The Value of Installation

People, not equipment will give you comfort.  According to EnergyStar, a division of the Environmental Protection Agency, more than half of all air conditioners in the United States are installed incorrectly.  When it comes to a new heating or cooling system, you want more than the best price or the top brand name.  You also want the best people, and the best company, to install it for you and keep it working properly long after you buy it.

“If you seek value, rate your service provider before you rate the price.” 

Here is a quality installation checklist of things you should look for in a service provider:

• Did the service technician review the load calculation for your home?  In order to install the right size unit, contractors need to know the home’s heating and cooling requirements, based on a variety of factors (size of home, type of windows, insulation amounts, etc.). 
• Did the service technician review the manufacturer’s performance data with you to demonstrate why the unit you’re buying is the right size?  A unit that is too big (oversized) may have a higher upfront cost, raise your utility costs, remove less humidity and fail more quickly. 
• Did the service technician present proof that the system will deliver the specific efficiency based on AHRI certification?  Equipment, which has not been tested by an independent organization or is not designed to work together may not deliver the promised high efficiency performance.
• Did the service technician review the condition of your duct system with you?  Leaky ducts can cause health problems and waste energy.  Also, if ducts are too small they will cause the HVAC system to use more energy and/or deliver less comfort.  Small ducts also lead to early equipment failure.
• Did the service technician review the condition of your current furnace or boiler venting system with you?  When fossil fuels are consumed, combustion gases are produced.  If these silent threats are not removed by the vent system, you could suffer grave health problems.
• Will the service technician measure and document the airflow?  If the furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump does not have the proper amount of airflow, the unit will waste energy, may create health and safety problems, fail to keep you comfortable and may cause the unit to fail more quickly.
• Will the service technician measure the refrigerant charge?  If the refrigerant charge is not within the tolerance of the QI standard, the unit cannot deliver the full energy savings and system performance.
• Will the service technician ensure the unit is safe electrically?  The fuses and circuit breaker must be correct for the unit being installed.  Sometimes new equipment has different requirements than the system being replaced.
• Will the service technician test the firing rate of the new furnace or boiler?  The contractor need to measure and possible adjust the firing rate to ensure proper operation.
• Will the service technician test the venting system for the new furnace or boiler?  The technician needs to verify that all of the combustion gases are vented outside the home.
• Will the service technician test the thermostat?  The technician needs to ensure that the unit operates properly in all modes and the thermostat is fully compatible with the new equipment.
• Will the service technician test the amount of air going into each room?  The technician needs to measure the conditioned air flowing into each room to ensure that each room receives the appropriate amount.
• Will the service technician provide a copy of the installation checklist with a record of all measurements taken during installation?  These benchmark measurements will be used by future technicians to ensure that the equipment continues to perform as it should.
• Will the service provider provide a copy of the owner’s manual, manufacturer’s warranty and their warranty?  These documents provide valuable information for warranties, future maintenance, or repairs.  You should know what the manufacturer and the installing company will do in the event of a problem.
• Will the service provider provide a copy of the recommended maintenance requirements of the new equipment?  If such a program is offered, it should tell you the components inspected, time frames for inspection, and other factors involved.   

The installation and maintenance of your system has a greater impact on your wallet and overall comfort than the equipment itself.  Industry research shows that 90% of the value you receive is tied directly to the installation and maintenance.