How To Find A Trustworthy HVAC Contractor Stress Free

Your HVAC Should Be Working For You, Here's How


At home your HVAC system must work well in order to have proper air circulating. If your HVAC system goes bad, then you are looking at costly repairs. If you would like good tips and solid ideas on how to maintain your HVAC system, then you came to the right place. Below you will find many solutions to the common HVAC problems, and what to look for in order to keep it working right.

When your contractor comes to fix your unit or install a new one, he should walk around your home and investigate what's going on with your current set-up. They should be looking for how much insulation you have, where your windows are and what quality they are and more.

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.

When a contractor gives you a list of references, be sure to make use of it. Call the people on the list and ask about the quality of the work, how closely they came to their quote and whether or not the work was completed according to the promised timeline.

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.

Be sure to check your evaporator coil drains frequently when your air conditioner is running. If this tube backs up, you can find water damage to your walls, ceilings and floors. If you end up with mold just use a solution of bleach and water to clean out the tube.

Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. It is only possible for an air conditioner to lower the temperature in a home by 20 degrees F in a short time. The temperature will only reduce to about 80 if your home heats up to 100 degrees. Depending on humidity levels, this isn't even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.

If you want to cool your home in the summer without using your air conditioning on full, consider installing fans in your home. An attic fan can blow hot air out while sucking in cool air into your basement, and ceiling fans help distribute the air in your rooms evenly.

Clean your filters! If you have a window unit air conditioner, there will be a filter right under the grill you can vacuum. If you have a furnace or outdoor units, they will also have filters to be cleaned or replace. A dirty filter can make your unit inefficient or even let it overheat.

Consider an annual service agreement for technicians to regularly inspect your AC unit. Schedule brief inspections for the winter to make sure nothing is obviously wrong. The most important time for an inspection and service is just before it starts getting warm. You don't want to discover an AC breakdown when you need it working most.

Make sure things don't get too hot or cold where your thermostat is. Any electronics or heat sources like lamps or televisions nearby can trick the thermostat into thinking the home is warmer than it actually is. This just means it runs your air conditioning longer than necessary, wasting energy and money.

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 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.

Before you get into the hot summer months, make sure to schedule a tune up for your current HVAC system. This is very important to keep issues from popping up with your system. It's a small cost to pay compared to the large bills to fix issues that could arise.

When considering what size AC unit your home needs, be sure to measure the immediate area you need to cool. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of the room. If you are cooling more than one room, sum their areas.

Is your home's electrical set-up ready to handle a new air conditioning unit? Most homes have 115-volt circuits in place, but larger air conditioners need 230-volts to be used. Some smaller units may need their own dedicated circuit as well to ensure your home doesn't go dark when you turn them on.

Ask for referrals from friends and family. The best way to judge if an HVAC company is going to do a good job is from people who have actually used them. Ask your acquaintances if they Best Rated HVAC Near Me have had work done, and find out if they were happy with the job, timeliness, and budget.

It is important to pick out the right HVAC company for your needs as you will need professional assistance. This will ensure that the job is done efficiently. These techs should be able to figure out what is up with an HVAC rather quickly. This will maximize your overall satisfaction.

Is your home's electrical set-up ready to handle a new air conditioning unit? Most homes have 115-volt circuits in place, but larger air conditioners need 230-volts to be used. Some smaller units may need their own dedicated circuit as well to ensure your home doesn't go dark when you turn them on.

Hire contractors that can repair or install HVAC systems with 24-hour emergency services. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.

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.

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.