Be Wary of Low-Ball HVAC Quotes

February 17th, 2012 Posted in Choosing an HVAC Contractor
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Whether you are replacing a heat pump, furnace, or central air conditioning system, it’s always a good idea to get three or four proposals from different HVAC contractors before choosing a contractor to handle the job.  The only exception is when you have a good relationship with an HVAC contractor and you are comfortable with using that contractor for your HVAC system replacement. 

After you have the competing proposals in hand, don’t just automatically go with the lowest bidder.  In fact, if any bid is significantly lower than the others, be very careful about choosing that contractor.  An unusually low bid can be a sign that something is amiss.  The contractor may have specified an undersized unit due to a bad load calculation (or no load calculation at all) or may be proposing to install lower quality equipment.

Alternatively, the low bidding contractor could be cutting corners on the installation which is potentially worse than using substandard equipment.  Proper installation of your HVAC system is every bit as important as the quality of the system itself.  Poorly installed equipment will not operate as efficiently as it was designed to operate and will fail sooner than it should.

It is well worth the small additional expense of hiring a reputable HVAC contractor with experience in HVAC replacement and installation who will take the time necessary for a top quality, professional installation of your new heating and air conditioning system.  You can be confident that you will be getting a system correctly sized for your home that will operate at peak efficiency.  You will also be able to depend on that contractor in the unlikely event of a problem down the road.

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Use Energy Efficiency to Sell Your Home

February 17th, 2012 Posted in Reducing HVAC Energy Costs, Uncategorized
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Selling a home in today’s housing market can be a challenge, to say the least.  With so many homes on the market at rock bottom prices, it can take a long time to get an offer on your home and it will probably be thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars less than your asking price even if your home is competitively priced.  The problem is that houses have almost become a commodity. If your home is just like half a dozen other homes for sale in your area, buyers have no incentive to make you a better offer.  The buyer can just keep making low ball offers on homes like yours until some desperate homeowner takes it.

What you need to do is to make your home stand out from the others so that the buyer wants your home, not a home like yours.  One way to make your home stand out is by improving the energy efficiency of your home and the most fertile ground for energy efficiency improvements is your home’s heating and cooling system.

Studies have shown that homes with third party energy efficiency certifications sell significantly faster and for more money than conventional homes.  Even if your home doesn’t have a third party energy efficiency certification, buyers are clearly interested in energy efficiency.  Use that to your advantage by having an system efficiency analysis done by a good HVAC contractor and have them install the recommended package of energy efficiency improvements. 

If your heating and cooling system is more than 10 years old, consider installing a new energy efficient HVAC system.  You probably won’t recover the full cost of the system when you sell, but it will make your home more attractive to potential buyers and reduce the amount of time your home sits on the market.  Be sure that your real estate agent highlights your home’s energy efficiency and provides potential buyers with information about the improvements to your heating and cooling system.

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Making the Repair or Replace Decision

February 17th, 2012 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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As your home’s central heating and air conditioning system starts to age, breakdowns and repairs become inevitable.  The temptation is to continue repairing your system until your HVAC technician declares that the system is finished.  After all, no one is eager to spend the money for a new heating and air conditioning system when the existing system can be repaired for much less.

However, in many cases repairing your old HVAC system is a case of “penny wise, pound foolish”.  First, an HVAC system can be expected to last about 15 years. If your system is more than 10 years old, consider the current repair as a sign that the future holds more breakdowns and repairs.  Don’t assume that you will get another 10 to 15 years of trouble free service out of the unit.

In addition, modern heating and air conditioning systems are much more energy efficient than those sold 10 to 15 years ago.  Increased efficiency means lower heating and cooling costs year after year.  These savings alone can offset a significant portion of the cost of a new HVAC system. 

Finally, consider the cost of the air conditioner or furnace repair.  A relatively inexpensive repair to a system that’s less than 10 years old and has otherwise proven reliable is probably a cost effective solution, but you should give serious consideration to a new HVAC installation before spending money on expensive repairs to a system of any age and especially before paying for anything more than the most minor repairs to an older heating and cooling system. 

When in doubt, talk to your HVAC contractor or technician.  They can help you decide if your old system is worth fixing or if a new energy efficient HVAC system makes financial sense.

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Are Fireplaces and Woodstoves Good Home Heating Alternatives

February 17th, 2012 Posted in Reducing HVAC Energy Costs
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Almost every homeowner would like to reduce their home heating costs.  One option that often sounds appealing is heating or supplemental heating with wood.  This sounds like a great idea, but the reality is that it’s really only an effective alternative in a few limited circumstances.

First, heating with an open fireplace is very inefficient. Most of the heat generated in a fireplace is lost up the chimney.  In addition, in order to burn properly and to exhaust smoke, carbon monoxide and other combustion gasses up and out the chimney, a fireplace has to draw air in from the room.  That air is replaced by cold outside air that makes your way into your home.  A fireplace can actually make the rest of the rooms in your house colder. 

A modern woodstove is much more energy efficient than a fireplace and in some cases can supplement your home heating system, but there are a few caveats.  First, energy efficient woodstoves are expensive and for safe operation, they need to be installed by a professional adding further to the cost. 

Next, take into consideration the cost of the wood or pellets you will be burning.  If you plan to cut, split, and stack the wood yourself, consider the amount of time and the cost of the tools such as a chain saw, axe, and wood splitter.  Don’t forget to factor in the cost of a back injury or worse, an accident involving a chainsaw or axe.  It could take a very long time to make up the cost of a wood stove in energy savings.

The reality is that for the vast majority of homeowners, a fireplace or woodstove can add ambiance and charm to your home, but they are not very practical for home heating.  More effective alternatives include having a system efficiency analysis done by a reputable HVAC contractor or replacing an old furnace with a new energy efficient furnace.

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