The 5 Best Questions for Your HVAC Technician

Hiring an HVAC technician to perform repairs, maintenance, or an installation? Be sure to ask certain questions before you sign on the dotted line and commission the work.

Among the top topics to cover are your HVAC checkup checklist and some other concerns that are listed below.

Questions for Your HVAC Consultant

1. How does the company determine the size of new HVAC equipment?

If you are replacing your HVAC equipment, the new system should be sized properly. Merely replacing your old system with one that’s the same size or bigger, or using the square footage of your home to determine size, won’t do. Your consultant should reply that the company inputs data about your home — number of occupants, orientation of the home, climate, and other factors — into industry software to more accurately determine size.

2. What tasks are on the consultant’s HVAC checkup checklist?

Depending on whether it’s summer or winter, the visit should include a checkup of these things: refrigerant level; coils; blower motor; thermostat; controls; burner; heat exchanger; gas lines and connections; capacitor; filters; condensate line; fan motor; and electrical connections.

3. Can the HVAC consultant inspect ductwork?

Segments of your ductwork may become disconnected, while the ducts themselves may crack and develop holes. Ductwork with gaps or holes is inefficient and will raise your HVAC bills.

4. Does the company offer an HVAC maintenance plan?

Signing up for a maintenance plan — usually for spring and fall — can offer some advantages. Not only do you get regular checkups that help extend the life of your equipment, but the checkup can sometimes detect problems before they turn into big repairs.

5. Can the consultant suggest ways to make your home more energy efficient?

Changing the filter is just one way your system will run more efficiently, but a well-trained technician should be able to glance around your house and make other suggestions about how to run your system more efficiently and what you can do to save on utility bills.

For more suggestions on your HVAC checkup checklist and hiring an HVAC consultant, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning of Lorain.