Anyone that has an HVAC system in their home knows the importance of properly maintained. An HVAC unit operating at minimum efficiency is costing you money all year round! This article can help you keep your HVAC system running.
Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. First, the power should be turned off so things don’t move as you work. Pull out each of the blades and clean them one by one.
If your HVAC is running into problems, look around your home before calling in people to help. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Make sure clippings don’t get on your outdoor units when your mowing your lawn. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction. This also applies to blowing leaves or moving debris. Just be careful with that exterior HVAC unit.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
If you need to decide the best place to put your outdoor compressor unit, consider putting it in a location that is in the shade. The cooler the air which goes in, the less work the unit will have to do.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when your trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often during the fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
Check your unit at least twice each 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. Even if nothing seems wrong, checking it out can help you find and fix potential issues.
Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. These ports are often covered with rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Getting a programmable thermostats can be a terrific way to realize savings. Programmable thermostats can reduce your power HVAC energy costs by as much as ten percent, just by dialing back your thermostat ten or fifteen percent up to eight daily hours. Plus, some models allow you to control them over the internet or from a smartphone.
Have the HVAC system inspected twice a year at the least.This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
Keep energy costs from rising by having your system serviced annually. During a maintenance visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These repairs will keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
A programmable thermostat can help you out when it comes to your power bills. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. So if your home is 100ºF, you’ll only get the temperature down to about 80. 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.
During the service check, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple things will keep your system to run at its peak performance.
When you want a HVAC contractor who is reliable, you need to spend some time in researching the background and reputation of several potential companies. The BBB is always great when you are looking for references or online reviews. When done in advance you can be sure of making a sound decision.
Do not let your house to get dangerously hot. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool a home down a home by 20 degrees. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Sometimes air conditioners get iced up. There are also occasional freezes in the drain line, which are often confused for plumbing leaks. If you notice this, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. The fan setting can help melt some of the ice, but you should still call a professional to check your unit out.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Go to people that you know and ask for recommendations when it is time for you to hire an HVAC contractor. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. You are likely to also hear about negative experiences.
Ask your friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People who have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. This will also help you to avoid bad companies.
If you don’t know who to call to maintenance, repair, or install your HVAC, search for reviews online. There are a lot of sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save a lot of money by doing your homework. Call at least four or five different HVAC specialist to find the rates are.
It is always a wise move to obtain a few quotes from different contractors because prices can vary. If you call around before making a final decision, it can save you a lot of money in the end. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even find that you can use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
If the system you’re using now isn’t working great, then check the ducts for some leakage. Call the utility company to test for you, it will usually be cheaper than a contractor. Having these repaired is worth the cost of testing if you had to hire a contractor to do the job.
Are you thinking of getting a new HVAC system? You need to take a few things into account. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are better off purchasing a unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
If you would like your HVAC unit to be more efficient, simply look at where the front of your home faces. If you have trees placed in strategic areas, you can block the sunlight in the morning. The less heat in your home, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you repair the leaks, the testing has paid for itself.
Be sure to replace your HVAC air filters every month. It is an easy thing to do yourself in order to have your system running well. Filters are cheap, and changing them regularly adds up to long term savings.
When you hear an odd clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, immediately go out and look to see if anything is inside it.Often the issue is some sort of debris that’s hitting fans in the cooling system. Look carefully at the system before you call up a service technician.
Make certain that you hire an experienced contractor with a good reputation. This will ensure that the job is done efficiently. 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.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You will need about 20 BTU for each square foot in the room. If more than one room needs AC service, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
It is important to think about the direction air flows from your unit. If all you have is a corner spot, ensure that the air is not directed towards a wall.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the simplest thing that you can do and it will keep your unit running in tip top shape.
Always find out how much experience a contractor has in the business. They should have a good history of working with HVAC units. While you may not know if a worker with no experience will work well or not, it’s not a good idea to take a chance with this.
Pick an HVAC business that understands the unit and knows what to do. The best companies make sure their technicians will always be on schedule and keep appointments. A licensed technician will also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC. Once the problem is identified, they should also know how to get them resolved efficiently and quickly.
Ask for references from any contractor you’re considering. It helps to find out whether prior customers were satisfied with their overall experience. Checking references helps you avoid scammers.
Ask a contractor about their experience.Make sure they are experienced with the kind of work that you need.
The next time that you have an HVAC technician at your home or business, ask them to put in a thermostat that is programmable. This will save you money on your utility bill and give your unit needed rest.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.
To save some cash, try picking an Energy Star HVAC unit. These energy devices are guaranteed to meet very strict efficiency guidelines. These are established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency generally. Look into these and enjoy savings in the long run.
This determines the number of BTUs your system has to be.
Do you know that 66 percent of homes have ducts that are leaky? These leaky ducts can account for up to one fourth of your total utility costs. It’s not difficult or expensive to seal the ducts around your home by yourself.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This lowers your heating and cooling bills because your settings to ensure optimal performance.
The condenser needs protection in cold weather. This can be done by placing an insulating cover on it. Also, make sure you don’t use the condenser unit when the temperature is in the 50s and below.
These qualified energy devices are known to meet strict guidelines for efficiency. The units are evaluated by the EPA. They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking the time to fully research various units may help you get long-term savings on energy costs.
Make sure you know where the owner’s manual is anytime the system is running. You can find great information about how to take care of your unit, and this could come in very handy. If you are unable to locate your manual, you usually can find it on the website of the manufacturer.
The condenser needs to be properly taken care of in cold weather. A thick cover will help protect the condenser from the weather.
Make sure you get a written estimate from your HVAC company. They have to be on paper. There are many items involved in the estimate. It will ensure that you get treated fairly. Try comparing things like price, time completion, and other things. If any company gives you an estimate that sounds very low, this is a sign that they may not do good work for their customers.
Keep the owner’s manual close to you while you’re working with your unit. The manual is going to give you quite a few things to learn about the unit you have and will be very useful.
Now that you’ve read the advice above, you should know more about how to keep an HVAC running for a long time. A poorly operational HVAC system can become cumbersome as your electricity bills rise and maintenance costs increase, so having the right information is key to success. Check these tips again to make sure your HVAC lasts a long time.
