A great HVAC system can mean the difference between comfort and discomfort in a home so you have to be sure you maintain this equipment right at all times. A lot of homeowners spend money fixing them up when broken, but if they were able to figure out how to fix things on their own it would have been avoided.The tips below will help you maximize your HVAC system.
Inspect the temps in your home before you call a service to help you with any HVAC issues you’re having. Make note of which rooms are cold and which are hot. Give this information to your contractor when they arrive.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This information will facilitate the process when your contractor asks for this information.
If there are condenser units as part of your HVAC system, clean them often as they tend to have lots of debris. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your HVAC system. Left unchecked, your unit is more likely to break down.
If you are having issues with your HVAC, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is.
When selecting the spot to put the outdoor compressor for your unit, choose somewhere that gets plenty of shade. When it draws in air for cooling, it will be more efficient because it will not need to work as hard to cool down the air.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Check your unit at least twice each year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best. Check it out just to be safe even if there is nothing broken.
Trees Start
When it gets cold outside, turn off the outdoor condensers. To avoid damage, units should be turned off when temperatures are below 60 degrees. This can keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Your HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves.The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if debris is blocking this air flow, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
If the house is yours or you’re permitted to, replace the windows that are single pane with windows that are double pane. Double pane windows can minimize the use of your air conditioner in hot weather since they keep the indoor air cooler. Conversely, this also works to keep warm air in during colder months.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
Shut off the air conditioning if nobody is home. Sure, the temp will rise, but no one is home anyway. The unit will use a large amount of electricity to combat the heat during the day when the house is empty.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Don’t ever let your home temperature get dangerously high. An air conditioner can only cool your home by 20ºF quickly. The temperature will only reduce to about 80 if your home heats up to 100 degrees. Depending on how humid the environment is, that is not a healthy temperature for the human body when it rests during sleep.
Don’t ever let your home temperature get dangerously hot. Air conditioners really can cool a home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a short time. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, 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.
Put a bit of time into researching various HVAC specialists; you’re more likely to choose the right one for the job. Check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), and look them up on review sites online to see what previous customers have to say about their experience. These steps can help ensure you make the smartest and most informed choice.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this happens, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. If the issue persists, call a professional.
Figure out how long the HVAC company you choose has been in business. Firms that have been in business for a long time are easier to assess. Working with someone that does not yet have a reputation in the business is a bit riskier.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Before you hire a contractor, make sure you get different quotes. If you call people before you work on hiring one person, you can save some money overall. Try to contact a minimum of five contractors.
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 if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Having a radiant barrier in your attic helps you HVAC system run better. It blocks heat from the inside out, lowering the amount of energy needed to cool your home in the summer. You may suddenly find that the attic even looks like a great option for another bedroom!
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When these leaks are fixed, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
Are you thinking about having a new HVAC system installed? You should first think about several things. Learn about the size systems need to be for optimal efficiency. It is probably wiser to purchase a system that is slightly larger than what you think you need rather than one that is smaller.
Determine which way your home faces.The less heat in your home, the easier time the air conditioner in your home will have.
If your system isn’t working as it should, test its ducts for leaks. Your utility company will usually test the unit for free or for a small fee. The testing will pay for itself once you find and repair the leaks.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. A professional can also test these for you for free.
You should know the facing direction of your home for the most effective placement of the HVAC system. If your home is surrounded by strategically planted trees, they can often block out the morning sunlight. The less heat inside the house, the less time that the AC has to work.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioner shopping. You generally need about 20 BTU per square foot of the room. When you are cooling more than one room, determine the square footage of each room and then add the numbers together.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, take measurements. You need to know how big the area is that you want to have cooled off. Normally, you need 20 BTU for each square foot that you wish to cool. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This is the simplest thing that you can do to keep your HVAC.
The very least you should be doing to care for your HVAC system is making sure to change out the old filter, and replacing it with a new one every single month. It is the easiest way to take care of it. Filters are inexpensive, so there is no excuse for not doing it.
Pick out an HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on schedule and keep appointments. A licensed technician should also easily diagnose any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. After they know what the problem is, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.
It is important to pick out the right HVAC company for your needs as you will need professional assistance. The best companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on schedule. An experienced person will quickly know what is going on with your unit. When they know what the problem is, they should know how to fix it quickly so that it works properly.
If it has to be placed in a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.
It is important to think about the direction air flows from your unit. If it must be in a corner, make certain that the air does not point towards a wall.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have the sort of experience needed to work on your particular system.
When you engage a contractor, request references. Call and ask if their service was everything they expected, timely, and that it stayed on budget. You will be able to avoid any scammers out there, as long as you follow up on references.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency hotline. They should be there when you need them, whether during a heatwave or a terrible snowstorm.
Know what’s included in any repair work you contract. Some contractors will attempt to overcharge you on material fees and other charges. Having a solid written contract will help you avoid any issues like this.
Always follow up on any references that are given to you by an HVAC contractor.
You should cover the condenser on your HVAC unit during the winter. This extends the lifespan of your condenser. If the temperature outside is lower than sixty, do not use the compressor. Do this by simply turn on the fan so that you don’t cause the unit unnecessary strain.
This calculation will ascertain what the best sized unit for your home or business.
You should ask the contractor if they included heat-loss calculations inside their initial quote. This factors in the amount of BTU your heating system will consume when regulating the temperature in your house. There are several factors involved, including your insulation and how many outside windows and doors you have.
Seek a HVAC contractor with Energy Star label. This rating means that is required by the EPA standards for efficiency. This helps save you reduce your energy bills during the year.
See about getting a programmable thermostat on your HVAC unit. You can save money while you sleep by lowering the thermostat and lower your power bill at the same time.
Keep your condenser protected in cold weather. This can easily be done by putting a cover on the condenser unit.
You want to find a contractor that can provide you with an Energy Star unit. Products with the Energy Star symbol meet energy guidelines set by the EPA. You will save on your electric bills if you purchase a unit with it.
Make sure that you know where the owner’s manual is anytime the system is running. The information contained within this manual is going to give you quite a few things to learn about the unit you have and will help you out if you’re dealing with problems.
Your HVAC is what keeps your family comfortable and happy. Thankfully, the tips you just read will help save you from costly repairs. You need to put these tips to use, so prevent wasting tons of money by using them.
