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.
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.
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.
Lubricate your fan condenser if it has oil ports. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
An investment in a smart thermostat is truly going to save you money. You can program it to turn on and off at certain temperatures or times, allowing you to ensure that your air conditioner or heater isn't running when it doesn't need to be, saving you a ton.
An investment in a smart thermostat is truly going to save you money. You can program it to turn on and off at certain temperatures or times, allowing you to ensure that your air conditioner or heater isn't running when it doesn't need to be, saving you a ton.
In order to cheaply cool your home, turn the temperature up. If you take a few showers a day or just drink a cold ice water, you'll find that you're saving a lot of money on your utility bills by keeping the thermostat a little higher than usual in your home.
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.
It can be confusing to figure out what the correct HVAC system size is for your home, but you can solve this with the help of a sizing calculator. If you make the mistake of purchasing a unit that is too large, it will not cool efficiently. Any unit's manual will be able to give you an accurate idea for the size of the unit versus your home.
Make sure that the HVAC contractor you plan to hire does not use subcontractors to do their work. Many people use this as an excuse to shirk their responsibility in the event that something goes wrong when your system is being worked on. Only allow this if there is a note in the contract about what will happen if there is an issue.
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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.
Use your HVAC system to heat your water for free! In the summer, residual heat pulled out of your house is used to heat water through a geothermal system. This will cool your home while allowing you to save a ton on hot water costs, plus it's environmentally friendly to boot!
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.
It is important that any contractor you hire is familiar with your make and model of HVAC unit. Ask them what brands they work with most frequently and compare it to what you have. If you can't find a contractor that knows your brand well, instead consider who has the best reputation.
To gain maximum HVAC efficiency, you need efficient windows and doors too. Make sure they are tightly sealed so air can't seep in. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
Use an HVAC company who has a lot of experience in the field. The best companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on schedule. Someone skilled in their profession should be able to come out and give you answers right away. After they know what the problem is, it's just a matter of time before they have it back and running properly.
Get your work order in writing. You should always have a written proposal before the HVAC contractor begins work. This will help prevent overspending, or any extra fees or expenses that you may be unaware of. Make sure you go over it with your contractor so that you understand every charge.
Hire contractors who offer guarantees of at least 5 year on all labor and parts. This will ensure that high performance air filters 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.
Prior to hiring an HVAC contractor, check out their references. Sometimes, they just got good reviews because their price is low. This will not take a lot of your time.
Make sure that any contractor that provides you with a quote also performs a heat-loss calculation. This will determine how much BTU your new system will need to keep your home comfortable. They need to count your windows, doors, check the insulation, and measure how much space your home has in it.
You do not want your living environment too hot or too cold, and having a good HVAC system that is running how it is supposed to is key. Thankfully, you just learned some helpful tips that showed you how to spot problems, along with how to properly maintain your HVAC system. Keep these tips in mind as you perform regular maintenance on your HVAC system.
