Three Critical Factors In Choosing The Right HVAC Contractor

[Faheemkhatri4]

So it's the middle of summer and your air conditioning system sputters and dies. Or worse yet, it's below zero and your furnace flickers its last flame. Looks like it's lights out for your heating and cooling system and time for a major investment.

To purchase a new system, most smart homeowners would call several local HVAC contractors and get quotes based on installing a furnace or air conditioner. They may have a specific efficiency rating in mind and may want to save as much as possible by shopping for the lowest priced contractor to install it. But the truth of the matter is that the efficiency of the heating or cooling unit depends almost as much on the quality of the ductwork and air flow in the home as it does on the unit itself.

When purchasing any new heating and/or cooling system, what homeowners need to focus on is the quality workmanship of the contractor. A professional HVAC specialist may not always be the lowest bidder, but can save thousands of dollars in the long run by maximizing the efficiency of the complete system.

A complete system would include an efficient furnace and/or air conditioning unit as well as the ductwork that distributes the air around the home.

Here are some things to consider to evaluate whether the contractor will be delivering the most energy efficient system, not just an efficient unit.

Load Requirement Analysis

Many contractors will ask the square foot size of your home and guess at the size unit they want to install, but the best professionals will take the time to do a thorough load analysis. This analysis entails gathering information about the home and entering it into a computer program. Details like room sizes, number of floors, attic space, whether rooms are above unheated spaces such as garages or overhangs as well as sun direction and climate data are all entered into the equation. In the end the computer analysis will recommend the correct BTU size of the unit. Too few or too many BTUs will throw off the efficiency. An oversized unit can kill energy savings just as well as an undersized one.

Duct System Analysis

A true professional will go the extra step of conducting a complete evaluation of the ductwork system. They will start with a five-minute static pressure reading. This reading is used as a key diagnostic indicator for obstructions to air flow. If airflow and static pressure are not measured, the performance of the new HVAC system will only be a guess. Units themselves can be SEER or AFUE rated, but this rating is only taken from optimal situations in a lab. The true ratings will depend on the efficiency of the airflow throughout the home.

Structural Considerations Of Duct Work

The architect who designed the home may not have considered the ductwork to be installed. There may have been spaces where spacing was too tight. Surprisingly, contractors will jam ductwork into tight spaces just to save on cost. A smashed duct can impede air flow by 10% or more cutting down on efficiency. Other problems like loose duct liners, improperly sealed or broken ductwork can create other restrictions to air flow causing higher energy usage.

Excessive use of elbows in the ductwork can result in low pressure in the system, causing the unit to have to work harder to push air through it. Yet many contractors when building the home will seek to find the shortest route to the unit. When replacing an outdated system, a quality contractor will study the layout of the ductwork system and recommend any adjustments. Sometimes improvements can support better overall energy efficiency as well as greater comfort throughout the home.

When interviewing the contractor, be certain to address how they plan to go about choosing and installing the right unit for your home. Forget the low bidder mentality. When it comes to any significant investment in a home, the extra expense of hiring a quality contractor can prove to be well worth it in the long run.

[Faheemkhatri4]

Just imagine your room heater suddenly stops working during a chilling winter night! Dreadful, isn't it? That is why you should take care of your appliances and should make arrangements for proper maintenance of the heating and cooling appliances.air conditioner service