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So you have an HVAC maintenance service scheduled, and you want to make the most of the appointment. If you’re not exactly sure how to do that, you’re not alone.
An experienced, reputable HVAC technician won’t mind you paying close attention and asking lots of questions. It’s your house and your heating and cooling system, after all, and you should absolutely want to understand your system and how to properly care for it.
Luckily, your technician is here to help. Use our guide to help you ask the important questions and gain some valuable insight into your house and how it functions.
Thermostat wars have divided families for years. Get an expert to settle the matter and ask what temperature ranges are best for which season. This will save money and possibly, family bonds.Your HVAC technician can also offer recommendations on other ways to keep the house comfortable without running up staggeringly high utility bills. During transitional seasons, for example, you may be able to rely solely on your HVAC system’s fan setting along with some open windows to create airflow.
Your HVAC technician can help you wade through the options of smart thermostats and find the right one for your home, after explaining the benefits, installation process, and costs.(Spoiler alert: Smart thermostats are awesome and very user friendly. You’ll find plenty of great options at a range of price points, too. And it’s so rewarding to see your energy costs go down once your thermostat is programmed and in use.)
Many HVAC companies offer indoor air quality solutions such as duct cleaning and air purifier or dehumidifier installation. If you and your family suffer from allergies, air quality is an important issue to address. At the very least, you’ll want to get a recommendation on air filters that capture allergens.
Duct cleaning can really improve airflow and indoor air quality. Ask your tech to check out the situation in your ducts and let you know when they should be cleaned next.
Specific maintenance plans vary from company to company, so make sure to find out what is included in your HVAC company’s maintenance plan. Sometimes there are different plan levels to choose from, and your tech can recommend which one is best for your system’s condition.
Schedule at least two maintenance appointments per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. However, some companies offer more frequent maintenance checks with their annual maintenance programs. And if you have an older system, you might want it checked a little more frequently than a brand-new unit.
Maybe your old unit is running fine for now, but you’ll want to know how far in the future you might need to replace it. Ask your A/C tech if a few repairs will keep it running smoothly for few more years or if you need to start looking for a new one before this one imminently bites the dust.
If you know you’ll need to replace your unit soon, ask the tech for advice and guidelines to narrow down your choices. If you live in a relatively temperate climate, you might ask your HVAC technician about a heat pump and whether it would be a good option for both A/C and heat.
There are plenty of resources out there that explain SEER ratings, but if you want a quick and dirty explanation from a pro, just ask your tech. They can help you understand how SEER ratings fit into the big picture of selecting a new HVAC unit or evaluating the efficiency of your current unit.
Reach out to the Airtegrity team today for all your comfort needs!
