When you need to buy a new HVAC system or replace your old one, you are facing a major expense. Once you get a quote, your next question will be where to find a better deal. It can cut deeply into your savings or require financing. But you know you can't simply do without heating, cooling, and ventilation, so you will need to bite the bullet. What can you do to make it less painful? Follow a few simple steps, and you could save thousands on your new system or replacement costs. How to Find Deals and Rebates on HVAC SystemsCheck to see if your state or local utility company offers any rebates or incentives for replacing an old HVAC system. You can usually stack offers, so if your state and local utility company both have promotions, you have struck gold. Submit for both to take a big chunk out of the cost of your new HVAC system.Look Up HVAC Rebates and Incentives By StateReview the current rebate offers from all of the leading HVAC manufacturers before you call anyone for estimates.

You'll find them here:Carrier RebatesLennox RebatesTrane RebatesNote: Keep in mind that these offers usually apply to their most expensive models, so you may be able to get a better deal by purchasing a mid-level unit that isn't eligible for a manufacturer's rebate.Prices vary widely from one HVAC company to the next, so get several quotes before making your decision. Normally three quotes will be enough, but you may find it's worth getting a couple extra. The drawback to this is that many times you have to wait days or weeks to be scheduled to get a quote from each company. If your system hasn't failed and you aren't desperate for a replacement, start getting quotes two months before you will need the new system. Check with warehouse clubs such as Costco if you are a member. They may offer a better deal or a store rebate card if you purchase a new system through their partner.Angie's List may have deals on HVAC, check there if you are a member. If you aren't, it is a good source for finding local contractors and reading reviews from customers and it may be worthwhile to join.

Wait to have your new system installed in the fall or spring, when HVAC contractors aren't as busy. Then, ask for an off-season discount.Tips for Buying HVAC SystemsCheck the Better Business Bureau ratings before choosing a contractor. The cheapest quote may not be the best deal if the company has lots of unsatisfied customers. You can also check them on Angie's List and Yelp and read their reviews from customers. These can reassure you that you've chosen wisely or steer you away from companies that have poor reviews.If you are on the fence about whether you should replace your HVAC, find out when Energy Star recommends a replacement.You may save enough in energy costs to easily justify the expense. Pay them now or pay them later! What You Might Not Know About HVAC Filters Everyone agrees that you should change your HVAC filter on a regular basis, but not everyone agrees on the type of filter you should use. Next time you go shopping for a furnace (or AC) filter, here are a few things to keep in mind.

These tips can save you a bundle and perhaps even prevent you from inadvertently damaging your HVAC equipment. The primary purpose of a filter is to protect HVAC equipment, not to improve indoor air quality, as many homeowners have been led to believe. ac wall unit saleMany furnace manufacturers recommend that you use a low-cost fiberglass filter, but when I asked a representative of one major maker, his response was “no comment.”automotive air conditioning repair equipment Perhaps this was because high-efficiency filters that are too good may actually slow airflow across the heat exchanger, reducing the unit’s efficiency, raising your energy bills, and causing furnace damage due to overheating. how to install in wall ac unit

Similarly, a high-efficiency filter can freeze the condensing coils on an AC unit. (A dirty filter can do the same thing.) Even more of a shocker is that furnace filters do relatively little to reduce the number of small particles you inhale. That’s because these particles tend to be in the air wherever there is human activity—and that’s not necessarily where your return registers and ductwork can capture them, according to research by the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CHMC). In addition, furnaces (and central ACs) run only seasonally. Even during the heating and cooling seasons, furnaces run only part of the time. So it stands to reason they are not filtering the air when the fan is not running. Want to save money and stop wasting time trying to figure out conflicting furnace filter maker ratings systems? Make your next filter a permanent electrostatic filter (also known as a washable one). The kit I tried is available online and can be cut to fit most filter cabinets.

Washable filters may be reused for 5 to 10 years and cost about $20 each. These filters should be rinsed once a month and prior to re-installation, they should be allowed to dry. Some permanent electrostatic filters include carbon filtration for odor removal. Keep in mind that electrostatic filters are most effective when new and clean, so they should be washed frequently. Pre-made sizes are limited, but some manufacturers, such as WebProducts, will fabricate filters to your specs for about $35 each. For more on HVAC, consider: Really “Cool” Cooling Fans How To: Choose the Right Furnace Filter Quick Tip: Alternatives to Air ConditioningA good contractor will help you find the best HVAC unit for your home. HVAC is shorthand for "heating, ventilation, and air conditioning" and is used to describe the complete system used to heat and cool buildings. Buying a furnace or air conditioning unit for a home is a major purchase, and making sure that you are getting the right one for your home takes some planning and decision making.

Knowing the areas to compare helps you determine which one will fit your needs. Manufacturers' Info Manufacturers do their best to provide an abundance of material to make it easy to compare the specifications of one unit head-to-head against another. Collecting brochures or Internet information allows you to make a simple grid with the HVAC brand names along the top of the page and their specifications in a column under their name. Critical information that you should note for each potential unit includes the total BTUs -- the maximum amount of heat or cooling that a unit produces, the unit's efficiency, the noise level it produces, the cost and the length of the warranty. Consumer Reviews Other sources of information for HVAC units are magazines such as Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping and Popular Mechanics. These use both appliance experts and panels of consumers to judge and compare the value and worth of various HVAC units. Reviewing their research can help you avoid problems. are resources where you can read what other consumers are saying about a particular product.

Often these sites allow the units to be rated from poor to excellent by the consumers. Size and Efficiency The size of the HVAC unit and its efficiency are of critical importance. Both an underpowered or an overpowered unit will waste money as they strain to properly heat or cool a home. A high-efficiency unit working at above 90 percent efficiency will cost more to purchase and perhaps install, but it will cost less to run than a unit operating at the standard 80 percent efficiency. A bargain price on a small, inefficient HVAC unit will probably be regretted after higher monthly bills and an early replacement. HVAC and Networking Electronics play an increasing role in controlling HVAC units and give them more flexibility then they have ever had. Some units come with zone controls which allow you to adjust the specific temperatures in each room. Higher-end models even allow the HVAC unit to follow both the current weather and forecasted weather over the Internet to allow it to "make its own decisions" about heating and cooling.