What Kind of Services Does an HVAC Company Offer?

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Smooth and energy-efficient operation is an important requirement that any kind of HVAC equipment installed in any type of environment must meet. HVAC appliances, even the small pieces of equipment used in residential buildings, are complex machines that need to be installed, maintained and repaired by professionals – here are the most important services provided by HVAC companies that you might need.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Whether you have a large, complex HVAC equipment that provides heating as well as cooling or you have a separate furnace and an air conditioner, your HVAC appliances need to be regularly maintained to ensure ongoing good performance. The maintenance services offered by professionals providing HVAC near me include the regular inspection and cleaning of the system, not only when it comes to the visible, easy to access components, but also the pipe system and the ductwork. Maintenance sessions usually involve measurements to ensure that the system is working properly and its operation is safe as well.

The Installation of New Systems

This process involves accurate calculations to determine the capacity of the system to be installed, the selection of the right product and the work phases related to the installation, followed by the testing of the system to ensure correct operation and safety.

Scheduled and Emergency Repairs

Repairs make up over 80% of the work of HVAC contractors. Most technicians are trained in repairing all three types of systems involved in HVAC, namely heating, ventilation and air conditioners, but many contractors chose to specialize in particular brands and types of equipment. This also means that when you are faced with a fault of your HVAC system and you need repair, the best solution is to look for a technician in your area who is a professional approved by the manufacturer of your equipment or that has specialized in working with your type of appliance. The repair process usually involves several visits by the technician – one visit to diagnose the problem and at least one other to perform the repair.

Many HVAC companies also provide round the clock emergency services – it is a good idea to look for such a company even for your scheduled repairs, just to make sure that you have a specialist on speed dial if you need to face an emergency.

Installing Accessories

One of the best ways to ensure the energy-efficiency of your HVAC system is to install a thermostat or, if your system already has an old-type thermostat, to replace the unit with a programmable device that also allows to divide the home in zones with different temperature settings. To implement such a modern thermostat, you will have to turn to a HVAC company that has experience with the process.

Energy Audits

With the increased demand for energy-efficiency, more and more homeowners hire HVAC companies to check their homes for any problem points through which thermal exchange takes place between the home interior and the exterior and to determine whether their HVAC equipment is working properly. The findings of such energy audits can help homeowners optimize their energy usage, reduce their energy costs and improve their building’s environmental performance.

The Pros and Cons of DIY Air Conditioning Installation

Installation Pros Cons Air Conditioning

While air conditioning maintenance and even some small repair jobs could be done as part of a quick DIY project, to install an air conditioner can be somewhat more complicated as well as challenging. The problem isn’t necessarily in the installation of one unit in a single room. Smaller and simpler systems are typically quite easy to install. The challenge appears, however, when you think about installing an entire HVAC system or the AC part of a centralized heating and cooling system.

 

Why AC Installation Doesn’t Work as a DIY Job

 

Some AC units operate based on a simple premise that is similar to how a refrigerator works. However, there are many more fine details involved with cooling a large room than they are in turning on and operating a basic ice box.

 

First of all, the main challenge of installing an AC is that you need to know how powerful the unit will be and how that power can be distributed to cool off a room of a specific size. If you have a centralized AC for the entire house, then the calculations get even more complicated, since you have to figure out how the power has to be distributed evenly to each room based on its size, insulation level and proximity to the coldest areas of the home.

 

If that wasn’t enough, you’ll find that repair and air conditioning installation Denver specialists will also point out that additional elements that could become factors in deciding how the unit should be install will also include:

 

  • The size and placement of your windows and doors, as well as their ability to insulate your room from exterior heat;
  • The type and amount of insulation installed in key areas of your home (such as the roof and attic versus the floor and walls);
  • Whether or not any amount of heat will actually be produced in a room that has to be cooled – which is applicable to kitchens and bathrooms;
  • Whether the home is shaded by trees or other buildings, and whether the climate involves quick temperature changes that have to be managed by the cooling system accordingly.

 

As you can see, there are plenty of variables here, and if you ask most experts, they will tell you that any one of these unknowns can mess up your plan when you’re trying to install an AC unit as a DIY job. As a result, all of them can be counted as disadvantages, when you actually try to get the installation job done.

 

Calling in the Professionals

 

In most instances, installing an AC unit can be done as long as you have a fairly well-insulated area, and you can get proper guidance on whether or not the unit you buy is sufficient and necessary for the size of the area you want to cool.

 

Even so, you’ll find that it’s usually much better to at least get guidance from a professional, before you actually get to work. HVAC specialists know all about installing AC units and entire centralized heating and cooling units. They can provide you with proper and practical information that will assist you in the installation process, and in many cases, they can also lend a hand or take care of the entire job much faster.

All You Need to Know About Denver Heating and Cooling Contractors

A lot of people run into unforeseen challenges when trying to find an HVAC contractor at a short notice. It’s winter, your furnace just died on you unexpectedly, and your money reserves aren’t at their best. What should you do? As hard as it might seem in a situation that appears desperate, it’s important to take a step back, and learn about Denver heating and cooling contractors before starting to call the first one you might come across in a local ad.

commercial hvac installations

What Do HVAC Companies Deal with?

Knowing what an HVAC Denver contractor can and can’t do will give you a better idea of what to expect. Most companies can provide you with a quick evaluation of your system and give you a general overview of what you need, but without a thorough inspection of your system they might not even be able to tell you whether or not your system has to be replaced.

In order to get a complete inspection and make sure the contractor you hire knows exactly what to do, you’ll have to find a team of technicians who specialize in the installation you own and its specific architecture if the system.

Because of this, figuring out the precise type of company that you need to contact about your heating and cooling units is the most important information you need. The good news is that using the best online resources you’ll easily find out exactly who to call.

Areas of Expertise and Repair Specialists

Finding the contractors with ideal expertise in dealing with the type of problem you’re facing is essential. For that, you have to first have a clear picture of what the contractors you look up  can do. Some Denver heating and cooling companies specialize in repairs, while others have all the data about new and improved HVAC technologies and how to install them in your home as quickly as possible.

Repair specialists are who you should be looking for at first. With their help you can quickly get to the bottom of what is actually wrong with your existing HVAC and what you have to do to get it fixed. If it can no longer be repaired, you will need to find a reliable contractor who can replace it with a new, technologically advanced unit.

Additional specialties also include types of technologies. This is especially important for both evaluating your existing system and choosing a replacement. If your HVAC uses a gas-powered heating system, for example, you have to make sure the company you’re working with has at least 5-10 years of experience in repairing and installing these types of systems before hiring them.

Most companies deal with both residential and commercial applications, while some also work together with property management firms. If you own larger properties, and would like to install HVAC systems at a good offer, you have to start searching for the latter.

Although it might be hard to decide on which company to go with at first, you’ll find it will pay off when you manage to find a reliable and trustworthy company that can handle just the type of job you need them to do.

Important Questions to Ask Denver HVAC Providers about Their Main Recommendations

If your old furnace and AC unit are no longer working properly, it might be time to think about a replacement. But what type of system should you choose, and is it a good idea to go with any recommendation that your HVAC Denver area providers would suggest? Before making any decisions, it is essential that you do your research about local providers and ask them all the pertinent questions regarding the installation process and what you should expect.

 

Ask for a Complete Home Evaluation and an Estimate of the Costs

 

A lot of Denver HVAC providers will tell you from the start that you will need a complete home evaluation when you ask them to install a new HVAC unit instead of your old one. However, not every company goes about this task the same way, and you may find some are a lot more careless than others.

 

Before considering their services, ask the company you want to work with about their policies and procedures regarding estimates and costs, as well as the evaluation itself. Make sure you are provided with a full debriefing on the evaluation process and with a complete written estimate with regards to the workload required and the installation expenses.

 

“What Are My Alternatives for Installing a Conventional HVAC?”

 

There are many alternatives to conventional HVAC units and furnaces. One of the alternatives you can inquire about while talking to local Denver HVAC contractors is radiant heating, which has been growing in popularity a great deal as of late. Unlike air pumps, radiant heating systems don’t use up as much energy and rely on heating elements being driven through the walls, floors or ceilings to provide adequate heating.

 

If you have a larger home, and you’re considering a more controlled heating system – especially if you are thinking of subleasing a room – one of the best solutions would be to ask your Denver HVAC providers about ductless mini-split heating and cooling systems. While they can be somewhat more expensive, they use localized heating systems for each room, as well as individual thermostats you can use in case you don’t want added energy costs in a room you never use.

 

Finally, Colorado has been working especially hard to make geothermal energy more available lately. Make sure you ask your local HVAC providers about geothermal systems, their costs and their installation requirements. Compared to air-source pumps, geothermal heat pumps are not only more efficient and reliable, but also last longer, make less noise and need less maintenance.

 

Specific Questions about the Contractors and Their Policies

 

Not all contractors will want to do things by the book, and when you look at their track record, that could be understandable. However, no matter how skilled their technicians are, you should always check beforehand to see if the company in question has a valid license for installing HVAC units and can provide you with additional benefits such as a labor warranty and insurance.

 

Other issues you should also ask about include whether or not the installed system qualifies for tax credit and whether the company has a service plan in place for long term maintenance.

 

As you will see, getting informed can help you a lot in the long run, and local HVAC experts will be more than glad to help you with the questions you are interested in.