What is an HVAC contractor & what do they do?

It’s no secret that a properly functioning HVAC system is crucial to the comfort of your home. But when it comes time to hire an HVAC contractor, how can you be sure you’re getting someone who will do the job right? Here are some important questions to ask before hiring an HVAC contractor in Annapolis, MD:

ARE YOU LICENSED AND INSURED?

When hiring an HVAC contractor, you want to be sure the company is properly licensed and insured. This protects you in case something goes wrong during the job. Be sure to ask for proof of both before moving forward.

When you ask about licenses and insurance, inquire about other credentials the contractor may have. This can include things like industry certifications or training. The more credentials a contractor has, the better.

WHAT’S YOUR EXPERIENCE?

You’ll want to hire a contractor with plenty of experience. Ask about the contractor’s history, how long the company has been in business and the types of projects the company typically works on. The more experience contractors have, the better equipped they will be to handle your project.

With these, you can also ask about references. Good contractors should be able to provide you with a list of past clients who can vouch for their work. This way, you can get first-hand accounts of what it’s like to work with them.

WHAT’S YOUR POLICY ON OVERTIME CHARGES?

Some contractors will charge you extra for overtime, and others won’t. It’s important to know the policy before hiring a contractor because this can be a significant cost if you’re not careful.

You need to understand how contractors charge for overtime. If they charge by the hour, you need to know their hourly rate. If they charge a flat fee, you’ll want to know how much that fee is.

CAN YOU PROVIDE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE?

When hiring a contractor, you’ll want to get a written project cost estimate. This way, there are no surprises down the road. The estimate should contain a list to show exactly what you’re paying for.

Be sure to ask about any other documents the contractor will need, such as a contract or proposal. These can give you additional information about the project and help you make an informed decision.

WHAT’S YOUR WARRANTY POLICY?

Most contractors will offer some warranty on their work. This protects you in case something goes wrong once the job is complete. Be sure to ask about the warranty terms, such as how long it lasts and what it covers.

You should also inquire about any other guarantees the contractor offers. For example, some contractors may guarantee their work for a certain period. Others may offer a money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with the results.

This will help you understand what type of protection you have if something goes wrong. It is also safe practice to save all paperwork related to the warranty in case you need to use it later.

WHAT ARE YOUR PAYMENT TERMS?

HVAC contractors will typically require some payment upfront. This is usually a deposit that goes toward the project’s total cost. Be sure to ask about the payment terms before hiring a contractor.

You’ll also want to know when the final payment is due. Some contractors will require full payment upon completion of the job, while others will give you a grace period to make the payment. It’s important to know this so you can budget accordingly.

WHAT’S YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

Sometimes, you may need to cancel your project after hiring a contractor. Knowing the contractor’s cancellation policy is important so you don’t lose your deposit.

Some contractors will allow you to cancel without penalty if you give them enough notice. Others will charge a cancellation fee, which could be a percentage of the total project cost. Be sure to ask about this before hiring a contractor.

Commercial buildings account for more than 35 percent of the total energy consumption. In most of those structures, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems consume more than 30 percent of the total energy use.

Building owners and facility managers are challenged with getting financial returns from their investments while providing a building that is energy efficient.

As HVAC systems have become complex, non-linear and dynamic, facility managers are increasingly using building management systems to collect data about the performance of the building, as well as energy consumption by individual equipment such as HVAC systems.

Below, SenseWare offers five ways visibility into such data can help drive maximum HVAC efficiency:

1. Comfort of indoor environment 

The importance of an HVAC system in commercial and residential buildings cannot be overemphasized.

The fact remains that fresh air is good for the body, and in commercial buildings, it helps improve productivity. A good ventilation system helps to reduce the number of pollutants, bacteria and odor in a facility.

Data analytics of HVAC systems helps in regulating the temperature of a building and lowering humidity by ensuring that moisture in a building is kept under control. Good ventilation systems remove breeding grounds for dust mites, which contribute to causing eczema.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Engineers (ASHRAE) conducted research that led to Standard 55: Thermal

Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy. Standard 55 describes how

to assess comfort from specific measurements and predict when most people

will be comfortable.

Data analytics of the HVAC system provides real-time data that helps in maintaining this standard and in preventing any setbacks.

2. Energy efficiency

Operating a HVAC system at optimum efficiency is a challenging endeavor. The number of set points, levels and feedbacks of boilers, chillers, pumps, fans, air delivery components and more can cause costly inefficiencies. Add to that the fact that weather variables affect the heat transfers in a building and increase loads on the HVAC.

Data analytics will provide visibility into your HVAC system with sufficient accuracy that will help you take corrective action and reduce the energy demands and peak load distribution of your HVAC systems.

Facilities Net states that HVAC system maintenance in commercial buildings is responsible for saving more than 40 percent of energy, therefore it is essential to utilize data analytics in understanding the effects of malfunctioning HVAC systems on energy use, energy consumption and energy demand.

3. Improve indoor air quality

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), poor indoor air quality is among the top factors of environmental risk. Pollutants in the air can aggravate allergies and asthma in some people and cause dizziness and headaches in others.

Air quality depends on various factors like people entering the facility, use of other equipment and presence of electronics. With the proliferation of cheap sensors, air quality data is now being accurately measured.

This visibility into the data can help adjust your HVAC system to improve the air quality. You can develop a maintenance plan that includes:

• Inspection, serving, and cleaning
• Replacement of parts
• Documentation of procedures
• Calibration of components control system

4. Preventive maintenance

HVAC systems often operate at suboptimal levels at least 40 percent of the time in buildings. This is due to the complexity of the buildings, as well as many moving parts like fans, pumps, air-conditioners, ventilators and dampeners.

Data analytics uncovers the following problems of your HVAC system:

• Additional runtime
• Poor control settings and programming errors
• Stuck dampers causing excess outside air intake
• Valve leakage leading to uncontrolled supply-air temperatures
• Outright equipment failure

5. Actionable insights

Data analytics provide essential insights to help with monitoring, controlling and maintaining your HVAC systems. In the absence of this type of information, facility managers physically perform manual audits that are inefficient and time-consuming.

With the advent of IoT, more sensors are being used in buildings for various equipment. The data analytics out of this ocean of data can help determine the best course of action to take to maximize HVAC efficiency.

You can also analyze the information in various ways to better understand the opportunities it presents. For example, you can look at the normalized data for your building type, square footage, schedule and climate.

You can break down the data to better understand energy consumption based on building occupancy and time, thereby identifying peak demand reduction opportunities.