Beware of Uncertified Air Conditioning Tips Online
Many web
publishers or bloggers these days, from journalists, to environmentalists, to even school-age students, seem to be doling out tips on cooling your home more efficiently. Many of their points are good common sense, like utilizing ceiling fans in the summer and raising the thermostat temperature to your comfort threshold. These tips are usually great advice.
While their energy-saving intentions are good, sometimes the results of unskilled technical advice could be costly. Just because a tip appears online and sounds like it makes sense doesn't mean that it's a good idea. Like many things in life, the correct approach might actually be counter-intuitive.
Recently a customer called because he probably saw online that it would be cheaper for him to purchase a central air conditioning unit and install it himself, or just have it installed. After receiving the product he called requesting we install the new system for him, but didn't realize that might void the warranty on the product. Most
reputable HVAC contractors will only install the equipment they procure and certify to be quality unused product. Without knowing where the model came from or who could supply parts for the unit, it's usually deemed 'used' and may fail manufacturer warranty standards for maintenance, or create a serious liability. The equipment may even fail local codes, laws or inspections, not to mention creating potential air quality problems inside or even
outside the home.
The customer may have eventually found a small A/C service company or a friend to install the air conditioner for him, but future service and maintenance could be costly since the warranty may be voided, and the installation quality could be very questionable (remember, the
quality of installation matters more than the equipment). All these issues create the potential to actually cost the homeowner MORE money in future repairs and excessive energy consumption, which could be avoided by getting professional A/C installation advice in the first place. (And I haven't even gotten into the Safety issue, but that's a whole other post!)
So just be careful with what you read online, and consult a
NATE-certified technician whenever possible. Nothing can take the place of a certified professional with years of experience in the industry. It is not expensive to have a NATE-certified technician examine the HVAC situation in your home, so be sure to contact one before making decisions that could damage your system or even the structure of your home.
Service Experts offers a very inexpensive
System Inspection, specifically designed to supply the affordable advice and basic consultation homeowners need to improve their home's comfort level.
Posted: 6/1/2009 8:30:00 AM by Sam