Secrets of Installation Codes
Find a Minnesota HVAC installation contractor that you can trust to get the job done right.
Pretty soon you'll start to realize that most of what you already know about purchasing a new HVAC system (size, brand, etc.) won't really help you that much. It is the stuff that you don't know about that really makes the most difference.
Remember when I said that a lot of the costs of purchasing a new heating and cooling system are "installation-related" and don't have much to do with the cost of the equipment? This section should give you a better idea of what I mean.
There are a lot of city and Minnesota state codes that must be followed when a contractor installs an air conditioner or furnace. How many of those codes are you familiar with? Do you think the contractor knows that you don't know the codes and requirements? One of the ways HVAC contractors can lower installation costs is to skip required steps in the installation.
Don't assume that all codes will be met. Don't assume that all permits will be "pulled."
Please take time to ensure the work is being done properly. You are your own best inspector.
As we stated in the previous section, in order for a system to work right and give you the rated efficiency, it has to be matched and installed perfectly. Anybody who installs HVAC equipment should follow the same codes and requirements to make it sure it works correctly. If one company is selling their equipment for $1,000 less than the others, it might be because they're cutting corners. They're not cutting corners that make them more efficient; they're cutting corners that make your purchase less efficient.
There are a number of common ways "discount" companies cut corners. I have compiled a list of the most common shortcuts below.
Neglecting to install an electrical disconnect - One way HVAC contractors cut corners is neglecting to install an electrical disconnect (switch) and another type gas safety shutoff to meet code.
Not correctly installing a new flue pipe and its connectors when replacing the furnace - A lot of furnaces require a new flue pipe to bring them up to code. This is incredibly important! It's used to vent poisonous gas out of your home. Believe it or not, that's one of the biggest cost-cutters a company will use. A flue pipe also requires proper clearance, pitches, angles, sizes and materials that are easy to ignore when your trying to put in a fast, cheap system.
Using "uncased" evaporator coils on their installations - They stock one small size coil that will fit just about anywhere. These coils are simply set in place, regardless of the way they fit, and then boxed in with sheet metal. Most of the time this is done because it allows the heating and cooling company to use a "one coil fits all" system. Instead of stocking 10 or 15 different coils, the company can just stock one and make it work on every job. A lot of installations are done this way because it's fast and cheap and the customer doesn't know any better. Insist on a "cased" coil from whichever company you choose. There can be no surprises when everything's in plain view.
Here are some other items that can be ignored by some Minnesota HVAC contractors - either intentionally or through ignorance:
- A level slab for your air conditioner (the concrete or plastic pad it sits on)
- Proper evacuation procedures for the recycling of refrigerant
- Clearances
- Refrigerant lines (which must be sized to your new system)
- Combustion air for your furnace
- Service accessibility
Contractors can also save money by hiring cheaper, untrained labor, using less expensive materials and doing lower quality work.
As a consumer, you have no idea what's really needed, so you're really at the contractor's mercy. That's why I've said before and I'll say it again, find a company that you can trust!
Cities and states have codes and inspectors to protect us and make sure everything is done right. The problem is, a lot of HVAC contractors don't pull the necessary permits so no one knows the installation is being done. Even if they do, some of the systems never get inspected. In some states, even if they spot something, they don't even notify the contractor of the violation. They just add it to their record and leave a red tag at the job. It may never get fixed.
Codes are good. They make everything safer. Yet even if a company abides by all the city codes, that doesn't necessarily mean the system will work at it's best. An inspector's job is to inspect for HVAC codes - not the check for quality standards. The codes are primarily in place to address concerns for minimum safety. They do little or nothing for the consumer from a standpoint of efficiency or longevity of the system.
Problems can occur when the wrong evaporator coil is used. If it doesn't match physically, the airflow across the coil is not as it should be. Your furnace is then subjected to overheating, short cycling and premature part failures. That not only causes your cooling system to be less efficient than it should be, it can and will also damage your compressor and make you think you bought a bad condensing unit.
Make sure you find a Minnesota HVAC installation contractor that you can trust to get the job done right. Total Comfort always makes sure to obtain the proper HVAC permits and follows Minnesota state and city HVAC codes. The safety and comfort of you and your family is our number one concern.