Installing a new heating and cooling system can enhance your home life. It can increase energy efficiency, help save you more money than your old system, improve comfort, and maintain your family’s health. However, things can go south very fast with an improper HVAC installation. You will have to deal with an uncomfortable home, poor indoor air quality, frequent HVAC repairs, high energy bills, and an early HVAC replacement.
Make sure that you hire an experienced and certified HVAC company to ensure the installation goes well. It is always recommended that homeowners learn more about common HVAC installation mistakes. This way, you can keep them from happening to you.
Top HVAC Installation Mistakes to Avoid
Contents
- 1 Top HVAC Installation Mistakes to Avoid
- 1.1 1. Choosing Incorrect HVAC System Size
- 1.2 2. Keeping The Old HVAC Ductwork
- 1.3 3. Bad HVAC Duct Installation Techniques
- 1.4 4. Poorly Designed HVAC Drainage System
- 1.5 5. Incorrect Venting Of Toxic Gases
- 1.6 6. Improper HVAC System Placement
- 1.7 7. Neglecting Clearance Around The Condenser
- 1.8 Conclusion
- 2 Call PFO Heating & Air Conditioning For All Of Your HVAC Requirements
Listed below are some of the top heating and cooling system installation errors.
1. Choosing Incorrect HVAC System Size
Many homeowners equate a larger system to having better heating and cooling performance. Therefore, they buy the biggest unit they can afford. However, this is a false idea. The right HVAC system size for your home relies on the projected load. A professional HVAC contractor needs to conduct a scientific load calculation to know the right size. This calculation factors in your home’s total floor area, ceiling height, orientation, regional temperatures, building materials, and more. All these are needed to know the exact amount of power the system needs to keep your home cool or warm. Unreliable HVAC techs tend to make faulty recommendations using inaccurate general rules of thumb.
2. Keeping The Old HVAC Ductwork
Installing a new heating or cooling system but keeping the old ductwork could save you money. However, this isn’t always recommended. The old ducts could be incompatible if your furnace or air conditioner’s size has changed. The old ducts might be too small, causing an inefficient flow of air. Ductwork that was installed a long time ago likely has mold, clogs, and leaks as well. The original design might not work optimally where it concerns the distribution of the conditioned air throughout the space. Consider replacing the old ducts with new ones that are designed by a professional.
3. Bad HVAC Duct Installation Techniques
Some contractors can come up with cost-effective and logical designs that work well on paper. However, the HVAC technicians might not execute the installations as expected. They might be inexperienced or they will do whatever it takes to perform the installation quickly. These types of installation techniques are not up to standard. For instance, the tech might only use tapes to seal gaps. However, this is meant as a temporary solution only. The ductwork leaks will begin again, and the system’s efficiency will significantly drop while your energy bills spike. Instead, hire a dependable HVAC company like PFO Heating & Air Conditioning to ensure that the techs use top-quality materials and sealants.
4. Poorly Designed HVAC Drainage System
Moisture is a by-product of your air conditioner’s cooling process. Therefore, the air conditioner technician should make sure that the water around the coils drains properly. If not, the water can spill to your flooring, drywall, and other parts of the house. Remember that moisture can also cause mildew, bacteria, and mold to grow. This can result in foul odors, among other issues. It is best to do it right at the onset by hiring certified and trained HVAC professionals. This way, these problems are prevented from happening in the first place.
5. Incorrect Venting Of Toxic Gases
Your HVAC system generates hazardous gases like carbon monoxide. Therefore, proper venting is a must during installation. This way, the exhaust system can push these toxic gases out of your home and won’t cause any issues. Unfortunately, incorrect installation can mean that these gases are released inside your home instead. A carbon monoxide detector is needed to warn you about this danger. After all, it is a colorless and odorless gas that is hard to detect without an alarm. Ask your technician about combustion safety to determine if they can implement it in your home correctly.
6. Improper HVAC System Placement
Some heating and cooling installation errors are easily avoidable if you have a contractor that pays attention. One of the common mistakes is the HVAC equipment placement. The technician should verify the correct location first and not just put it where your old HVAC system used to be. Otherwise, you’d end up making the same mistake again. For instance, the old air conditioner condenser location could be getting direct sunlight. You want the air conditioner condenser shielded from the sun as much as possible. The same should be applied to your thermostat. They should be placed away from windows, and other heat sources. If not, they will have incorrect temperature readings, and you’ll end up having an uncomfortable home. An experienced technician can determine where the best place to put your HVAC system is.
7. Neglecting Clearance Around The Condenser
The condenser needs breathing space around its perimeter for it to work optimally. However, this doesn’t always happen if the installation is rushed. The contractor might only give it a few inches of clearance when experts state that at least two feet of space are needed on all sides. With the proper amount of space, the condenser will be highly efficient and have good air intake. Make sure that this mistake doesn’t happen so that your system doesn’t use more energy than it needs. Otherwise, your system will also suffer from worn-out components. As a homeowner, you should do your part by ensuring that this clearance is maintained at all times. Remove any objects near the condenser and trim shrubs nearby.
Conclusion
HVAC installation errors happen more often than homeowners realize. In the end, experienced HVAC technicians are called in to remedy the installation mistakes that amateur contractors made. Do not let this happen to you so that you do not have to pay more for the same services. Make the right decisions from the get-go by finding a certified technician with the best reputation in your area.
Call PFO Heating & Air Conditioning For All Of Your HVAC Requirements
PFO Heating & Air Conditioning offers top-notch HVAC services in the Greater Princeton, NJ area. We have professionally certified and highly skilled technicians for all your heating and cooling service needs. Rest assured, each of our friendly techs can conduct maintenance, installations, repairs, and replacements on any HVAC system correctly.
Our company has the most competitive HVAC service prices in the area. Our tune-up and repair services enhance your energy efficiency and comfort while reducing your energy costs. We can recommend the best and most budget-friendly HVAC replacement system as well. All our work comes with a guarantee because your satisfaction is our priority. Book a service appointment and give PFO Heating & Air Conditioning a call today. We offer free, in-home estimates.
Click here to contact us now or call us at (800) 253-9001 to find out more!