Many people struggle with the basic concepts of maintaining their HVAC system, but it is something they should know how to do. Learning this is an important thing for a homeowner can do. The following article here is going to assist you.
If your HVAC is running into problems, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. Determine which rooms are hotter or colder than they should be. Give this information to your contractor when they arrive.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, do a tour of your house before you call in help. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean the fan blades and coils in your condenser each spring. Shut the power off before you do anything. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.
Know what work you need before you select an HVAC contractor.It will be hard for a contractor to provide you a price estimate on the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
When you’re trying to cut your grass, don’t cover a unit outside with the clippings. Try shooting the clippings away from it. This also applies when you blow leaves, so be very careful near your exterior HVAC units when you move debris.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once a year. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Chose SAE 20 oil, which has been proven to be the most effective.
Clean the debris off your condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Place your HVAC unit in the shade to boost efficiency. When the air conditioner pulls in cooler air, it won’t have to do much more to cool it and that will save you a lot of money on energy bills.
Sae 20 Oil
Have the HVAC system serviced twice per year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best. You should have it looked at even if no problems are occurring; there could still be a problem or potential problem.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once each year. You will see rubber or metal caps covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Consider getting a programmable thermostat for your AC. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.
Put outdoor unit in places with shade.
To help keep your energy costs down, have your heating and cooling system serviced at least once a year. During your service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These things will boost the performance of your system.
Have the HVAC system serviced twice a year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Your home should never reach a dangerous temperature. It is only possible for an air conditioner to lower the temperature in a home by 20 degrees F in a short time. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. While it depends on the humidity, this is not safe for a human to sleep in to recover from the heat of the summer.
A programmable thermostat can really help you out when it comes to your air conditioning bill. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Some air conditioners can ice up. Freezing drain lines are also possible and can be mistaken for leaks. If this is something that’s happening to you, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. You should still call a professional to help regardless.
During this service visit, the system motor will be inspected, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These simple tasks will help keep your system running smoothly.
Before hiring an HVAC company, you need to find out how long they have been in business. Established companies that are doing well will usually be the best ones to go with. Otherwise, you are taking a huge risk with the person you hire.
Never allow your home reach a dangerously hot inside. An air conditioning unit is really only cool your home by twenty degrees in a short time span. If your home become 100F or more, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
You shouldn’t rely on a single quote from one contractor to gauge the cost, because different specialists set their own price. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for price quotes. In an ideal situation, you can estimate a reasonable rate by getting quotes from up to a half-dozen individual contractors or businesses.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the BBB and look for reviews posted by former customers. These simple steps are going to help make a wise one.
A radiant barrier is something that you may want to consider. It can help keep heat out during the hot summer months, which means you will lower your power bills. If it’s done right, the attic can become another useful living space.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
When deciding where to place your AC, condition the direction of air flow. If you can only put the unit in the corner, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. Hiring a newer contractor may be taking a bigger risk.
Before you hire a contractor for your HVAC system, ask how much experience they have and with what types of systems. You need to know that they have done the sort of work you require. This doesn’t mean a less experienced person may be bad, but you shouldn’t take any chances with your HVAC.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money when you call different companies for price quotes. Call at least four or five different HVAC specialist to find the best deal possible.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. Ask these references if the job was what they expected, if it was done in a timely manner and on budget. That is why it is vital that you check references, so you don’t run into those shady contractors!
A radiant barrier is an awesome device which will help improve the efficiency of your HVAC. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home and the outside. You could even find that you can use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Only hire someone to help you with an HVAC system if there is a 24 hour line you can call when you have problems. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
Are you thinking about buying a new heating/cooling system? You will need to think about a few things into account. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool and heat an area. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
To keep your HVAC unit from having trouble, make sure to give proper protection to the condenser with the help of a cover. This will increase the life of your condenser. Also, when it’s less than sixty degrees outside, you shouldn’t use the compressor. Do this by simply turn on the fan so that you don’t cause the unit unnecessary strain.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can also hire someone to test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
Sometimes an HVAC specialist will offer references for other professionals. You should still do the necessary research to clear the name first. You may be horrified by what you find. It only takes a couple minutes to call, so be sure and do it.
An HVAC unit that is working properly can assure the comfort in a home. However, if you don’t hire the right contractor, you can end up frustrated when your system stops working. Luckily, any homeowner can know just how to proceed when they are aware of the information contained in this article.
Your contractor should perform a heat loss calculation when coming to give you an estimate. They can figure out how may BTU will be required to keep your house comfortable. To properly calculate the heat-loss calculation, a service tech will count the number of windows and doors, calculate the square footage and determine the amount of insulation in the home.
