goes for blowing leaves, so always be careful if you are moving debris near your HVAC devices.
Do you hear a clicking sound when your fan is turning? This may mean that there is something in the way of the blades of the fan. If it gets so bad that the blade bends, you must replace it, just unbending it will leave the fan unbalanced and can cause further issues.
In the winter, wearing layers can save you a ton of money on your utility bill. If you can install a digital thermostat that makes the house cooler when you're asleep and warmer just before you get up, you can see significant savings on your next bill when it arrives.
If your evaporator coil, found inside your home, becomes dirty, your unit will lose efficiency. Just pop off the front panel of the furnace and check to see that the coil is dry. Using a brush attachment on a vacuum, gently clean the coil of any dust or other debris.
If you want to seriously extend the life of your HVAC system, as well as cut down your overall power bill, install ceiling fans in commonly used warm season rooms. Energy-star certified ceiling fans can sometimes cut your HVAC use in half. However, you won't physically notice a difference in temperature.
Your home should never reach a dangerous temperature. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. A home that is over one hundred degrees will only be cooled to around eighty. When you factor in humidity, this can still be dangerously hot for the human body at rest.
Consider painting the outside of your home in a light color to reflect heat if you live in a hot climate. If your summers are cool, use a dark color to instead heat up your home in the winter. This simple change can end up saving you a lot on your utility bills.
Improve the efficiency of your air conditioning by installing ceiling fans. Change the airflow direction of the ceiling fans. During the summer, the blades should move in a counter-clockwise direction. During the winter, the blades should move clockwise to help move the hot air in the ceiling down into the room.
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 HVAC Contractor Business save you thousands over the lifetime of the heating and cooling system and should weigh heavily on your buying decision.
Before having someone install a new HVAC system or maintain or repair yours, make sure they are insured. Having someone who is insured work on your system will assure that if anything happens while they are working at your home, they are financially covered and you will not be responsible.
When hiring a contractor, be sure to ask for a list of references. It's important to know if the contractor does as he says. Make certain to follow through and contact the references provided.
You should focus on finding an HVAC contractor that can offer you a warranty on the work they are doing. This is a sign that they are confident in their ability to get the job done well. This will protect you in the event that is not done right and needs to be fixed.
If the system you're using now isn't working great, then check the ducts for some leakage. 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. When you repair the leaks, you'll see that the tests paid for themselves.
When you hire a contractor to do a job, be sure to listen to what they tell you. For example, they can give you advice on how to keep your HVAC in working order. Ask about maintenance tips and how often you should be cleaning or servicing the unit.
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.
Hire contractors who offer guarantees of at least 5 year on all labor and parts. This will ensure that you can go back to them to fix anything that goes wrong shortly after your system is installed or repaired. Anyone who doesn't offer a guarantee won't come back unless you pay them again.
Few tasks are more critical to the efficient running of a household than ensuring that the HVAC system is up to par. Keeping everyone comfortable no matter what the weather is doing is an essential duty of every homeowner. By heeding the guidance presented in the above piece, the process can easier than ever before.
