How to Pick an Air Conditioner Installer in Utah

According to the official website of The Weather Channel, the average warmest month in Salt Lake City, Utah is July. If you are thinking about finally getting an air conditioner for your home, you better do it before summer starts. Choosing an AC vendor can be bit challenging, though, if you do not have the right information. For instance, did you know that you need to make an energy load calculation to determine which unit best suits your needs?

If you're uncertain how to proceed, you may want to pick a trusted HVAC company that will conduct the necessary measurements to determine which air conditioner unit is appropriate for your home. Aside from the size of your home, these technicians might also check which areas tend to get the warmest and thus require cooling the most. By choosing the right AC unit size, you don't need to spend more money than you have to.

Experience and reputation also matter when selecting an AC installer, so choose someone who's been in the business. After all, longevity is usually a sign of good service. However, always ask for references and always verify if the contractor is licensed to perform installation. Once you've picked the right company to install an AC unit for your home, you can look forward to a cooler summer season next year.

Choosing an HVAC Contractor in Salt Lake City

In places like Salt Lake City, Utah, where winter can get freezing cold and summers sweltering hot, a well-maintained HVAC system is no doubt an important fixture in every home. Access to the services of a reliable HVAC contractor is thus essential to ensure the right system is installed in your home, and that proper maintenance is conducted.

To find the right HVAC contractor, it is advisable to consider several options in your area. You then need to screen out those without the proper licenses, insurance, and workers' compensation. Fly-by-night or scam operators can rip you off and take away your money for nothing, so it is important to check whether a potential contractor has an office and has legitimate contact information other than a cell phone number.

The length of time a contractor has been in service can also be a good gauge of its reliability. If you can get references from past and present customers, that will help assure that a potential contractor is doing legitimate service and has been performing well. Cost is, of course, another important consideration.

However, the lowest cost does not always mean the best value. You need to check the kind and extent of service you are getting for the amount the contractor charges. Likewise, you might want to choose an HVAC contractor that offers sufficient service warranty coverage.

Types of Home Heating System

Home heating systems are used to keep a house warm and to maintain a comfortable temperature during the cold season. If you plan to install one, there are a variety of models in the market with each having different heating capacities and sources.

Electric Resistance Heating

An electric resistance heating system converts almost 100 percent of electrical energy into heat. However, only about 30 percent of coal and gas (the primary source of electrical energy) are actually transformed into electrical energy thus making it more expensive than other types of heating systems. Some types of electric resistance heaters are electric furnaces, electric radiant heaters and electric space heaters.

Active Solar Heating

This type of heating system uses solar energy that can be stored in batteries and later used to heat the house. In situations where the system isn't able to directly provide adequate energy to suit the household requirements, the energy stored in the batteries is used.

Furnaces and Boilers

The most common type of home heating systems are furnaces and boilers. Furnaces distribute heated air in the house by using ducts, while boilers heat water for the showers and sinks, and produce steam, too. Hot water is distributed by a baseboard radiator or a radiant floor system, and steam passes through pipes into steam radiators.

Calibrating Your Heating System's Thermostat

When doing some maintenance work for your home's heating system, one of the things you shouldn't forget to do is to check if your thermostat is still calibrated. Although an uncalibrated thermostat may seem like a small problem, faulty controls can affect your furnace's performance.

Uncalibrated thermostats could give you wrong temperature readings as well as incorrect temperature controls. For example, when you turn the knob to 73 degrees Fahrenheit, a faulty control could read that incorrectly as 75 degrees, which would heat up the house more than you want to.

To check its calibration, simply place a paper towel on the wall, then tape a thermometer to it. The paper towel should act as a shield to keep the thermometer from touching the wall directly. Once the mercury in the thermometer settles, compare the reading with the thermostat. If there are differences between their temperature readings, then it's time to pry open that thermostat and check inside.

Dust is the archenemy of your thermostat. Pull on the faceplate and it should snap off, or unscrew it if necessary. You can use a soft brush for cleaning the inside, as well as rubbing a new dollar bill onto the contact points. Blow off dust that the brush can't reach; also check if the thermometer inside the thermostat is in a straight position.

If problems still persist, then it could be time to repair your thermostat, or check your heating.

How to Buy an Air Conditioner

It does sound incredible for anyone to intentionally leave the refrigerator door open for a rush of cool air in the thick of a heat wave. This is just what Mookie did, the character played by Spike Lee in his 1989 film, Do the Right Thing. In reality, this action only makes the room hotter because the heating pump behind it extracts and releases more heat in the room. Here are tips to buy yourself an air conditioner:

  -- Shop for an air conditioner during winter – brands are often on sale and in stock;

  -- Choose between a window, wall, or portable air conditioning unit – wall units need a hole in the wall, while portable units need a window for the ventilation hose

  -- Measure the room to be cooled – buy an air conditioner with the appropriate cooling capacity

  -- Check the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of air conditioners – units with higher ratings consume less energy

  -- See if the louvers are adjustable – purchase models that have rotating louvers to circulate air

  -- Reckon special features – some brands offer remote controls, timers and filters to remove odors, dust and especially allergens

  -- Compare products – search consumer sites and other reliable sources for advice and feedback

Try the air conditioning at the store – listen to the noise that a unit makes and see if it can be operated easily. Don't even think of looking to your fridge for a blast of cold.

Tips on Cleaning Your HVAC Ducts

Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC system is one of the most important equipment in your home as it keeps you warm in winter and cool during the summer. To serve its purpose when you need it most, you have to keep it clean and free of contaminants at all times. Here are some important tips on cleaning your HVAC ductwork.

Clean all your AC and heater's vents with your vacuum cleaner. Carefully remove the screws that hold the vent covers in place. All screws (two or four, depending on the make) should be visible enough for you to completely remove the cover. If you are removing a cover from the ceiling, stay out of the way of falling dust.

Dust out your vents by placing the vaccum's long, flexible hose attachment into each vent and suck out any dust and debris. Make the cleaning as efficient as you can by extending the hose's reach as far as you can. Make sure to empty your vacuum bag of dirt every time it fills up as you go through all the vents in your house.

Wash the vent cover with hot water and an efficient kitchen cleaning detergent. Use a clean rag to go over the entire surface of the cover to make sure that you clean all of its nooks and crannies. After drying, carefully set each cover back in place.