Lots of homes have HVAC systems placed in their homes. An HVAC system helps your home maintain a temperature that’s comfortable. You will likely need to have this installed by a contractor to install and maintain your unit.Keep reading for great tips you need to know when working with HVAC.
Go through your home before you call HVAC professional. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool. That will help your repairman figure out where the problem is, and how he can fix it easily and quickly.
Know what you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to give you with an estimate over the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once a year. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Put 10 drops of lightweight, non-detergent SAE oil in each port. Be careful not to use too much.
Clean the debris off your outdoor condensers often. Debris can pile up after a storm, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system.It can cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. If it sucks in cool air, it will need to work less to coll the air inside, which can make it last longer.
Put outdoor unit in places with shade.
If the current location of your HVAC unit outside isn’t working, try having it moved to an area with more shade. This will help ensure that the AC is pulling in cooler air, reducing the amount of work it has to do and saving you money.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This can keep your system working for many years.
Your HVAC unit requires regular maintenance at least two times per each year. The fall and spring are the optimal times for this maintenance. A quick check is worth it to avoid problems down the road.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double panes. This same effect also keeps warm in during the winter.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. To prevent damage, turn off your unit if the outside temperature is less than 60 degrees. This helps the system last much longer and will have to be repaired less often.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your power bills. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning costs. A programmable thermostat can save you up to ten percent on your cooling and heating costs by simply turning the thermostat back ten to fifteen percent for eight hours a day. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you notice this, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. If this doesn’t work, call in help.
You should have your HVAC system inspected at least once, but preferably twice, per year. This inspection will ensure that your unit is working efficiently, including a freon level and motor check, and oiling moving parts. These simple things will keep your system running at peak performance.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. It is always risky to hire someone who does not have a long history.
If nobody is home, turn off the air conditioner to save money. When you turn the air conditioner off, the house may heat up a little but only a certain amount. The unit will use a large amount of electricity to combat the heat during the day when the house is empty.
Ask people that you know and family for contractor recommendations. People who have had great service are usually willing to tell of their contractor. It’s also a good way to learn the names of contractors you should not be contracted for work.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Air conditioners only cool down a home by 20 degrees. Assuming the temperature in your home rises to a hundred degrees, you will only be able to reduce that by twenty degrees. Depending on the humidity level, this temperature isn’t considered a safe sleeping temperature for the human body to be able to recover from the summer heat.
There are many sites that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is useful for finding people you should work with and those that you don’t.
Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. There are sometimes also freezes that happen in a drain line, and this can be confused for a plumbing leak. Try switching to fan-mode and disabling your compressor to test whether the water is a leak or melting ice. Get a professional to deal with this, even if you see the ice start melting because you turned the compressor off.
Are you looking at purchasing a new HVAC system? There are several things you must consider first. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are wise to err on the side of a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
You should think about putting in a radiant barrier in order to help your system run efficiently. 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!
Figure out the direction your home is facing so your HVAC system more efficient. If there is less heat in the home from sunlight, then your air conditioning unit won’t have to work as hard.
If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. You can have your utility company test for you, sometimes for free or less than an HVAC contractor would charge. If you do end up paying, you’ll find that fixed leaks are worth the money.
If you hear a clicking in the HVAC unit at home, look for an obstruction. The issue may be debris getting into the fans of the cooling system. Check this out yourself first before spending on a contractor.
Check for debris if you hear clicking in the HVAC unit. Frequently the cause is some kind of debris that is making contact with the cooling system of the fan. Get rid of the debris and this will no longer be an issue. Take a look for yourself before you call a technician out.
Hvac System
To gain maximum HVAC efficiency, you need efficient windows and doors too. Be sure that they’re sealed well so that air from the outside or inside doesn’t come in or escape. A professional can easily have this tested for you, and oftentimes, this service is free.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the simplest thing that you can do to keep your HVAC system running well.
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. Typically, 20 BTUs are required per square foot. Add the square footage for multiple rooms together.
Pick an HVAC business that is fast and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on time. The technicians need to also know how to find the problem quickly. Once they know what’s wrong, they will also be able to quickly and efficiently resolve it.
Think about which way the air flows when installing a air conditioner. If you have no choice but to put it in the corner, be sure to buy a unit which allows for the air flow direction to be changed away from the wall.
Always get some references when you are considering a HVAC contractor.
Does your contractor provide you with an all-day emergency hotline? They should be there when you need them, no matter what.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency hotline. They should be there when you need them, be it in the middle of a heatwave or in the worst snowstorm of the year.
Heat-loss calculations are important when getting an estimate. This will help determine the amount of BTUs you will need in your new system in order to keep the temperature in your home comfortable. The contractor should also count the number of doors and windows in your home, as well as check insulation, and measure the internal space.
Cover your condenser unit for protection in the weather becomes less than optimal. This helps the condenser operating longer if it is protected when not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid putting strain on the unit.
When in the process of installing new HVAC equipment or getting repairs done, see if you can have a programmable thermostat installed. This can help you save a ton on your utility bills as you let your system rest overnight while you are sleeping comfortably in your beds.
Always check out any references provided to you by a prospective HVAC contractor.
An Energy Star system is really the way to go when it comes to your HVAC. These units are energy efficient and meet the strict guidelines set for efficiency. These are put in place by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These guidelines have been set up by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Taking time to look into these units may help you get long-term savings on energy costs.
This will help determine the number of BTUs your system in order to keep the temperature in your home comfortable.
66% of houses have ducts that are leaky. Leaky ducts will add significantly to your power bill each month. It is easy and cheap to seal the ducts. You can do it yourself so that your electricity bill does not skyrocket.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This lowers your energy bills because your settings to ensure optimal performance.
When you are looking at HVAC contractors, make sure the products they use are Energy Star efficient. Energy Star is not merely a commercial product label, but indicates that the EPA of the United States federal government has verified that a product or service meets certain standards. Thus, they will produce savings on energy bills all year long.
You may be surprised to discover that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that leak. This can result in as much as one quarter of your utility expense! Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, you can even do it yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.
Keep the condenser on your HVAC unit protected during the cold weather. A thick cover should be placed on top of it to prevent any debris from coming in. Your unit will not work as efficiently if you do this when the outdoor temperature is less than 60 degrees.
Seek a HVAC contractors who only use products that carry the Energy Star label. This will ensure that is required by the EPA. This means that they can help you reduce your expenses throughout the year.
Keep your owner’s manual near you at all times when you are operating your unit. It will provide you with specific and vital information regarding the functioning of your system. If you lose your manuals, go to the manufacturer’s website to request or print new ones.
Keep your HVAC system operating efficiently by cleaning the heating ducts. Look often at the ducts regularly so you can make sure they are in good shape. Damaged ducts could increase your heating bill and waste warm air.
Be sure that any estimates you receive from an HVAC estimates. You need these estimates written down for you. There are quite a few jobs that require you to get written estimates of the cost. This can ensure you are getting a good service. Compare various elements of the estimates you are offered.
After reading the above article, you should be aware of the important things that pertain to helping you with your HVAC system, and dealing with contractors. It is important that installation and maintenance is done properly. Use the information from this article to guide you when choosing a heat pump or having maintenance work completed on your HVAC.
