Follow these tips on dealing with your HVAC system.
What do you need done? Know this before calling a contractor. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate without looking at your system. If you do not know what you want, the process can become tedious, especially over the phone. Learn this information to start with.
Know what type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person.This makes sure the contractor will need.
To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Except when cleaning the outside, turn the unit off when performing any type of maintenance. Also, be sure to clear leaves and debris from your condenser unit.
If your HVAC system us giving you issues, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Don’t forget to disconnect the power first. Remove the grill and the blades, and then you can give them all a gentle clean.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
When you are cutting the grass, be sure not to cover your outdoor units with clippings. Aim the grass in a different direction from the unit. The same goes for when you blow leaves, so make sure your are careful when moving any debris in the vicinity of your HVAC devices.
Clean your fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
The operation of your HVAC system can be in danger when the tree leaves begin to fall. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often during the fall. When the fan becomes obstructed, you will lose out on quality air.
Turn it off so nothing moves.Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
If your fan condenser has oil ports, you must lubricate it once per year. The port usually has either a rubber or metal cap on top of it. Use SAE 20 oil that is lightweight and detergent free, and put ten drops or fewer into each one. Make sure not to overfill them.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often during the fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if debris is blocking this air flow, it could cause your system to break down.
It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. When your unit is bringing in cool air, it will not have to work as hard to cool the air as it moves it inside, boosting efficiency.
Turn off outdoor condenser when it becomes cold out. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years and save you a lot on repairs.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Consumers are usually advised to have their HVAC systems inspected twice a year. The ideal thing to do would be to have it checked out in the fall and spring so you’re able to figure out if everything is ready for the cold and hot months. Although there might not be any noticeable issues, it is important to provide regular upkeep to prevent bad things from happening.
During the service check, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These easy to do things are going to allow your system.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. Double pane windows help minimize your air conditioning use in the summer by keeping the cooler air inside your home. Likewise, in the winter more hot air stays inside during the cold season.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews posted by former customers. Doing all of this can help you make a better decision.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. Turning down the thermostat around 10 percent for 8 hours per day can give you a 10 percent savings using the programmable thermostat. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC contractor. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share the name of their contractor.This is an excellent way to get names of companies to stay away from.
Don’t allow your home to overheat. It takes quite a while to cool a home by more than 20 degrees. So, if your home temp reaches 100 degrees, your air conditioning will only bring that temp down to about 80 degrees. Depending on how humid the environment is, that is not a healthy temperature for the human body when it rests during sleep.
There are quite a few sites now that allow customers to share their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work and ones that you don’t.
Find an air conditioner calculator online to determine what models are best for you. Buying a unit which is too big reduces efficiency. Check the manufacturer’s handbook to see what amount of space the unit can effectively cool.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Get a handful of quotes before accepting any. You have the potential to save a great deal of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. In an ideal situation, you can estimate a reasonable rate by getting quotes from up to a half-dozen individual contractors or businesses.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not up to snuff. Once leaks have been fixed, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
Do you need a new HVAC unit? You need to think about a few important things. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool and heat an area. It is probably wiser to purchase a system that is slightly larger than what you think you need rather than one that is smaller.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The less your home is heated, the fewer occasions you have to use your air conditioner.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, there may be something obstructing it. Most of the time such a noise is created by an object striking the blades of the fan in the system. Removing the debris will quickly fix the issue. Always check for yourself before getting someone out to repair the unit.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, look for an obstruction. Often the issue is some sort of debris that’s hitting fans in your cooling system. Take a look for yourself before you call a service technician.
To keep your HVAC unit running at full capacity, you should have quality doors and windows installed that are efficient. Make sure the seal is impenetrable from outdoor drafts, and that none of the air you’re paying to heat or cool escapes either. Call a professional to come over to check how good you home is sealed up.
Square Footage
When deciding where to place your AC, condition the direction of air flow. If you’re stuck with putting it in a corner, buy one that lets the air flow to be redirected so that it is not flowing towards the wall.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need 20 BTU per square footage of the room. If you are cooling more than one room, combine all the square footage.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor to perform work on your system, learn about their experience level. You need to verify they have the type of experience needed to work on your particular system. While a worker with less experience may be capable of doing a good job, you will be taking a risk.
Comfort comes with a working HVAC system. If you do not maintain it properly, you may find that it breaks down. Take these tips to heart and never forget about your HVAC system.
Ask any contractor you’re thinking of hiring for references. Did the homeowner get what they expected? Was it done on budget and on time? References ensure you don’t end up with a scammer.
