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Helpful Hints for Homeowners
The information below was provided by energystar.gov, in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Table of Contents
Maintenance Checklist
Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.
A typical maintenance check-up should include the following:
- Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.
- Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
- Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increase the amount of electricity you use.
- Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
- Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
Cooling Specific
- Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
- Check your central air conditioners refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
- Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.
Heating Specific
- Check all gas connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.
Actions to Do Yourself
Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.
10 Tips for Hiring a Heating and Cooling Contractor
- Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs.
- Ask for referrals — Ask friends, neighbors, and co-workers for contractor referrals. You can also contact local trade organizations for names of members in your area.
- Call references — Ask contractors for customer references and call them. Ask about the contractor's installation or service performance, and if the job was completed on time and within budget.
- Find special offers — A heating and cooling system is one of the largest purchases you'll make as a homeowner. Keep your costs down by checking around for available rebates on energy-efficient ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment. Begin your search at www.energystar.gov.
- Look for ENERGY STAR — ENERGY STAR qualified products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and offer significant long-term energy savings. Contractors should be able to show you calculations of savings for ENERGY STAR heating and cooling equipment.
- Expect a home evaluation — The contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system and home to assess your needs. A bigger system isn't always better; a contractor should size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A good contractor will inspect your duct system (if applicable) for air leaks and insulation and measure airflow to make sure it meets manufacturers’ specifications.
- Get written, itemized estimates — When comparing contractors' proposals (bids), be sure to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. A lowest price may not be the best deal if it's not the most efficient because your energy costs will be higher.
- Get it in ink — Sign a written proposal with a contractor before work gets started. It'll protect you by specifying project costs, model numbers, job schedule and warranty information.
- Pass it on — Tell friends and family about ENERGY STAR. Almost one-quarter of households knowingly purchased at least one qualified product last year, and 71% of those consumers say they would recommend ENERGY STAR to a friend. Spread the word, and we can all make a big difference.
- Get the ENERGY STAR Guide — For complete information on keeping your home comfortable year-round, get the ENERGY STAR Guide to Energy Efficient Cooling and Heating (2.6 MB) or 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).
Working with a Heating and Cooling Contractor
Whether you want to schedule an annual equipment maintenance check-up or you’ve decided that you need to purchase and have new heating or cooling equipment installed, you will need to hire a contractor. The following sections will help you find the right contractor, get quality and value from the contractor and your new equipment, and get a signed agreement on the work to be done. Many of the following recommendations also apply if you choose to work with a contractor to make other home improvements such as home sealing or duct work.
A Quality Contractor Should Do the Following:
- Perform an on-site inspection of the job you want done and provide a detailed bid in a timely manner.
- Demonstrate to you that they are licensed and insured to repair or install heating and cooling equipment (many states require this).
- Be able to provide their certification for refrigerant handling, required since 1992.
- Have several years of experience as a business in your community.
- Provide examples of quality installation of energy-efficient heating and/or cooling equipment work, with names of customers that you can contact.
- Complete and submit the warranty information card on your behalf.
A Reputable Contractor Should:
- Show you a layout of where the equipment is going to be installed.
- Determine the size of your new equipment using ACCA/ANSI Manual J®, or an equivalent sizing calculation tool.
- Check refrigerant charge using pressure and temperature measurements.
- Explain the financial benefit of installing ENERGY STAR qualified equipment.
- Diagnose and repair your duct system, if needed.
- Provide financing for the purchase, if necessary.
- Explain the warranty on equipment, parts, and labor.
- Clearly explain the benefits of regular maintenance and help you set up a schedule to keep your system operating at its best.
- List in detail all the work that is being contracted. Specify all products by quantity, name, model number, and energy ratings.
- Provide manufacturer’s warranty, equipment documentation, and contractor installation warranty information (if applicable).
- Give the payment schedule and state the scheduled start and completion date.
- Describe how disputes will be resolved.
- State the contractor’s liability insurance and licenses if required and outline paperwork and permits needed for the project.
Additional Resources
Energy Star
Environmental Protection Agency
American Standard
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