Are some areas of your home uncomfortable when the system is on?
Your contractor should ask whether you want to focus on improving comfort in certain areas of the home. This is a critical piece of information in designing a solution that is custom to your needs. Everyone lives in their home differently, using different rooms for different purposes. Two identical homes can have very different heating and cooling needs based upon the direction the home faces and how the home is used.
Your contractor can suggest options for different rooms. For example, he or she might add additional zones to an existing system or add a ductless heat pump to a problem area. Or you might want to have a dehumidifier or humidifier added to your system to improve uncomfortable humidity levels. A good contractor knows the importance of learning and asking about your current system’s shortcomings.
How long do you plan on being in the home?
The length of time you intend to continue living in at your home is information you should share with your contractor. If you plan to stay in your home for a long time—maybe even grow old with it—a high-end, high-efficiency system will last longer and operate more efficiently than a standard system.
On the other hand, if you intend to quickly flip the house for a profit, a basic system may make more sense financially. In addition, it’s helpful for your contractor to know if you plan to add-on or remodel the house in the future. If you are planning on an addition, then you may need a larger staged system to handle the home’s eventual size.
How important is technology to you?
Technology advances every day, and better bells and whistles are always on the horizon. Your contractor should be showing you all of the latest available options if you want to stay on top of technology.
Current technology allows HVAC systems to be monitored directly from a cell phone or tablet. If you’d like to monitor your system remotely, you’re going to need the technology that can do that. If you’d rather opt for simplicity—a conventional system with a typical thermostat—then your contractor should be asking about that as well.
