A quality HVAC system is something you need in a home so you have to be sure you maintain this equipment right at all times. A lot of people spend quite a bit to fix things when they don’t work right, but could have avoided such issues if they had maintained them properly. The following article will educate you learn about HVAC system maintenance so you how to keep them running efficiently to avoid paying for expensive issues.
What system do you have? You need this information to tell your contractor. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. This will give contractor’s a better idea of what to expect before they show up, which will help things go more smoothly on arrival.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will ensure that you can give your chosen contractor any information they might need.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. Determine which rooms are hotter or colder than they should be. This gives the repairer a starting point to work from.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over 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.
Before you choose an HVAC contractor, have an idea in your mind of what needs to be done. It is going to be hard to get a price estimate on the phone if the current system isn’t something they’ve seen. If you don’t have any idea, they will have trouble giving you any sort of quote. This is information that you should have prepared in advance.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best.Clean off any leaves or debris from your external condenser unit regularly.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils come spring. Prior to working on or cleaning the unit, be sure to turn off the power. In addition, always remove all debris such as leaves from the outside condenser unit.
Be sure to regularly clean external condenser units regularly. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.
Clean the condenser on your debris regularly. You don’t know the amount of stuff that can pile up right after heavy winds or a storm. It can also cause it to overheat.
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.
When you cut the grass, don’t cover the outdoor units with their clippings. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction. This is the same if you are using a leaf blower.
10 Drops
When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees. This will keep your system in working order year after year, saving you a ton on repairs.
Lubricate your condenser at least once each year. These are usually covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Getting a programmable thermostats can be a terrific way to realize savings. This will help you to keep the temperature at optimal levels. Additionally, some models of programmable thermostats actually allow you to control them remotely from your office computer or cell phone.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. So, if you house heats up to about 95, you won’t see the temperature go below 75 for a while. You may suffer adverse effects from letting the house get that hot, too.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This will help keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. The drain line might also freeze over. If you see this, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. The fan setting can help melt some of the ice, but you should still call a professional to check your unit out.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This also keeps warm in during the winter months.
Prior to hiring any HVAC contractor, you should ask how long their business has operated. Firms that have been in business for a long time are easier to assess. If you choose to hire a new contractor, you may be risking things.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on air conditioning bill. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Ask people that you know and trust for contractor recommendations. People that have gotten great work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. You can also get company names that you should stay away from.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something you notice, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for price quotes. Compare the rates of at least 5 or 6 contractors to help you decide on the most reasonable rate for the job you need done.
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 recommended size for this information.
To run your HVAC at full efficiency, you must have efficient doors and windows in place as well. Make sure the seal is impenetrable from outdoor drafts, and that none of the air you’re paying to heat or cool escapes either. You can get a professional out to help you test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
Ask for helpful information when you can find a HVAC contractor. People will tell you who they have used and if they are usually more than willing to share this information. This is also a great way to get names of companies that should avoid.
As you ponder where to install your new AC unit, think about how the air flows around the room. Make sure you have plenty of air flow control options if you are forced to install the unit in a corner.
There are a few sites out there that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work and those that you don’t.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. It’s important to know if the contractor does as he says. You will be able to avoid any scammers out there, as long as you follow up on references.
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 make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home and the outside. You may even use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency hotline. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.
Do you want to buy a quality HVAC? There are a number of things you should consider. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool and heat an area. You are better off purchasing a unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
Ensure that you have a written contract of the work to be completed. Some contractors may try to charge you more for things you ought not be paying for. Having a written contract will let you avoid these types of issues.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can hire a professional.
Your contractor should perform a heat loss calculation when coming to give you an estimate. This will determine how much BTU your new system will need to keep your home comfortable. This includes counting doors and windows, checking all the insulation and measuring the total internal space of your home.
Pick HVAC business that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule. A licensed technician will also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. When they know what the problem is, they ought to have it fixed quickly and efficiently.
See about getting a programmable thermostat on your HVAC unit. You will reduce your electric bills, as it will rest during the night.
As stated above, your HVAC system is very important and you need to keep it running right. Thanks to this article, you can save money on repairs. However, they can only help if you choose to follow them carefully. They can prevent serious damage and should be taken seriously.
Look for an HVAC system that is rated as Energy Star compliant, as that will save you the most amount of money. Energy Star systems have guidelines that must be met. The rules are created by the U.S. The EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency, is who governs Energy Star units. Investing in a search for the most energy efficient unit will pay off in considerable long-term savings on utility bills.
