
Not many people have an in depth knowledge about working on HVAC systems. This fact can cause problems when it breaks down.
Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. It’s important to know this beforehand.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you know that you’re able to give your chosen contractor the information they might need.
Each spring it’s time to clean the inside of your condenser unit, including the fan and the sensitive coil. Shut the power off before you do anything. Then, take off the grill and get the blades out. Clean everything with care.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Do not allow grass clippings to cover the outdoor unit of your HVAC system. When you work with your lawn mower, make sure it spits the grass to the side opposite of your unit. Also do this when blowing leaves or shoveling snow.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. A contractor cannot give an over-the-phone estimate if unfamiliar with your system. It will be way more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
As you notice the tress begin to lose their leaves, keep an eye on your outdoor condenser unit. When you see nearby trees shedding their leaves, clean the fan grill on your unit constantly. A blocked unit can quickly become a broken unit.
Clean the debris off your outdoor condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can cause a disaster with your unit.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. In this way, it will be cooling air that is already somewhat cooled. This saves energy.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when trees lose their 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 will have to contend with problems.
Consumers are usually advised to have their HVAC systems inspected twice a year. The spring and autumn times are the best time to have it checked. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.
Put your outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them.
Condenser units for the outdoors should be shut off when it starts to get cold outside. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.
Be sure to have the HVAC system checks. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Make use of a thermostat when you are installing an HVAC. 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. Also, you can find a thermostat that is controllable from a computer or smart phone.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on your air conditioning costs. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
Service your HVAC yearly. 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. Small problems can occur in any of these areas and lead to serious issues if ignored for too long.
When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, moving parts well oiled and the level of freon adjusted if necessary. These simple things will keep your system to run at its peak performance.
When you are away from home, adjust your thermostat to a money saving temperature. Turning it off does allow the temperature to rise, but only so far. If you leave it on all day, it’s fighting the heat constantly, meaning it’s using a lot of electricity to do its job.
Do not let your house get extremely hot. Air conditioners can only really cool a home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If the temperature in your home reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Never allow your home to get dangerously hot inside. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. So, if your home temp reaches 100 degrees, your air conditioning will only bring that temp down to about 80 degrees. This can still be way too warm for you.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. 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.
Did you know an AC unit can freeze? Drain lines can also suffer an occasional freeze, and these are sometimes mistaken for plumbing leak issues. If this is something that’s happening to you, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. It is best to call a professional in to fix this particular issue, even though the switch to fan setting should cause the ice to start melting.
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.
Before hiring an HVAC company, you need to find out how long they have been in business. The older they are, the more likely it will be for you to find out their history, which will help you gauge their quality. It is riskier to hire someone who does not have a long history.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. Hiring a newer contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Consider what potential direction your air conditioner’s flow will have when choosing where to put it. For a corner location, check for a unit that has the ability to direct the air flow in a different direction from the wall.
There are quite a few sites that let customers talk about their experiences with different services. This is a great way to find decent people to hire.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience. Make sure they are experienced doing the kind of work that you need. This will help to maximize their productivity.
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 space more effectively.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. Call and ask if their service was everything they expected, timely, and that it stayed on budget. This will help you stay away from scam artists, but only if you call those references!
Are you considering purchasing a new heating/cooling system? You will need to know some things first. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively cool and heat. You are wise to err on the side of a unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
In the winter, keep your condenser unit properly covered. When the condenser is not being used, the cover will help it to last much longer. Don’t turn it on if the temperature is below 60 either. Instead, just use the fan if need be.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not be working efficiently. If a leak is found, you’ll find that fixed leaks are worth the money.
Any time that you are given a quote for HVAC work, it’s vital that you them to do a heat-loss calculation, too. This determines the number of BTUs needed to maintain comfort in your home. Windows and doors should be counted, and insulation should be checked along with measuring the internal space of your home.
Determine which way your home faces.The less your home is heated, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
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 can save you a lot on your energy bills and gives you a nice comfortable home.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioner shopping. You can usually substitute 20 BTU per square footage of the area to be cooled. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, sum their areas.
Believe it or not, approximately 66 percent of all homes have leaking ducts! These can represent one fourth of your home’s utility costs. It’s not difficult or expensive to seal the ducts around your home by yourself.
Pick an HVAC business that is fast and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians stay on schedule. A knowledgeable technician will also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. After diagnosis, it should be taken care of right away.
When you are looking at HVAC contractors, make sure the products they use are Energy Star efficient. These systems meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the EPA. This can help you reduce your expenses throughout the year.
Always request references from a HVAC contractor.
For the most efficient operating of your HVAC system, schedule regular cleaning of your unit’s heating ducts. Inspect the ducts frequently to ensure there are not dents, debris or punctures. Damaged ducts increase the energy bill by wasting air that is warm.
This tells you the number of BTUs your new system requires to keep your home comfortable.
Be sure to protect your condenser as the weather turns colder. This can easily be done by putting a thick cover on it. Don’t use this unit if you’re working in temperatures below around 60 degrees because your system won’t work that well below temperatures like this.
These types of units are energy efficient and meet the strict guidelines set for efficiency. The rules are established by the United States. 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.
Keep the owner’s manual close to you while you’re working on any kind of unit. There are a lot of tricks that you will find in this book. If you no longer have your manual, it is usually possible to get it from the manufacturer.
Seek a HVAC contractors who only use products that carry the Energy Star label. This ensures efficiency that the product is more efficient than those without it. This will help you can save a bit of money on energy all year.
Make sure the HVAC company you contact gives you a written estimate. It is important to get your agreement in writing. Comparing estimates is a must. This can ensure you are getting a good deal on your service. Compare items from different companies, such as time frames and rates. Avoid a contractor that bids really low because chances are service will be poor.
Dealing with a broken HVAC system is a nightmare every homeowner dreads. However, taking the time to research the topic of HVAC systems, any homeowner can avoid the nightmare of dealing with a last minute fix. By choosing to follow the great advice from the above article, any homeowner can quickly resolve issues in a prompt and affordable manner.