Your HVAC Unit

There are many factors that must be decided upon when choosing a high volume air conditioning system for your home or business. This is not an inexpensive product you are deciding to add to the place where you will spend a great deal of time. Tonnage, energy efficiency ratings, features, and maintenance projections are just a few of the areas that must be included in the decision making process.

These decisions will impact the amount of money you disburse to the power company and HVAC installation and maintenance companies. The goal, of course is to save as much money as possible while still providing for the comfort of your family or employees.

 Governing Organizations

Having given all your energy to deciding on the appropriate system, you must now begin the search for a competently licensed installer that will do a good job. The fact that you have purchased one of the best systems on the market will not do one bit of good unless you now find an installer who will do the job correctly.

Too many times, the homeowner or business owner is left to their own devices when coming to this point in the purchasing decision. Possibly this article can provide information helpful in this area.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America(ACCA) is a non-profit association with a membership of 60,000 professionals and 4000 businesses. This association works together in unison with others to promote professional contracting, energy efficiency, and the healthy indoor environments. They do this by writing standards for the design, maintenance, installation, testing, and performance of indoor systems. They bring contractors together through mutual courses of study and online forums. The ACCA also provides participants with legal, technical and marketing resources. The association also lobbies for contracting businesses in every state and before the United States Congress.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers(ASHRAE) is another society that impacts the professionalism of an HVAC installer. This organization was formed in 1894 to be a source for technical standards and guidelines. It has become an international society that offers educational information, courses, seminars, career guidance, and publications. A code of ethics has been established by this organization and allows input by the general public along with HVAC professionals. ASHRAE is devoted to researching the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly HVAC technologies.

Why Find the Best Installer?

Obviously, the answer to this question is so you can save money. But, there are some other reasons.

HVAC installers should always be following the manufacturer’s recommended procedures and adhere to current HVAC standards as set forth by professional associations, organizations, and government departments.

A bad installation will create a situation that does not allow your HVAC system to work at its peak. When you were shopping for your system, you saw efficiency ratings for the unit. These efficiency ratings can be compromised if the unit is not installed correctly. If efficiency ratings are compromised, then the end result of that is you will be paying the utility company more money to cool or heat your home or business.

If your installation is not correct, then the overall performance of the system will be less than adequate. A bad installation will hinder output and sometimes set up a situation where further tonnage will have to be added in the future to maintain comfort levels. A bad installation can also cause a homeowner or business owner constantly going to the thermostat to adjust the call for energy. This will increase its cost. An incorrect installation will shorten the lifespan of the system. The system will become over taxed at peak points of the season putting undue stress on mechanical parts. This level of stress will cause the unit’s lifespan to decrease and ultimately require you to go into your pocket again to do a reinstall.

Here are some things that can go wrong with an install.

  • The vents are not placed at the right height or location for correct air flow.

  • All ducts are not connected correctly, sealed adequately, and not well thought out.

  • The tonnage and sizing needed for your space is not calculated correctly causing the system to be inadequate and burn out sooner.

  • Electrical wiring diagrams and installation are not correct causing breakdowns in electrical connections, voltage allocations, and capacitor resilience.

  • Ventilation calculations have not taken into consideration positive pressure, negative pressure, and balance.

  • If a low bidder on the job gets the job, it could turn out to be a lose, lose, lose situation. The company who didn’t get the job loses. The homeowner loses because the installer is using lower quality resources for the install and cutting corners. The low bid winner loses because they are going to have to use inferior products and cut labor costs.

Qualities to Look for in an HVAC Installer

So, what are the ingredients to a professional and ethical service provider in the HVAC industry. Business and homeowners have many different kinds of companies from which to choose. There are one man operations and companies that have been in business for years who have many employees in service trucks. How can you know you are getting a competent company that will install your equipment correctly.

Experience with the Manufacturer.

Look for a company that knows the unit you have purchased and has experience with it over a period of time. HVAC technology is always evolving and changing based on energy conservation ideas, new inventions in technology, and the demands of the public. The company you choose to install your system must have been able to teach and train their employees the particular and peculiar characteristics of that brand. Experience with the product is important because in the day to day work required for the installation, only experience will solve issues when manuals, guidelines, and engineering specifications only give cursory instructions for the location. The installer is the person who is the necessary and important ingredient between theory and reality.

 Reputation

According to an ancient proverb; “A good name is more to be desired than great riches.” That applies to this situation because a company’s or person’s reputation in the HVAC field always precedes them and follows them. You want a company installing your HVAC equipment that is trustworthy, competent ,and well recommended.

Certification

Technicians who are employed by air conditioning and heating companies are educated in vocational schools, industrial settings, and on the job. An HVAC technician will often earn a certification given by the North American Technician Excellence organization(NATE). Recent surveys indicate that most HVAC companies prefer to have these kinds of technicians. NATE is the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. This kind of certification currently lasts 2 years.

A variety of skills are needed for installation and maintenance of HVAC systems. Typically, a person will attend high school and then a vocational career program followed by an apprenticeship. They will then be in possession of an associate’s degree in HVAC. They may also study electrical or mechanical engineering. Technicians just coming into the career may also serve out an apprenticeship along with in-company classes taught by highly skilled and experienced senior staff. These classes and on the job training will include electronic and electrical components, airflow physics, blueprint reading, pipe fitting, sheet metal work, plumbing and refrigerant processes.

It is important for the reader to understand that Freedom Heating and Air Conditioning staff and company meet all of the educational and organizational standards as set forth by all governing associations mentioned in this article.