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7 Things Your HVAC Contractor Should Know

7 Things Your HVAC Contractor Should Know

Posted by
Ed Miller on Mon, Sep 15, 2014

When you are facing an air conditioning or heating system replacement in your Jacksonville home, there are some things that you can expect a well-qualified HVAC contractor to take into consideration.

1. Carbon monoxide gas can come from other sources than a cracked heat exchanger.

Any combustion-powered appliance can be a source of CO2 leaks. Ovens, dryers, water heaters, and other gas-burning appliances can be sources of CO2 leaks. Having a carbon monoxide detector installed is a necessity. HVAC contractors should test all avenues of CO2 leaks and make certain that any gas-burning appliance is properly installed and vented.

2. How the ducts are installed is important.

Improper installation of duct systems can reduce the efficiency, or even cause equipment failure. Air ducts should be run in such a way as to avoid contact with electrical or plumbing lines run through the same space as the ducts. When a HVAC system is installed, it is important to perform a load calculation. It is possible in some cases, that if you have made improvements to the insulation and overall airtightness of the house that existing ducts would need to be replaced. The load balancing test will help the HVAC contractor determine what size ducts are needed for the home. When the ductwork is installed, it should be sealed to reduce leaks. Undersized ducts can cause back pressure to build up, and make the blower work harder. This can cause premature failure of the HVAC system. When installing a new HVAC system with existing ductwork, even if it is the appropriate size, the ducts should be tested for air leakage.

3. Ignoring the potential for energy savings for the whole house.

Many older homes, built before the widespread use of air conditioning weren’t designed to be airtight. Air moving through the home was often a desired quality, especially in the summer time. This was central to the cooling system in place, which normally consisted of having windows opened at both ends of the house, drawing the breeze through the house, cooling it off. Now, houses are designed to minimize the air coming in, or going out of the house. A properly sealed and insulated house can help you save a lot of money on your monthly utility bills.

4. Increased energy efficiency places more emphasis on the ventilation systems.

With the increased emphasis on homes being airtight, in order to conserve energy a new problem has arisen. Fresh air from outside the home does not penetrate the walls. Odors and moisture don’t escape the home. This can significantly reduce indoor air quality. This has been shown to increase allergies and other breathing problems. This is where the ventilation in HVAC comes in. A properly designed mechanical ventilation system provides control for fresh air coming into the home. Previously, ventilation was handled by the small gaps in the structure of the home. This could include areas such as the garage or crawl space. Proper ventilation systems allow for control over where the intake and exhaust breaches the barrier of the walls. This also helps improve the air filtration and conditioning along with removing excess moisture from the air.

5. Size is important when it comes to HVAC equipment for your home.

A HVAC contractor should make certain that the proper sized HVAC system is installed in your home. It used to be that a technician could just follow a pretty simple rule of thumb and judge the size of the system required for the home. However, this isn’t that accurate as every home is shaped differently. The system needs to be appropriately sized in order to have a system that provides heating and cooling for your home in an energy-efficient way.

6. The lowest bid isn’t always the best bid.

You should always get multiple bids for work performed on your home. It’s a common but not necessarily good practice to under bid the project and then either cut corners or add on costs after the work is under way. Good work does cost money, but you can still find a HVAC technician that can perform the work properly, without breaking the bank.

7. The house is a system and should be treated as such.

By treating the house as a system, not just a conglomeration of parts, you can tackle energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and home comfort-related issues much easier. This approach also helps reduce the amount of noise that comes in from the outside and reduces maintenance costs for the home.

All of these factors should be considered when installing a new HVAC system whether it’s in a new house, or as a replacement for an existing system. Choosing a knowledgeable contractor to do the work right the first time can save you money in the long term in maintenance and replacement costs. When HVAC contractors keep these things in mind, everyone benefits.

where you’ll find snyder

Snyder Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electric serves families across Florida. You'll find our technicians are just a short phone call away in neighborhoods throughout these counties:

  • NORTH FLORIDA
  • Alachua
  • Baker
  • Clay
  • Duval
  • Flagler
  • Nassau
  • St. Johns
  • SOUTH FLORIDA
  • Broward
  • Martin
  • Miami-Dade
  • Palm Beach
  • St. Lucie

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From the get go I could tell that the Snyder employees were truly professionals and didn’t push to make sales like other companies I’ve talked to my whole life. They took the time to explain so that I could make a decision. The installers and later the duct cleaners were very respectful during their work here. Thank you.

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Snyder provided an amazing experience from start to finish. Most of us dread getting estimates with pressuring salespeople. Erik was a great guy, explained all my options and didn’t try to pressure me to act quickly! Justin followed up with my husband and I to offer further assistance in our decision. Again, no pressure, just helped with our follow up questions.

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-Chuck Jr.

Snyder was easy to get in contact with and had availability the next day. Clint came out and needed some parts so had to reschedule us for the next day for installation. He did a great job converting our old 3 knob shower to one. Looks great! Professional and courteous. 100% recommend this company, especially Clint.

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