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HOW TO CHOOSE A HEATING/COOLING CONTRACTOR
Industry Tips
The following tips may help you in choosing a contractor in the Heating and
Air Conditioning (from here on referred to as HVAC) industry,
Most people say that it's always wise to get at least three estimates when you're replacing
something as important as your heating and cooling system. When it comes to HVAC
equipment, the estimates can be so wide-ranging that it often becomes more confusing than
it should be. Even when you know the exact brand and model you want, the prices can
vary by $1000 or more!
If you are not shopping for the lowest price - you may often end up choosing the lowest
price. The variables between equipment and installations make shopping a confusing
process and most people are left comparing the only column they really understand - the
price!
A heating and air conditioning system is the most expensive appliance in your home. Treat
it like an investment. The longer it lasts and the better it runs, the more profitable it
becomes.
When considering the repair, replacement or addition of a new furnace or air conditioning
system, do your homework on selecting the right contractor to look at your total indoor
comfort needs.
Heating and air conditioning systems are a critical part of your home environment. A
properly installed and serviced system contributes to how comfortable your home is.
Indoor comfort goes beyond basic heating and cooling and includes air quality,
humidification and air distribution.
Where Do You Find A Reputable and Reliable Contractor?
A neighbor or friend who has recently had a furnace or air conditioner installed is a good
source for this information.
Any reputable contractor will be licensed and insured. Check with your municipality to
find out what license is required. In addition to licensing, liability insurance is necessary to
cover any liability claims should there be an accident while work is being performed in
your home. If the person performing the work in your home is an employee and not the
owner, workman's compensation insurance is a requirement on that employee. Check on
these items before any work is performed.
Experience
Ask how long the contractor has been in business. Also, ask how long the contractor has
been working with the brand of equipment represented. Typically, contractors representing
major brands, like Carrier and Bryant, have been adequately trained to install and service
their equipment and are in a better position to diagnose your situation and make the proper
recommendation.
Cost Estimates and Proposals
Typically, the more details a contractor provides, the better informed you will be to make a
decision. Check to see that the proposal includes specifically what you have asked for and
everything verbally communicated to you. To make a fair comparison, all proposals should
be based on same size and efficiency ratings. Ask for comfort system upgrades like air
cleaners, humidifiers and air exchangers if not provided in the proposals. Proposals should
be in writing with accompanying consumer brochures and technical specifications on all
equipment and accessories.
In-Home System Evaluations
A good contractor will make a thorough on-site evaluation of your home and your
requirements in order to accurately provide you with a recommendation. Ask for them if
they are not provided.
Warranties
All major brand equipment comes with a factory warranty. However, these will vary from
manufacturer to manufacturer. Ask for an explanation of the specific terms of the
warranties being offered. In addition, there are extended warranty options available from
most manufacturers.
References
You are making a sizable investment and will have to live with the results. It's always a
good idea to get references from the contractor. Two or three should be adequate to get a
feel for the contractor's quality and reliability of work.
How To Buy An Air Conditioner
You're thinking of purchasing a new central air conditioning system, and you want to be
smart when it comes to choosing the right system for your home and family. A wise
decision, when you consider that you'll be feeling the effects of your investment for years
to come.
Buy From A Respected, High-quality Manufacturer
For more than 37 years, Green Valley Cooling & Heating has affiliated itself with the
highest quality manufacturers of heating and cooling equipment available. That's why
we're proud to feature Carrier and Bryant air conditioners, furnaces and air cleaners. These
companies have been in the comfort business since 1904, and are widely considered the
premier brands of superior indoor comfort products. In our experience, Carrier and Bryant
products have exhibited both durability and reliability and they echo our promise of the
very best we can offer.
When you hire Green Valley Cooling & Heating to care for your indoor comfort, you're
hiring a company who genuinely cares about quality.
How To Understand Maintenance Agreements
Not only does Green Valley Cooling & Heating install, service and repair commercial and
residential HVAC and refrigeration units, we also offer a quality preventative maintenance agreement. Any brand. Any size. We can maintain your system for
you even if we did not install it. We perform a 14-point inspection of your system three
times a year. Our maintenance visit allows our technicians to spot any trouble before it
becomes a costly repair job.
Did You Know
Certain air conditioning and heating problems can double operating costs without reducing
comfort? A dirty evaporator, condenser and blower can increase air conditioning or heat
pump electrical usage by 50 percent or more. As much as 80 percent of all air conditioning
and heat pump compressor failures could be eliminated if the problems leading to the failure
were corrected in a timely manner. Just 1/100 of an inch of dirt or film on an evaporator
coil can reduce its efficiency by 5 percent.
Guarantee Comfort With A Maintenance Contract
Because HVAC systems, once installed, work so efficiently and require little or no effort
on the part of the homeowner, it's easy to forget how they run until a crisis develops.
However, like any major piece of machinery, HVAC systems need routine maintenance.
No matter what type of HVAC system you install, chances are they'll be expensive, so it's
worth maintaining them properly.
Service
Follow these valuable maintenance instructions and save money every year on
unnecessary or frequent repairs.
Furnace And Air Conditioner
Both your furnace and air conditioner should be tuned up by an expert technician once or
twice each year to keep them running efficiently and safely. Properly maintained equipment
will also last longer and have fewer repair calls.
Furnace Filters
Filter maintenance differs depending on whether you run your furnace fan in the 'Auto'
position or the 'On' position at your thermostat. In the 'Auto' position the fan only runs
when the furnace burners or the air conditioner is running. In the 'On' position, the fan
blows constantly. This is the recommended setting for consistent air cleaning, lower
cooling bills in the summer and better air distribution year 'round throughout your house.
Preventive maintenance
We strongly recommend that you get a preventative maintenance agreement on your
equipment. Preventative maintenance is to your heating/cooling system what oil changes
are to your car. Not only will it help your system run better and last longer, but will also
help you cut your energy costs.
We offer a prepaid maintenance program that costs less than what you would spend for
individual tune-ups.
Raise your comfort level
They may not be glamorous, but there's little doubt that the components that make up the
HVAC system (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) are some of the most critical
features of your home. Installed and maintained properly, these systems have a major
impact on your comfort and health. When considering a new home or renovation of an old
one, it's worth taking the time and investing the money to select the right systems to
guarantee a long, comfortable life span for you and your home.
Think efficiency first
When you sit down with our sales representative, be sure to consider the environment into
which the HVAC system will be placed.
Is your home in a warm, humid climate, or are you subjected to brutal winter conditions?
Where will the system be installed? Think about space requirements.
What size unit is appropriate? Units that are too small can't efficiently heat or cool a home.
But HVAC systems can be too large as well. That can lead to homes not being kept warm
or cool because of the time it takes to engage the system or an unnecessary increase in
energy bills because of an overly large system.
Where will you have the thermostat and control systems installed?
Hot weather comfort is a must
Follow these valuable maintenance instructions and save money every year spent on
unnecessary or frequent repairs.
Furnace And Air Conditioner
Air conditioners have come a long way from the days of fans and window units. Early air
conditioners were noisy, inefficient and costly to operate. Today's central air units have
made great strides in all three areas.
When considering a new air conditioning system, there are two factors, or gauges of
measurement, to consider:
Energy efficiency
The U.S. government has created a set of standards known as the Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Rating (SEER), which manufacturers use to test their central air conditioning
systems. The systems are then assigned a SEER rating. The higher the rating, the lower the
operating cost, because the higher rating indicates a system which uses less electricity.
Government standards require new systems to have a SEER rating of at least 10, but many
newer models boast a rating of 18 or more. Be aware that the higher the SEER rating, the
higher the price. However, many HVAC experts and homeowners feel that the additional
cost will be paid back in long-term energy savings, particularly in climates where an air
conditioner is used year-round.
Cooling capacity
This is not as easy to define as the SEER rating is. Cooling capacity refers to the number
of "tons" of cooling, with one ton equal to 12,000 Btu per hour. This is harder to gauge,
because the "tons" will vary hour to hour, morning to night, depending on the weather and
the home's cooling needs. A general rule of thumb is that the larger the capacity, the higher
the cost to pay for the equipment and the more electricity needed to run it.
Determining what cooling capacity your home requires is tricky and it's wise to go over
your home's environment with your contractor so they can help you make an informed
choice. Factors involved include the size of the home, level of insulation, amount of direct
sunlight (particularly from windows which face east or west, which let in the most light
and heat), and whether the house is in the open or shaded by trees. If anything, an
undersized air conditioning system is better than one that's too big. An overly large system
will run more often but won't dehumidify the home as efficiently as a smaller system.
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