Coming home to a hot or cold house due to a broken HVAC unit is no fun at all. The following tips that follow will assist you in this process.
When you start making calls to get someone to help with your HVAC system, it’s a good idea to know what system you have before that phone call. Know what the manufacturer’s name is, which particular model you have and what’s gone on with the unit in the past. 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 calling someone to fix it. This will help you give the new contractor any information they might need.
Think about what improvements you want made before picking an HVAC contractor. This will make the quote process much easier. It will be even harder if you cannot explain what you have done. Know the right information ahead of time.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Clean the condenser coils and fan at the beginning of the year to help the unit run efficiently. Always shut the power off before doing any work or cleaning on the unit. Take away all of the debris as well.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction from your unit.This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
When spring rolls around, give the condenser fan blades and coils a good clean. Shut the power off before you do anything. Secondly, pop the grill off, take the blades off and clean them as well as the actual unit.
Lubricate your condenser at least once a year. These are often covered with rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Do not allow grass clippings to cover the outdoor unit of your HVAC system. Now so the grass clippings are shot away from your unit. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Turn off your outdoor condensers you have when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps the system last much longer and save you a lot on repairs.
Boost energy efficiency by putting your condenser unit in the shade. If the air your machine draws in is already cooler, it will require less energy to regulate before it’s filtered into your home.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
Have the HVAC system serviced twice per year. It’s best to have it checked before you turn it on for the summer and again for the winter. Even though it may seem as nothing is wrong with the unit, a simple inspection can prove otherwise.
During the visit, the system motor will be inspected, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These repairs will boost the performance of your HVAC system running smoothly.
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. This should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can keep your HVAC running and can save you money on repairs.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. Doing all of this will make sure you make a better decision.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. In fact, you can save as much as 10 percent on both heating and cooling when you turn your thermostat by by 10-15 percent for at least 8 hours daily. This will save you a lot of money during the year.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you notice this, put your thermostat over to fan. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Regularly having your HVAC system serviced can help keep your heating and cooling bills down. During the service check, the system motor will be inspected, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked Small problems can occur in any of these areas and lead to serious issues if ignored for too long.
Ask people that you know and relations for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are usually more than willing to tell of it. This is also a great way to get names of companies that should avoid.
Make sure that your AC is turned off when you are not using it. The house will heat up when it is turned off, but only a certain amount. The longer the unit stays on, the more it ends up costing you in energy bills.
A radiant barrier is an awesome device which will help improve the efficiency of your HVAC. It will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even find that you can use the attic space more effectively.
Your home should not have temperatures that are too hot. Even the best air conditioners can only realistically cool your home approximately 20 degrees Farenheit. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. When you factor in humidity, this can still be dangerously hot for the human body at rest.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not up to snuff. When you repair the leaks, you may see that the testing pays for itself.
Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. You may even mistake the frozen drains as an issue for a plumber. If this is something you notice, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Determine the direction that your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. The less amount of heat inside of your home, the less work your AC will have to do.
Use online AC sizing calculators to figure out what size unit you need. If you purchase something that is too big, it won’t be cost effective to run. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Check out how long the HVAV contractor you are considering has been in business. A company that has been in business for a long time will have a solid track record, and you can use this to figure out if you should spend your money with them. Taking risks is not something that you want to do in this area.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. It will improve the efficiency of it.
Are you thinking of getting a cooling and heating system that’s new? Many considerations must be scrutinized. Systems have ratings according to the total area they effectively heat or cool. It’s a good idea to buy something that’s larger than you’d need instead of getting something that’s not big enough.
Always request references prior to hiring any contractor.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. The problem may be debris getting into the fans of the cooling system. Just pull it out and clean the blade off. Look at the system before you call for help.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have an emergency hotline. They should be able to get to your home whenever you need them there, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.
Choose an efficient and knowledgeable HVAC company. This will ensure that the job is done efficiently. These techs that come out should be quickly able to figure out the issue and remedy the problem right away. When they know what the problem is, they should know how to fix it quickly so that it works properly.
There are dishonest contractors out there that try to charge you more later for such things like material fees and fuel charges. Having a signed contract can help to avoid any issues like this.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency number available to customers around the clock. You should have the ability to get them out to your home, whether it is the midst of a horrible heat wave or a snow storm.
Always check out any references provided to you by a prospective HVAC contractor.
When you get an estimate from a contractor, ask for a heat-loss quote. This helps ensure that you get a unit with the right BTUs to ensure your home is always comfortable, regardless of the outside weather. They should check the insulation, doors and windows and the space in your house.
This tells you the number of BTUs your new system requires to keep your home comfortable.
When your install or repair an HVAC system, find out about installing a thermostat that you can program. You will realize real savings when the system is allowed to rest at night while you are asleep.
The tips above will help you manage your HVAC system. It’s a dreadful feeling if you come home and realize your vents don’t have air coming out. Contemplating hefty repairs is also something to dread. You can prevent such an unpleasant surprise with the information you have read about in the above article. Use them as necessary.
Clean the heating ducts on your HVAC system periodically in order to allow efficient heating and have clean, fresh air. Look often at the ducts to make sure there is nothing wrong with them. If there is damage to ducts, warm air is wasted and your heating bills are likely to rise.
