6 Ways to Improve the Efficiency of Your HVAC System in 2016

With details on why HVAC preventative maintenance is essential and how it can affect your household, let us look at the six crucial steps you need to take regularly to ensure the proper functioning of your air conditioner.

1. Clean the Condenser or Heat Pump

Outdoor air conditioners and heat pumps can get notably dirty, causing the system to work harder to create the necessary cold and warm air you want in your home.

Cleaning the condenser and heat pump reduces the likelihood of damage to any internal components. You should ensure that there is no debris on the top and sides of your outdoor air-conditioning pumps and units.

Use your garden hose on the fins, making sure that you get in between the crevices to get all the gunk out.

Also, double-check that your unit is level. If lopsided, the refrigerants that are so important in helping your AC work well, will be disjointed. Your condenser and compressor could be at an increased risk of breaking down as a result.

2. Check the Filter

One of the most apparent reasons for air conditioner repair is a dirty air filter. Changing the filter is one of the more straightforward ways of doing HVAC maintenance to improve the air conditioner’s efficiency, reduce energy costs of heating the home, and decrease the likelihood of needing repairs.

Check your filter monthly to ensure it isn’t dirty or clogged. If it is, it’s a good idea to give it a good wash and run air over it. As for changing the filter, about once every three months should suffice. If it looks dirtier than usual, then replace it at once, especially if you have pets.

The AC filter can freeze if it is too dirty and then thaw, causing water damage.

If you have a reusable filter, clean it gently with a soft cloth. After that, add some mild soap and water.

If it’s not reusable, head to the store and buy a new one. If you or your family have allergies, it’s good to get a HEPA or hypoallergenic filter. These filters will help the most purify the air.

3. Regular or Annual Professional Check-Ups

A check-up comprises an on-site visit from an HVAC technician who will examine the HVAC system and ensure it operates at optimum performance. Depending on the technician involved, the inspection may include doing any of the following:

• Ensuring the fan is working correctly
• Cleaning the coils
• Checking (or possibly changing) the air filter
• Cleaning drain lines
• Checking the refrigerant level
• Checking for leaks in the heat exchanger

A check-up can be a one-time event or provided yearly as part of regularly scheduled maintenance.

A professional check-up only needs to be completed once a year and aids households to ensure that their HVAC does not break down when they need it most during the peak summer and winter months.

Getting your HVAC serviced means that all the components will be cleaned and inspected, and working at their optimal best, preventing costly energy bills, not to mention expensive, unexpected repair bills.

4. Clean the Drain Lines

An air conditioner, along with cooling, also takes out the moisture from the air. This moisture then accumulates within the drain lines of the air conditioner and is directed outside. Over time, with the accumulation of dirt and dust, the drain lines can become clogged and even be a home for algae and mold.

It is thus a good idea to periodically clean the drain line. Take off the air conditioner’s outer cover and clean the drain line with a clean piece of cloth. Moreover, you can rinse it with a mixture of water and vinegar, removing any mold which might have formed.

5. Keeping the Outdoor Unit Clear

The outdoor unit is continuously exposed to weather and other environmental factors such as dirt and debris. Furthermore, growth and vegetation can cover the outdoor unit over time and prevent the exhaust air from being ejected effectively. Sometimes, the branches and leaves can even get inside the outdoor unit and interfere with the fan’s smooth functioning.

It makes sense to monitor the area around the outdoor unit, and observe any bushes or leaves that might need trimming. This is a DIY job, which does not take up a lot of time, but can save you significant expenses later on.

6. Get a Smart AC Controller or a Smart Thermostat

By making your HVAC system smart, you can access additional features that can help with preventive maintenance. For instance, smart thermostats or smart AC controllers allow you to monitor your usage history and receive alerts every time your AC may need a filter status cleaning.

You already know that your team has the expertise to solve your customers’ air-conditioning and heating issues quickly and affordably, so how do you stand out from your HVAC competitors? The best way is to deliver an easy, friendly, professional experience so that customers want to call your company again and tell their friends and colleagues about you.

1. Create a Lasting Impression

Make a great first impression! Have a professional website that describes who you are and what your customers should expect from you. What are your company’s values? Do you offer a 24-hour service or guarantee all requests for same-day service? Tell your potential customers this and give them clear ways to reach you. Make your phone number easy to find or provide webchat services that allow a customer to reach out in whatever way they feel comfortable.

2. Schedule Service Requests Quickly and Efficiently

When customers contact your company, make sure they’re greeted by friendly voices who are prepared to schedule their service needs. Make sure your phone staff can provide the important information your customer needs so that they can make an informed decision to do business with you. If you use a call center or live answering service, outfit them with the tools to help your customers and make sure they can interface with your customer management database. This way your call center can have access to past service information, quote prices and then schedule jobs. Your callers want reassurance their service needs are being scheduled during the first call and if your customer has to wait around for someone to get back to them, they may find another provider during the wait.

3. Treat Customers with Respect and Compassion

Make sure your technicians delivering service to your customers are friendly, professional and respectful of your customers’ homes and businesses! Your customer is unlikely to call you back to fix a problem if their last impression was of your service technician leaving dirty footprints on the carpet or cigarette butts in the yard. Your technicians are providing a valuable service to people in need, but those customers have a lot of choices. Set an expectation that your service technicians treat your customers with gratitude and the utmost professionalism. This will help your customer remember you and make them feel comfortable inviting your team members into their homes again in the future.

4. Be Honest and Transparent with Customers

Deliver on your promises! Arrive on time. Provide accurate quotes that don’t hide charges. If anything threatens your ability to arrive at a predetermined time with a customer, be proactive and let them know so that they can determine whether they want to continue to wait. If the scope of work changes after a quote is provided, inform your customer immediately. Transparency with customers allows them to make informed decisions about how to move forward. Customers are happiest with providers who are honest and open with them.

5. Follow up to Measure Customer Satisfaction

Check in on your customers! After the service is complete, find a way to check in to make sure the customer’s issues are resolved and that they are satisfied with your service. If you want that customer to come back or to tell their neighbor to call you, you have to show them you care about them. Checking in is a great way to do that. There are many customer management tools on the market that can help automate these check-ins. Research some and find one that works best for your business.

These five simple considerations really can make a difference between gaining a customer for life or just being another service provider in a crowded market. Remember to make a great impression. Once your customer decides to reach out to you, make them happy they did, and be easy to do business with by having great people answer your phones. Guarantee that the technicians you’re sending in to your customers’ homes are professional and show your customers that they’re happy to be there. Deliver on your promises and be transparent when anything gets in the way of you meeting the expectations you set with your customer. Finally, check in on them after the service to make sure they got everything they need from you.

Remember that there are many tools to help you with all these items, including web design teams, great call centers and customer management tools. Be aware of what’s in your marketplace to help you stand out from your competitors. Almost all of them are inexpensive compared to lost customers and opportunities due to poor customer service.

Your HVAC system, which comprises a combination of air conditioning and heating systems, is an essential part of your home. This is why you should not take the decision of choosing the right team of HVAC contractors lightly.

After all, you need one of the best HVAC companies that is knowledgeable enough about heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to be able to improve the energy efficiency of your home while ensuring that your HVAC system is always working at its best.

What Is an HVAC System?

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It is used to regulate the temperature of the home and improve the quality of the air. A well-designed HVAC system will offer these benefits while preventing a significant increase in your utility bills.

Tips for Choosing a Contractor

Follow these tips to ensure that you’re choosing a reputable HVAC service provider.

1. Ensure That You’re Working with a Trained Air Conditioning Expert

One of the most important things to look for is expertise. HVAC systems are often complex, comprising a number of parts, such as the heat pump, air conditioner, and more.

It takes a knowledgeable HVAC technician to be able to properly install and maintain them. The first thing you need to check for is a license. Your HVAC contractor must be legally allowed to work on your air conditioning systems.

You’ll also need to look for experience. Check past projects to ensure that the HVAC contractors have a good track record and have the capacity, experience, and expertise to take on your project.

2. Check for Affordability

You should not have to pay a fortune for an AC unit installation, so make sure you’re requesting an estimate to learn more about the price you will be expected to pay for the company’s services. As with anything, sometimes the least expensive option is not the best option as price sometimes dictates quality. When comparing estimates, be sure to compare the full service and HVAC equipment being installed and not just the price.

3. Compile a List of Candidates

Never choose the first team of HVAC contractors you come across. Make sure you’re assessing a few HVAC technicians prior to making your choice. You can search the internet or request recommendations from friends and family members.

Once you have your list, you can get started checking which ones meet your criteria and can best meet your needs.

4. Ensure That You’re Working with a Professional

There’s nothing worse than hiring a team of HVAC contractors only to find that they are unprofessional, sloppy, or not what you expected. Be sure to talk to the team before hiring them to ensure that they are a good fit for you and can adequately meet your needs.