Steps to Prepare Your Home for a New HVAC System Installation

While you’re not expected to participate in the new HVAC system installation itself, there are some things you as a homeowner can do. Taking these steps first will speed up the installation process and assure you that you’re getting the most from your investment.

Double-check with the contractor regarding its size in tons or Btus. If there’s any doubt, verify that you and the contractor conducted a load calculation before sizing the new HVAC system. Accurate sizing is crucial to the energy efficiency, comfort and longevity of the new equipment. A reputable contractor will use Manual J software for this exercise.

If there’s any doubt about what size will work best, it’s actually better to undersize rather than oversize an HVAC system.

Have the ductwork tested for leaks.

Whether it’s new ductwork or you’re able to use the existing ducts, make sure that it’s sealed tightly and its capacity is adequate for the new system. Ductwork leaks increase heating and cooling bills and decrease the air quality indoors.

HVAC contractors have equipment that measures the amount of leakage, and it should be as close to zero as possible. Older ducts may need cleaning to optimize their efficiency and improve indoor air quality.

Prepare the yard.

If at all possible, the outdoor condenser should be placed on the north side of your home during a new HVAC system installation, or in a sheltered, shady place. Its slab should be perfectly level, and all sides of the condenser should have at least two feet of clearance.

Move the furniture.

The interior component of the new HVAC system isn’t as heavy and awkward as the outdoor condenser, but it will help the installation team if all the furniture has been moved along the path.

Prepare the pets.

Make arrangements to shelter the pets elsewhere or in a quiet, closed room during the HVAC installation.

Preparing ahead for the new HVAC system installation helps you get the most comfort and energy efficiency from the equipment. To learn more, contact Air Assurance, providing trusted HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC System Installation and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

5 HVAC Installation Tips That Save Money, Headaches Down the Road

Whether you're installing an HVAC system in a new home or updating your existing equipment, you're going to rely on its heating and cooling capabilities to keep you comfortable for many years. The following HVAC installation tips can help ensure that you reap the greatest benefit from this major investment.

• Hire a trustworthy contractor. A reliable, reputable contractor will have North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification, and the skills and experience to install your new HVAC equipment correctly. Take the time to research and locate an HVAC contractor who'll install equipment that matches your needs, and who'll stand behind his work with a guarantee. If you base your choice of contractor solely on price, you may end up paying more down the road if the work performed is sub-standard.

• Ensure correct system capacity. Your contractor should assess your home based on square footage, insulation level, window type, and a number of other critical factors. Then, he or she should calculate the needed equipment capacity using the Air Conditioning Contractors of America's (ACCA) Manual J. Inaccurately sized HVAC equipment won't keep your home comfortable, and could result in higher energy bills due to inefficient operation.

• Take insulation into account. Your home's insulation plays an important role in both comfort and energy savings. You won't benefit from an energy-efficient system that's correctly sized and properly installed if you're lacking sufficient insulation in your home.

• Consider your ductwork. Your new, ultra-efficient HVAC system won't effectively heat and cool your home if your ducting design isn't adequate, if the connections aren't sealed, or if it's not insulated properly. Your ductwork is a key factor that should be considered in the planning stage of an HVAC purchase.

• Get your new installation inspected. Once your contractor has completed the job, make sure you schedule an inspection through your municipality. A building inspector will check that your new system is installed correctly, and that the work meets all local codes.

To learn more helpful HVAC installation tips for your Broken Arrow area home, contact us at Air Assurance. We've been providing outstanding service to our customers since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

The Best Quote for Your HVAC Installation: How Do You Choose?

The Best Quote for Your HVAC Installation: How Do You Choose?

So, you followed our advice and sought various quotes from different contractors for your upcoming HVAC installation. Great work! Now, it's time to sit down with those quotes and suss out who will provide the best work and quality equipment for the price. Easier said than done.Here are some tips for how to choose the best quote for your HVAC system's installation.

• No lazy inspections. Take a moment to remember your initial meetings with prospective contractors. Did they perform a thorough inspection of your existing HVAC system and your home? You can rule out any quote(s) from contractors who did a short, sight-only inspection as there is slim chance their quote is accurate. HVAC contractors need to inspect your HVAC system, insulation, and your home to get accurate load calculations from Manuals J and S. This ensures the new equipment is sized properly.

• Paper, please. Your quotes should be presented on official letterhead, pre-printed bid forms, etc., that have the company's name, address and license number at the top. If you got your quote over the phone, you can skip that one. You need written information to make a comprehensive comparison.

• It's all in the details. Are the quotes detailed? If there is a quote that looks good, but is broken into two prices: parts and labor, without any itemized listing of parts, equipment and installation procedures, it might not be the best one. If your contractors all have nicely detailed, itemized pricing you'll be able to make line by line comparisons.

• Warranty information. Have they included critical warranty information? You can go online to research the warranty specifications for an individual piece of HVAC equipment, but every company has their own set of warranties for parts and labor. While first time costs are important, your focus should be set on lifetime costs. Perhaps a company that has slightly higher charges for parts or labor also offers more extended warranties. Good warranties are worth paying extra for.

Interested in receiving a competitive quote for your upcoming HVAC installation? Contact Air Assurance. We always provide reliable quotes to Tulsa area homeowners.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock