• Find a certified HVAC technician. Not all states require certification, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea. Certification requires a certain numbers of HVAC education and testing.
• Contractors should be licensed and experienced. Ask about the number of years experience they have and the types of work they've done in the past. Ask if they're insured and bonded as well.
• A quality HVAC installation company should know how to properly size your home for a heating and cooling system. Some companies will only rely on the square footage of your home when they do an estimate. This is an indicator of a poor service company. HVAC specialists should use software or Manual J professional guidelines when determining what size of a furnace, air conditioner or whole-house system for your particular situation. Systems that are designed for your home will have better temperature and humidity control than those that are based off of square footage. In order to accurately determine the size of the home expect the contractor to spend time measuring floors, ceilings, windows and doors and be available to answer questions.
• Ask prospective companies what kind of maintenance they offer. Also ask them to check for leaks in your existing system. Up to 30% of the efficiency of your furnace system is due to the duct work. Leaks in the ducts can significantly impact your overall heating and cooling costs and effectiveness.
• Inquire about a house pressurization test if the furnace you're considering will burn oil or natural gas. A pressurization test will ensure that there is no danger of a backdraft. A backdraft is when hazardous fumes from the furnace can be sucked back into the home which can pose a tremendous safety hazard.
• Ask to see a written proposal and/or contract before agreeing to any work being performed. Ask about service after the sale and their warranty policy.
• The lowest bid may not necessarily be the best value. A service company that has up to date tools, knowledge and experience will be able to do a better job even if the cost is slightly higher. However, what is difficult to know is how much poor service can actually cost you over time.
• Ask for references and check them. If a company doesn't have references or provides names and no phone numbers, keep looking. When you check references be sure to ask when the customer received service. You don't want to rely on references that are several years old as service practices may have decreased since then. Try to check a reference that is less than one year old.

Finding the right HVAC installer is not a fun task to take on, but it is an important one. Your HVAC system is one of the most important elements of your home and it is worth the time to be sure that it is installed correctly.

Do Your Homework
The best way to save money is to do a bit of research up front. The easiest way to get a poor deal is to take the first bid you get. A little bit of time spent up front can save you a significant amount of money. First, call at least 3 local HVAC service companies and get recommendations and bids from each. Make sure that the bids you get from each company are for the same thing so you're comparing apples to apples. Then research the recommended systems on the internet to see if what is being recommended makes sense for your situation. If not, call and follow up. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Then use the quotes as a starting point for negotiation.

Great Ways to Save
Right now there are a few ways to get some good deals without resorting to drastic measures. First are the federal tax rebates available when you upgrade your furnace and air conditioning systems. You can save up to 30% of the cost of a new system, including installation. You simply file the correct paperwork with your tax return and you can get the 30% back in the form of a federal tax credit. In addition to the federal program, most local utility companies offer some kind of rebate or credit as well - most are in the $400 to $600 range depending on what you're upgrading. Systems have to be energy star rated above a certain level to qualify.

Don't Cut Corners if you'll Lose your Warranty
When you purchase a new HVAC system you're not just purchasing the component parts - you're also purchasing a warranty that guarantees their productiveness for a specified period of time. When you shop for a discount HVAC system, make sure that however you save money isn't going to void that warranty. Check with the manufacturer's guidelines. Most manufacturers require that you have an HVAC installation company or licensed professional install the system. The last thing you want to do is buy a scratch and dent system from someone then have it go belly up during the first major cold snap of the year only to find that your warranty isn't valid.

Buying a new HVAC system or component can be a hefty investment. Play it smart by shopping around and taking advantage of the existing credits and rebates available. Just remember that cutting corners can cost you money in the long run and is probably not worth the risk.

Ask for Referrals
Ask your friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members  if they have an HVAC service company that they recommend. Word of mouth can be a great way to find a company that you would otherwise not have known about. A referral is really a reference – you already know that at least one person had a good experience with the company and that is worth quite a bit.

Find the Product First
If you’re shopping for a new furnace or air conditioner and have been looking at various manufacturers online look at their site for a ‘Recommended Service Provider’ section. Oftentimes manufacturers can point you in the direction of a heating and cooling service in your area. The benefit of finding a licensed HVAC professional on a manufacturer’s website is that they are likely certified or trained to deal with the type of system you’re already looking at.

Check with your Utility Company
Most utility companies have a section on their website where they list recommended service technicians. Since the utility company is often the first call a homeowner makes when their HVAC system goes out, or when they need HVAC installation,  so it makes sense that a utility company would maintain a list of licensed professionals who do quality work in the area.

Internet
Another good place to look for providers is the internet. Look in the online yellow pages or check Craigslist for providers in your area. Be sure to ask for, and check, references. Also be sure that anyone you hire is licensed, insured and bonded. You

Due Diligence
No matter how you hear about a company, be sure to do some basic research on them before hiring them. Check references, check with the Better Business Bureau and take some time to ask them some questions. Are they licensed, bonded and insured? How long have they been in business? Do they warranty their work? If you need a particular repair done, be sure to get price estimates from at least three companies and if there is a wide difference don’t necessarily go with the cheapest company. As with anything else, you tend to get what you pay for with HVAC services so if a price is too good to believe you should do further investigating before going with the lowest bid.

By following these few tips you should be able to find a reliable, reasonably priced, licensed heating and cooling services provider in your area.

Interview, Interview, Interview
The best way to get a feel for an HVAC installation professional is to ask them questions. Find several companies and ask them all the same questions. You’re looking for a company or provider who can provide a high quality service at a reasonable rate and who is licensed in your state. Below is a list of questions to get you started.

Questions to Ask Prospective HVAC Service Providers

1)      Are you licensed in this state?
Many HVAC manufacturers require that the systems be installed by a licensed contractor, failure to do so can impact the warranty.

2)      Are you bonded and insured?
Insurance is critical in the event of an accident on your property. Since workers will be in your home you also want to be sure they are bonded.

3)      Do you have an HVAC certification?
Certification indicates a general level of HVAC education which is required in some states for licensing.

4)      What kind of training and experience have you had with my particular HVAC system?
If you’re looking for a service provider to assist you with an existing system, you want to be sure that they have experience with it .

5)      Can you provide at least 3 recent references?
If a provider hesitates or can’t provide references, cross them off of your list.

6)      What kind of warranty do they give on their work?

7)      What rates do they charge?

Check References
During the interview you should have received several names and numbers as references. Be sure to call and check up on the references. Ask how satisfied the customer was with the service provided, the value for the money spent and any other feedback that they’d care to share with you. Ask if the customer would use this HVAC service provider again in the future. If not, ask why not.

Also check the companies standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB can tell you how many complaints, if any, have been filed against the business in the last 3 years and the outcome of the complaints. You can also check with your local Labor and Industries office to see if the company has any open L&I claims.

By interviewing several companies and following up with the references they provide, you will be able to easily pinpoint the best HVAC service provider in your area. The time spent will be worth it when you find yourself in need of a HVAC professional.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_IxeFxhvhQ

If you find the winter months to be a little to dry inside your house... a bypass humidifier may be the perfect solution!

How to Install a Programmable Thermostat

What Does HVAC Duct Do?

In homes with a central heating or cooling system, the duct can be viewed as the highway the fresh air, or conditioned air takes, as it makes it way into each of the areas of your home, and back to your central HVAC unit.

All Central HVAC Systems use two main duct runs to move that air:

• Supply Duct - which supplies the conditioned air throughout your home. You can identify with the supply line easiest by going to one of the vents in your floor, wall or ceiling. The air got there through one of the supply ducts. If your unit is in the attic or crawl space of your home, you can immediately recognize the supply duct as it will (should) all be wrapped in insulation.
• Return Duct - which takes air from your home, and returns it to the central unit to be conditioned. To understand the business end of the return duct, just go to the filter grill where you change your HVAC filters every month. The air entering through the filter is the return air. In your attic or crawl space, the return duct may be insulated as well, but in most cases, it is just sheet metal or flex duct.

Types of HVAC Duct in Residential Use

In most homes you will only find a few types of duct.

Sheet Metal Duct - which is a smooth wall galvanized sheet metal, either squared or rounded. Sheet metal duct work moves the air most efficiently through your home, since the inside of the duct is smooth and has no ridges or obstructions to disrupt the flow of air. in addition tot he duct itself, sheet metal duct must be wrapped with insulation before or after it is installed, in order to provide a thermal barrier between the unconditioned space and the air moving through the duct.

Insulated Flexible Duct - Likely the most common over the last 20 years or more, flex duct does exactly what it sounds like, it flexes, making it the quickest to install and easiest to use in most installations. Flex duct generally comes in compressed rolls of 25 feet, in many various sizes and varying r-values, or Insulating values.

Insulated Duct Board - This type of duct has become more popular in the past few years. The easiest way to understand duct board, it to think of a 4x8 sheet of insulated board, 1/2 - 1 inch thick. The board is then cut and squared, to form a box through which the air flows. Many new construction homes have gone to this type of duct due to the ease of installation and high performance insulating value.

In a future post, I am going to get into the duct sizing methodology, and help you understand how different sized ducts can effect your home HVAC system.

Additional Reading Resources

• Wikipedia

Gas Furnace Deals

Before you look for a bargain on a new furnace, educate yourself with a bit of information, so you can know what your are talking about when the time comes that you shop for a gas furnace deal.

Know the Basics about your Existing Gas Furnace!

The two major things you need to know about your existing HVAC gas furnace are:

1. Furnace AFUE, or Efficiency
2. Poise, or direction of airflow on your current furnace

Current AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency

Knowing your current efficiency is more important that you know! If you have a naturally vented furnace right now, there may be some limitations on how you vent the new unit! For instance, most older furnaces are 72-80% afue. They vent through a chimney or other metal flue system. If you decide to go higher efficiency and get a condensing furnace, you have to consider how it will get fresh air and vent through the roof or sidewall of your home.

Furnace Poise

Essentially, there are three very popular types of furnace poise.

1. Upflow Furnaces- The most common poise, where the fresh air enters the furnace from the bottom, and the heated air flows in an upward direction, out through the ducts. These are most commonly installed in utility closets, basements, etc. If your furnace is standing up on one end... it is most likely an Upflow furnace.
2. Counter, or Downflow - Where the air enters the furnace from the top of the unit, and travels in a downward motion, where it enters the duct. These are most commonly installed in either a TALL attic or an garage in a warmer climate where heat is not often used. The furnace stands on one end as well.
3. Horizontal Flow- Wher the air enters on one side or the other, and travels through the system horizontally. These are easily identified as the furnace is lying on its side. These are most commonly installed in Attics or crawlspaces.

Quick ID Tip - If you have central air in your house also, just locate the AC evaporator coil. It will have 2 copper lines leading into it. The coil is always on the exit side of your furnace... so if you see it on the bottom, you have a downflow. If its on top, you have an upflow!

Always Ask for a Better Price!

I dont care if you found a Goodman Gas furnace Dealon ebay, or you are talking with a local contractor you found on Angies List. ALWAYS ask for the best price! If you are ready to buy right then and there... just ask one simple question: "If I buy right now - whats your BEST Deal?"

From a sales perspective, your salesperson should be asking you that question... beat them to the punch and ask first! You WILL save additional money just by asking!

Related Reading

To learn more about Gas Furnaces... visit the wikipedia page and start reading!

Gas Furnaces on Wikipedia