Excellent Article With Many Great Tips About Hvac
In parts of the country where it gets very hot during the summer, a good cooling system is a must. Similarly, in regions where the winters can be very cold, a high-quality furnace is vital. Finding the right HVAC system for your home is a snap when you use the following tips.
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 can't explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. So, figure out this information before anything else.
If the outside of your home has condenser units, ensure they are constantly cleaned. Particularly after bad weather, you should inspect your unit. The whole thing can overheat, causing major problems and possibly an enormous expense for you.
Look to your neighbors and family to get recommendations of good HVAC specialists. Likely there's someone you know who's already done a ton of research. Use this knowledge to help get you the best specialist you can. This can save you many hours of research time and money too.
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.
Once it gets cold outside, you should turn off the outdoor condenser unit. Once the temperature drops into the 50s, the unit should no longer be on. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
If you are looking to save money with your HVAC system, consider turning down the air conditioner in the summer and turning the heat down in the winter. Putting on a sweater on a cold day can save you a ton of money on your utility bill, as can enjoying a cold drink instead of heavy air conditioning use.
Try finding online A/C sizing calculators to figure out the ideal size for a unit for the house or a room. If you buy something too large it won't be efficient as it cools the same. To get the right information, look in the manual to find out the rating the manufacturer gives the unit for cooling.
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 you want to make sure your HVAC unit works for you like it should? It is important to have your unit maintained on a regular basis. Any reputable technician will know exactly what you mean if you call them and ask for a maintenance service on your system.
Ask for quotes from multiple contractors. This will reduce your overall spending. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
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.
There is a lot to think about when you install an air conditioner unit. For example, a big unit won't remove humidity while a small unit won't cool enough. Placing it in the wrong place can make it less efficient, and not insulating your home adequately could render it almost useless.
To reduce the air conditioning's energy cost, close drapes, blinds and shades that cover windows which face the sun. Also, white shades will reflect the heat away from the house, keeping it cooler and saving you money. It is also recommended that you close the vents in rooms that are not used often. This will ensure that you are not spending money cooling less-used rooms.
A great way to reduce the stress on your HVAC unit is to install ceiling fans in your home. During the summer, you can have them blow downward to cool the air and make your home feel more comfortable. In the winter you can reverse the direction and circulate warm air trapped at the ceiling.
Never hire an HVAC contractor that does not hold a valid license from your state. There are people out there that will offer to do less expensive work since they have no license. While it may seem like a bargain, you will have lots of issues in the event that something goes wrong.
If your HVAC unit is not operating as efficiently as it once was, check the evaporator coil in it? There may be some debris blocking it which is causing the issue. You can use a soft brush to clean it - like the one you find as an attachment for handheld vacuum cleaners.
Do not let the heat build up inside your home. Lighting, electronic devices and appliances are all common sources of heat inside the home. To prevent this excessive heat, do not put televisions or lamps close to your a/c's thermostat. These appliances make the a/c think that the house is hotter than it really is, causing the system to run longer than needed and wasting energy.
If you already have someone servicing your HVAC click here unit every year, consider talking to them about installing a new system. Even if you need something custom built, they may have staff on hand who can do what you need. If you already trust them, you know they'll be right for the job.
Consider a digital window air conditioner with a remote to make use easy as pie. These often come with a thermostat in the remote, turning off the unit when the air near the remote is cool enough. Place the remote on the other side of the room so that the whole area cools down.
As stated in the above article, keeping your HVAC system humming along is important to the overall comfort of your home. A bad HVAC system is one that will leave you with a big headache when trying to repair it. Don't let your HVAC system go bad on you, and with these good tips to follow, you should have a good understanding of how to maintain it so it works properly for a long time.
NBC 5 Responds: Hiring the Right Plumber or Contractor to Fix Winter Storm Damage
“Plumbers are not going to be looking for work right now. The good contractors out there are going to be trying to schedule things because there's going to be plenty of work for everybody,†said Ben Gonzalez with the Texas Department of Insurance. “If somebody's coming to your door, I think that would be a red flag right now.â€
Check Out the Person You’re Hiring
Plumbers are licensed in Texas and during this emergency, Governor Greg Abbot waived some fee and exam requirements for Texas plumbers with expired licenses. Out of state plumbers can also obtain provisional permits in order to help meet the demand for plumbers.
You can go to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners website and use the public search tool to look up Texas plumbers and any past disciplinary action.
From this page, click on the “Responsible Master Plumber List†link to download a spreadsheet that you can use to search plumbers.
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners says plumbers from outside Texas who are approved to work in this disaster will have an “OOS†after the company name to indicate they are from “out of stateâ€.
The Texas State Board of Plumbing examiners says the list is updated every day.
There isn’t a state licensing board for contractors in Texas.
Monica Horton with the Better Business Bureau of North Central Texas says many complaints it sees involve a contractor that has taken off with a down payment for work.
“We advise consumers not to pay a dime until you're satisfied with the work. Some of the smaller contractors, if it's a large, large job, then they may require a small down payment and payments moving forward. But, don't let those get ahead of the work that's being completed. Don't pay in advance,†said Horton.
Keep in mind, there are special rules around up-front payments for out-of-area contractors during an emergency.
Examine References
“Contractors will say that they are doing a job around the corner or down the street. They may go into your neighborhood and do a fantastic job for one of your neighbors just so they can get that neighbor's recommendation because you're going to trust somebody like that,†said Horton.
You can use the BBB’s website as a search tool.
The TDI also suggests asking friends and neighbors for recommendations of people they’ve worked with during non-disaster times. Identify reputable plumbers or contractors and get on their wait list.
Contracts, Insurance and Other Questions
When hiring a contractor after a disaster, the Texas Office of the Attorney General offers additional recommendations including asking for proof of insurance. The contractor should have disability and workers' compensation insurance. Otherwise, you could be liable for accidents at your home.
Don’t sign over insurance or FEMA proceeds.
Don’t sign a contract with blank spaces and get any guarantees in writing.
The State Bar of Texas published this list of additional do’s and don’ts.
The State Bar of Texas operates a legal aid helpline to connect low-income Texans with legal assistance with various issues including fraud and scam concerns.
The Texas Department of Insurance also operates a helpline for insurance questions and fraud concerns.