Heating and Air Conditioning Systems

There are many different types of central heating and air conditioning systems. The right one for you will depend on where your property is situated i.e. what type of weather conditions you get, the size of your home and your own personal requirements i.e. the size of your family. The idea behind any system is the same i.e. you want to heat the house when it is cold and cool it when it is warm. This will involve either moving air or moving water. All systems work on either one or a combination of these principles.

A gas forced air system is probably the most common central heating system in the US today. Basically a furnace heats the air which is then blown through your home by a system of fans. When you want to cool the air i.e. in summer, the same system takes the air in your home and passes it via a refrigeration device. That is the most basic explanation but there really isn’t an awful lot more to these systems. Do they work? Yes but they are not very efficient, are prone to being drafty and can result in needlessly high bills. You could have a standalone electric system which is popular as it is cheap to install. But it is expensive to run and you cannot add air conditioning to the same system so that is an additional cost should you need cool air in the summer.

You could have a water based system often referred to as Hydronic. A hot water system works on the basis that water is heated and distributed through your home via a system of radiators which then emit heat to those individual rooms. Radiators have become smaller and more effective than those in use in the 1960′s but it is still not an incredibly efficient system and cannot be used for air conditioning.

The best system is probably a combination of a couple of the above technologies. You should discuss your options with a professional Heating and Air conditioning systems company. They will be happy to advise you on the best option for your particular needs.

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What to Look for in a Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor

Most of us couldn’t imagine what life would be like without our heating and air conditioning units. This is especially true during the worst of summer and winter when temperatures can make life practically unbearable if you don’t have the help of an air conditioning or heating unit working to make things comfortable. That’s why, if yours suffers any problems or you simply need to have it inspected, you don’t want to waste any time or money on heating and air conditioning contractors who won’t do the best job possible. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make this process a simple one.

Ask Around

This is probably the easiest way to get a short list of excellent heating and air conditioning contractors in your area. Whether you need heating or air conditioning installation, repairs or inspections, no advertisement is better than someone you trust reporting that they had a good experience with the professional they used.

Go Online

If you don’t know enough people who have used heating and air conditioning contractors, you’re far from out of luck. Go online and take advantage of the countless review sites out there. Obviously, you don’t know the people leaving the reviews, so take each with a grain of salt.

Ensure They’re Licensed

The necessary credentials will differ by state, but every serviceman who wants to work on your HVAC unit has to be certified and licensed to work. If they’re not, don’t bother considering them, even if you’re offered a discount to ignore this issue. For one thing, it doesn’t say much for their professionalism if they won’t even take the time to get the proper credentials necessary to work legally. However, it may also reflect that they’re out of the loop in terms of best practices in the industry.

On this same note, never let anyone on your property until they’ve proven they’re insured. Otherwise, if they get hurt or break something, you could be the one held responsible.

Confirm They Know Your Make and Model

Finding the right heating or air conditioning service means asking about which makes and models a serviceman has experience with. Just like not all mechanics are experienced with working on certain cars, many repairmen simply may not know the type of HVAC system you rely on. Always go with those who have trained on and/or worked on your specific type of unit.

Always Get Estimates

Always get a quote before allowing anyone to work on your unit or install one for you. Preferably, you want it in writing so there’s no confusion later.

Furthermore, when you want heating or air conditioning installation, a serviceman will generally visit your home to take a look at what the process will entail prior to providing you a quote. However, you should expect the same kind of service when you simply want heating or air conditioning service on a preexisting unit. Until they see your unit, don’t take any quotes seriously.

Don’t put off repairs, inspections or installation a minute longer. Using the above advice, get the contractor you need today.

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