What an HVAC Technician Can Do for You

Published by: Paul Batchie, pbpublic@gmail.com
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

If you're considering upgrading your Connecticut house with a new HVAC heating and cooling system, the person to call is a qualified HVAC technician. Switching to an HVAC system makes a lot of sense because they are unrivaled for maintaining air purity and proper humidity levels year-round, and the latest systems do so much more efficiently than ones from even just a few years ago. With an HVAC heating system, adding central air-conditioning is merely a matter of hooking up the main unit to the existing system and taking advantage of ductwork that's already there. Your HVAC tech can match your needs to an optimally-designed system, for maximum comfort and economy.

But even if you already have an HVAC system and are not in the market for a full upgrade, it pays to call in your HVAC technician on a yearly basis to check your system's health and make any necessary corrections. Making relatively small adjustments now can save big money later on in mechanical repairs and lost fuel savings, let alone in other costs stemming from system failure, such as Winter freeze ups, which can be very expensive indeed.

When examining your existing system, your HVAC technician will make sure everything is running right and he will advise you about making improvements. He may, for example, suggest upgrading your thermostats to programmable models. There are several models available, and their use can save into the hundreds of dollars each year. But some are complicated to program and may end up not being utilized to their full capacity. So choosing the right model to fit your needs is important.

Since HVAC systems operate on the movement of air, air distribution must be optimized for your home to have even heating and cooling. If you have any cold or hot areas you should discuss them with your tech, and he can adjust the system to even things out. He can also adjust things like the minimum humidity level, which makes a big difference in comfort and health during the dry Winter.

Your HVAC tech also will inspect your ductwork. One of the great ironies of life is that duct tape, that canvas and rubber-cement wonder that is good for just about every use under the Sun, is not good for actual ductwork. Many states even have outlawed its use on ducts, because it cannot stand up to the rigorous temperature changes ducts go through. So a common task that needs to be done on older systems is the resealing of the ducts, which these days is done with either mastic or a high quality aluminum tape. The government's Energy Star Website reports that sealing ducts can improve efficiency by twenty percent, and sometimes by much more than that.

If your ducting is exposed to high humidity, it should be insulated to prevent mold-generating condensation. Your HVAC tech will discuss this with you.

If your system operates off a burner your HVAC tech will see that the burner is working properly. He will ensure that the heat exchanger is intact, which is important, lest combustion gases get into the domestic air. He will check to see that the motors are receiving full voltage, and are lubricated and running correctly. He will clean evaporative and condensing coils, check refrigerant levels, see that thermostats and other controls are operative and that drains are clear, all for maximum efficiency and system life.

Lastly, he will change filters and will advise you if the inside of the ducts needs cleaning. This is your best defense against the spread of dust and bacteria.

With basic routine maintenance, and some relatively minor improvements such as smart thermostats and sealing of ducts, a qualified HVAC tech can help keep your family more comfortable and healthy, and save you a lot of money in the long run.

For a professional HVAC technician in Connecticut, browse our directory and contact us today.

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