Coming home to an HVAC unit is no fun. The following tips are great for helping you in this process.
Know what you need before you hire 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. Having this information handy will make the process much smoother.
Clean any debris on an external condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It could overheat and cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. You can never tell when things will pile up, especially following rain or wind storms. These can wreak havoc on your units. Also, you are risking your system overheating.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coil in the spring. First, turn the power off so nothing moves when you’re working with it. Next, pop off the grill, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Sae 20 Oil
Do not allow grass clippings to cover the outdoor unit of your HVAC system. Make certain the debris goes away from it. Do the same when blowing snow or leaves.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser at least once a year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering the ports. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
If your fan condenser has oil ports, you must lubricate it once per year. These ports are typically covered with caps made of metal or rubber. Put about ten drops or less of a good non-detergent SAE 20 oil into each port.
Put outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
You want to put the outdoor compressor device in a shaded area. Your unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the inside air if the outside air it sucks from is cooler.
Be sure to have the HVAC system checks. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
Get your HVAC unit serviced two times per year. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. Regular inspection will help you avoid unexpected repairs.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This will help keep the system running efficiently for many years.
Outdoor condenser units need to be turned off when the weather turns cold. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. This will ensure your system works well each year, which could save you quite a bit in repair costs.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm in the winter months.
If you can, install double-paned windows throughout your home. To keep your home cool, investing in double pane windows is a must. They help in the winter, too, keeping the heat in.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on your air conditioning bill. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
Installing a programmable digital thermostat can help save money. If you adjust it to keep the house a little warmer or a little cooler during the time you are sleeping, you may see your energy bill go down by as much as ten percent. In addition, some models make things really easy on you, allowing you to adjust them from the computer.
During a maintenance visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These few simple things will keep your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
Keep energy costs from rising by having your system serviced annually. When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, and they will oil all the moving parts. These simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. These simple steps can help ensure you make a better decision.
If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. The house will heat up, but not too much. When you keep it on, you will be using electricity.
Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. It is always risky to hire a long history.
Before you invest in any HVAC contractor, make sure you spend a good deal of time researching their reputations and credentials. Inquire with the BBB and look elsewhere for other reviews from customers. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save tons of money this way. Call at least four or five different HVAC specialist to find out what the best rates.
To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. If the unit is too large, it won’t cool more than a smaller unit, just less efficiently. Any unit’s manual will be able to give you an accurate idea for the size of the unit versus your home.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You could even use your attic space if it is done right.
If you don’t know who you should call to repair, install and maintain your HVAC systems, check out reviews online. There are many sites that other customers can place their reviews. This will make it easier for you to find the right contractor.
Do you wish to buy a new cooling system? There are things you should consider. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
Each contractor establishes his own fees, so before you hire one, obtain a few estimates. Making some phone calls before deciding is a good way to save money. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
Hvac System
Do you need a new HVAC unit? There are a number of things to think about first. An HVAC system gets its rating by how effective it will heat and cool an area. You should buy a little bigger than necessary unit over a little smaller than necessary unit.
Be sure that you have a good HVAC system that works well by using the advice you were given here. It isn’t a good thing to come home to a HVAC system that isn’t working properly. When you thing about how much it will cost to repair, things get even worse. Prevent this with the solid information you have here. When doing maintenance on an HVAC system, have this advice in mind.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioner shopping. Generally, 20 BTU per square foot is ideal. If you have multiple rooms to cool, be sure to add their square footage together.
