6 tips for efficient heating ventilation cooling

 Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning The good news here is that some systems require little attention. Aheat pump only needs a yearly service call by a technician who willcheck belts and filters and replace them as needed. He should alsooil moving parts and inspect the wiring. A gas-fired, forced-air heating system has simple requirements too.Furnace filter should be changed every month or two during heatingseason, and the circulating fan oiled once a year. Call in a pro tocheck the heat exchanger, flue and ducts and to adjust the burnerevery other year. Other systems, like an oil-fired boiler, require annual maintenance-- flue cleaning, a fuel-filter change, cleaning and adjustment ofthe jets -- and often need attention more often than that. Thesechores should be handled by a professional. Air-conditioning units are a little less maintenance-intensive. Atthe beginning and end of each cooling season, you should clean orreplace the filters, vacuum out the unit and lubricate the motor.If the unit is not cooling properly, call a technician to check thepressure level of the refrigerant. This Old House: Air conditioners really are getting better Arrange for service calls before the start of heating or coolingseason. You'll get better attention and have more flexibility whenscheduling the appointment. Watch tips to cut cooling costs ? When hunting for a company to maintain your system, look for onethat designs, installs and services the type of system you have.Full-service companies tend to be up to date on the latest advancesin the field. Besides checking that liability insurance and workers' compensationpolicies are in force -- standard operating procedure with any hire-- check with neighbors, friends and family who have used thecompany over several years. How did the system run under the company's care? Did thetechnicians always leave the working area clean? How quickly didthe contractor respond to emergencies? Were the service peoplepunctual when you called with a problem? A quality provider will have an emergency number that's staffed 24hours a day, seven days a week and enough technicians to respondwhen the weather is awful and the calls pile up. HVAC services Any contractor you're considering also should offer these productsand services: Heat-loss calculation This process estimates the Btu capacity needed to heat or coolyour home. The calculation should include the amount and type ofinsulation in the walls, attic and floors of your home, as well asthe type, number and location of windows and doors. This data is combined with your regional climatic conditions todetermine the size unit you need. Software has made thesecalculations relatively easy. HVAC technicians who don't performthem often specify oversize equipment to be safe. That's dollarsout of your pocket now and each time you get your utility bill. This Old House: Energy auditors account for wasted energy Energy advice When sizing an HVAC unit, a good contractor will advise you ofenergy upgrades, such as adding another layer of insulation to theattic. These may allow you to buy a smaller HVAC unit. This Old House: Insulating an attic Efficient equipment