Homes and modern offices have sophisticated plumbing and mechanical systems to deliver cooling, heating and ventilation services. Efficiency of room air-conditioner is measured by SEER, which is BTU/hr output divided by watts of electricity the unit uses.

This gives you the idea of how much heat you get out from the unit compared to electricity being put into it. Higher the value of SEER, lesser the electricity being consumed by air conditioner.

Heating and Air Conditioning Tips

When the air-conditioner is on, make sure to shut off the bath, kitchen and ventilating fans after they have finished their job to increase their efficiency. The most common substance that is used in residential air-conditioners is Freon and it is illegal and punishable to vent it to the open air.

When you want a rapid temperature change, it is advisable to not set the thermostat higher or lower than desired temperature. This will not change temperature any faster but will only make the system work longer.

Cooling efficiency of heat pump is measured by SEER rating. Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) measures the heating efficiency of heat pump. HSPF of at least 8 and SEER of 12 or higher is considered high efficiency.

While cleaning the heating and air conditioning system, do not try to clean the condenser coil without turning off the power.

Hiring A Heating And Air Conditioning Professional

Most of the homeowners feel that hiring a professional for the heating and air conditioning is a painful process. But there are few simple things that must be kept in mind to so that you get a professional and experienced contractor without getting cheated in the entire process.

The first and most important thing you must do to hire heating and air conditioning professional is to check the qualification and credentials. Legitimate professionals will happily share this information but if the person is reluctant to share any background, it is better not to hire one.

Ask for the certificate of insurance and make sure that the material used by the contractor is of good quality. Always be cautious of the heating and air conditioning contractors who ask for substantial down payments or ask for the checks made out to someone other than the name of the firm on invoice or contract.

It is advisable to insist on the waiver of lien from all the subcontractors who will be supplying labour and materials for the heating and air conditioning unit.  If your contractor does not pay the subcontractors, they might enforce a mechanic’s lien against your property preventing you from selling it.

These days many people are searching to find ways to save money on heating and air conditioning.  When they begin looking, ductless air conditioning cost comes up as an effective way to reduce the overall cost of ownership for air conditioning systems.  In many part of the United States having air conditioning is practically a necessity, and for these areas the ductless air conditioning cost is very attractive.

Why Ductless Air Conditioning Costs Less

There are a couple reasons why ductless air conditioning costs less.  Some are direct reasons, while others are more abstract.  The first reason that ductless air conditioning costs less is simple physics.  Hot air rises, cool air sinks.  In a ductless air conditioning system the cooler is placed at the top of the house and the cold air sinks and spreads throughout the home.

With a standard duct system many times the evaporator is in the basement and the blower has to push the air up into the house.  What this means is a higher energy bill as the blowers are forced to try to make the cold air go up when it naturally wants to go down.  This can lead to increased energy costs, especially with prolonged use.

The second reason that a ductless air conditioning cost is less then a normal duct one is because the cost to maintain a duct based system is generally higher.  For a ductless system there are less moving parts and for those that are there they are easier to trouble shoot and maintain.  There also is not the duct work to interfere with the operation.  Ducts can cause problems by getting clogged or having leaks in them.

In addition ducts are not the most efficient way to bring in air, as the air not only has to cool the duct area down in addition to the home, but the duct also has to be insulated on top of the house in order to ensure a constant temperature.

Finally, for the most part to install and set up a ductless air conditioning system costs less then a duct one, especially in a home with no pre existing duct work.  In those cases it is much cheaper to go with a ductless system.

There are many different kinds of ductless systems so costs will vary, but in general they are cheaper then their duct versions.  Because of these reasons ductless systems are becoming more and more common.