Top Questions to Ask Your HVAC Professional if You Want an Eco-Friendly House
Making your house as energy efficient as possible has plenty of perks. You get to trim down your utility bills, know that you’ve taken steps to decrease your carbon footprint, and enjoy a more comfortable place to live. But making your HVAC truly eco-friendly requires the advice of an experienced professional.
Once you’ve shopped around and chosen a credentialed contractor, it’s a good idea to pick their brain and make sure you’re getting the most energy efficient products and that you have all the information you need to use the system properly. Home Improvement Leads offers a checklist of important questions to ask your HVAC contractor.
What Does Your Home Maintenance Inspection Include?
To truly determine your home’s current shortcomings and inefficiencies, your contractor should examine more than just your HVAC unit. He or she should let you know the state of your air ducts, insulation, and windows. If these aspects aren’t in tip-top shape, you could be wasting your money on replacing or retrofitting your system.
Do You Have Experience Retrofitting HVAC Systems to Make Them More Efficient?
Your HVAC system may be inefficient, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be replaced. Make sure your contractor has insight about repairing or retrofitting an existing system versus replacing it with a new one.
Do You Recommend Any Energy Star Rated Brands?
Energy Star qualifying products meet the energy efficiency guidelines defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Your contractor should be well-versed in equipment that is certified as efficient and will perform well in your home.
How Much Will I Save Installing Energy Efficient Equipment?
The right equipment can pay off in the long run by decreasing your home’s energy demands. Your HVAC professional should be able to give you savings estimates so that you can calculate your return on investment.
Will This Project Meet Current Building Codes?
Building codes are always being updated, and energy efficiency is an important aspect of those codes. You want your HVAC contractor to be well-versed in current regulations so that your project complies with the codes and all the necessary permits are obtained.
Are There Any Incentives Available for This Project?
If there are any energy efficiency rebates and financing available for your project, you don’t want to miss out on that. Make sure your contractor not only knows about available incentives, but follows all criteria to make sure the project qualifies. If you don’t complete the paperwork, you won’t receive a rebate.
What Maintenance Will the System Require to Remain Energy Efficient?
Does the contractor offer a maintenance plan? What kind of performance guarantees does the manufacturer offer? Is the workmanship warrantied? Once you find out this information, ask for tips on staying up-to-date with DIY maintenance in between professional maintenance checks
Replacing or repairing an HVAC system is a big investment, but it can really pay off if you make the right decisions and inform yourself along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get the most out of this project.
