The level of comfort experienced within a home are very important. That is why it is important to keep your HVAC has to be in tip top shape. If you don’t care for your HVAC, you should expect terrible living conditions and expensive repairs. Here are some great tips to get you started.
When you call an HVAC system for help, you need to be aware of what you need them to do before calling. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate without looking at your system. In addition, you need to be able to tell the contractor what you have already tried. It’s a good idea to learn this information in advance.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you know that you’re able to give the contractor the information they might need.
Clean the debris from outside units often. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. Overheating can occur, which often spells disaster for your system.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean the coils on the condenser fan from time to time. First, turn off the power so that nothing will move as you are working on it. Then take off the grill, take the blades out, and gently clean them.
Clean the debris off your condenser unit. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, bringing potential damage with it. It can cause it to overheat.
Leaves falling from trees can wreak havoc with your HVAC unit. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. Your fan needs an unobstructed way to get air inside, and the more blocked up it becomes, the more headaches will develop for you with the system.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
If the condenser fan has oil parts, then you need to lubricate it at least once per 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.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim your grass cuttings in a direction away from the unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. The cooler air that the unit can suck in, the less work it will need to do to further cool the air.
Sae 20 Oil
If you are a home owner, replace whatever single pane windows you have with more efficient double-paned versions. Double-pane windows keep inside air cooler, allowing you to reduce AC usage in the summertime. When it is cold in the winter months, these same windows will keep the warm air inside as well.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once a year. You can find the ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.
Have your heating and cooling system serviced twice per year. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
Get your HVAC unit serviced yearly. The service will include motor inspection, oiling of moving parts, and a freon level check. This ensures your system runs smoothly.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This also keeps warm air in during the colder months.
There are sizing calculators available to determine the proper sized system for your home. If you purchase something too large, you will be throwing away money. Check your manual to learn what it is rated by the manufacturer if you want accurate information.
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 these things beforehand will allow you to make a better decision.
Speak with family and friends to get a recommendation for a reputable HVAC contractor. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. This will also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid hiring.
Look for 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.
If you don’t know who to call to maintenance, repair, or install your HVAC, search for reviews online. Many websites allow consumers to share their experience with a service. This will help you to sort out the good from the bad.
Companies that are well established have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Ask for quotes from multiple contractors. By calling around and asking a few different contractors, you can save a ton of money. To figure out what a good rate is, speak with about five or six contractors.
Ask for helpful information when you can find a reputable HVAC contractor. People who’ve had a good experience are usually willing to tell of it. This can also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid at all costs.
Having a radiant barrier in your attic helps you HVAC system run better. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. If it’s done right, the attic can become another useful living space.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Decide which way your house faces to make sure your HVAC system can work its best. If your home is surrounded by strategically planted trees, they can often block out the morning sunlight. When you do what you can to less how much heat comes into your home, your AC unit can work less, which will save money.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not up to snuff. If a leak is found, you’ll find that fixed leaks are worth the money.
You can’t know what sized air conditioner to purchase unless you measure the area you need cooled. Plan for 20 BTU of power in your air conditioner for each square foot that needs to be cooled. If more than one room needs AC service, combine all the square footage.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system can work better. If there’s less heat inside your home, then the HVAC will require less work to actually cool the home.
Replace your air filters every month. That’s the easiest thing to do so your unit continues running in good shape. A few bucks is worth it!
If you hear clicking inside your HVAC unit, look for blockages right away. Often the issue is some sort of debris that’s hitting fans in your cooling system. Look carefully at this prior to calling a service technician.
Drape a cover over your condenser unit in the winter to protect it. This will help your condenser last longer when not being used. Another bit of great advice is to not run the unit’s compressor if it’s under 60 degrees outside. Do this by simply turn on the fan so that you don’t cause the unit unnecessary strain.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need 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.
Any contractor giving you a quote should provide you with a heat-loss calculation. This factors in the amount of BTU your heating system will consume when regulating the temperature in your house. This means that they need to count all doors and windows in your home, along with an insulation check, and taking full measurement of your home.
Hvac System
Talk to your contractor about putting in a smart thermostat. This device can save you a great deal of money on your heating and cooling bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your lifestyle.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This represents an easy thing to do and it will keep your HVAC system running well.
An Energy Star system is really the way to go when it comes to your HVAC. Energy Star units must meet certain guidelines. These guidelines are enforced by the federal government. They are there to ensure these HVAC units operate as they are advertised. Taking the time to fully research various units may help you save a significant amount of money.
Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to verify they have the type of work you require.
Incredibly, two-thirds of homes have ducts that leak! These can cost you as much as twenty five percent of what you pay for utilities. It’s not difficult or expensive to seal the ducts around your home by yourself.
Always request references when you are considering a contractor.
Clean your heating ducts to maximize your HVAC’s air quality. Check out the ducts every so often to make sure they are not damaged in any way. Ducts that are damaged can increase your heating bill by wasting the warm air.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency hotline. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, in any weather.
For the best operation of your unit, always have the owner’s manual handy. There are a lot of tricks that you will find in this book. If you can’t find the manual, check online.
These energy devices are known to meet very strict efficiency guidelines. The standards are evaluated by the United States. They are called the environment and human health. Taking the time to look into these units may help you save a significant amount of money.
Always get written estimates for HVAC services. It is important that it is in writing and not a verbal estimate. Many job necessities require estimates. This procedure helps to ensure you get the best service. You can then compare the estimates for price, timely completion of the work and other variables. Don’t trust a company that gives you a lower estimate.
You may be surprised that as many as two-thirds of households have ducts that are leaky. These can represent one fourth of the utility costs. Sealing the ducts is easy and cheap to do yourself, and it can significantly decrease your electrical bill yearly thereafter.
Look for an HVAC contractors that use Energy Star products and products. This ensures efficiency that your system has met the product is more efficient than those without it. This means that in the end you to save a bit of money on utility bills.
Now you know what is involved when it comes to maintaining your HVAC system. Do not let neglect cause major issues. These tips will help you keep your unit maintained and should help you if you ever need it replaced as well.
