Not everyone knows about working on HVAC units. This can be problematic when it comes time to handle a household heating or cooling emergency.
What do you need done? Know this before calling a contractor. It’s hard for these contractors to give phone estimates without seeing the current system you have. It will be even harder if you cannot explain what you have done. So, figure out this information before anything else.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, try touring your home before calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is.
Before the summer you should clean out your condenser fan’s blades and coils. Always shut off all power to your unit for any work beyond superficial cleaning. Also, make sure you remove any debris or leaves from the condenser unit outside.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
When spring rolls around, give the condenser fan blades and coils a good clean. First, turn the power off so nothing moves when you’re working with it. Remove the grill and carefully clean the blades and surrounding areas.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Make sure that you do not cover your outdoor components with grass clippings when you are trimming the grass. Turn your lawnmower in the opposite direction. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim your grass in a direction from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Place your HVAC unit in the shade to boost efficiency. It will help you save on your energy bill when you do this.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once each year. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Installing double paned windows can save a lot of money over single panes, so upgrade if you are able. You can reduce your energy costs from energy leaking out through your windows by installing window that are double-paned. As with other steps you take to improve your ability to keep your air conditioned air or heated air inside your home, double-paned windows can help you save on energy costs.
Make sure your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
If nobody is home, turn off the AC. The house will heat up when it is turned off, but only a certain amount. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.
Turn off any outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will help keep it in good condition for many years to come.
In order to select an HVAC contractor that you can trust, it pays to invest some time researching a few prospective companies and checking their reputations. Check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), and look them up on review sites online to see what previous customers have to say about their experience. In this way, you can be more sure of getting a good HVAC company.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm in during the winter.
Sometimes, air conditioning units ice up. You may even mistake the frozen drains as an issue for a plumber. 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. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you save money on your air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Buying a unit which is too big reduces efficiency. Use the manual to determine what size is right for you.
Research the reputation of companies before hiring them.Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews posted by former customers. These steps are going to help ensure your decision is a wise one.
Ask those you know for the name of a great HVAC technician, should you need one. People who’ve had great service are usually willing to tell of it. This can also help you learn the names of those companies that you should avoid.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for this information.
Search online for reviews to find an HVAC customer you can trust. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. This is an awesome way to find contractors to work with.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. Hiring a new contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
It is always a wise move to obtain a few quotes from different contractors because prices can vary. This will reduce your overall spending. 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.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris hitting the fans in your cooling system. Look at this prior to calling a service technician.
To keep your HVAC unit running at full capacity, you should have quality doors and windows installed that are efficient. They have to have a tight seal, stopping air from going in or out. You can get a professional out to help you test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. You can hire a professional.
You can’t know what sized air conditioner to purchase unless you measure the area you need cooled. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the area to be cooled. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You will need 20 BTU per square foot of the room. If you are cooling more than one room, be sure to add their square footage together.
Be sure the HVAC contractor you pick is fast and knowledgeable. A sign of a great company is one that arrives on time for their appointment. Contractors ought to be able to find the problem quickly. After they see what the problem is, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.
Always make sure to get some references prior to hiring any contractor.
Understand where the air flows in your home and use that information to determine where to put your AC unit. If it has to be placed in a corner, get a unit where the air won’t be trapped against the wall.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, no matter what.
You should always ask a contractor a few simple questions before hiring them for a job, such as how long they’ve been working in this field. You want to make sure that they have experience with the type of work you need done. While someone with less experience might be able to do a great job too, you do not want to take that chance.
Cover your condenser in the winter time. This simple cover keeps the condenser last longer if it is protected when not in use. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the condenser unit.
Get references from anyone you are considering hiring. Find out if the contractor stayed within budget and performed the task in the allotted time they said. You can avoid scam artists, yet only when you actually check up on references.
Always check out any references that you receive for an HVAC contractor.
Only choose a contractor to repair or install your HVAC unit if they provide a 24 hour hotline in case of emergencies. 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.
This determines the amount of BTUs your system will need to keep your home comfortable.
Fit the condenser on your HVAC with a protective cover during the colder winter months. It prolongs the lifespan. Also, when it’s less than sixty degrees outside, you shouldn’t use the compressor. Avoid placing a strain on your unit by using the fan instead.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This will save you a lot of money in terms of energy because it allows your system some downtime while you are warm in your bed.
You should ask the contractor if they included heat-loss calculations inside their initial quote. This tells you the number of BTUs your system requires to keep the environment of your home comfortable. The contractor should also count the number of doors and windows in your home, as well as check insulation, and measure the internal space.
Look for HVAC contractors that uses Energy Star products and equipment. This will ensure that is required by the EPA standards for efficiency. This means that they can help you save money on your expenses throughout the year.
Opt for a programmable thermostat when getting your HVAC. This can save you a great deal on your energy bills because your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
Clean your ducts on a regular basis. Look often at the ducts regularly so you can make sure there is nothing wrong with them. Damaged ducts can raise your energy bill.
You should remember to manually clean any heating ducts on the HVAC system periodically. Look often at the ducts to make sure there is nothing wrong with them. Warm air can be wasted and your bill will sky rocket.
The condenser needs to be properly taken care of in cold weather. This can be done by placing an insulating cover on the condenser unit.
For the best operation of your unit, always have the owner’s manual handy. You can find great information about how to take care of your unit, and this could come in very handy. The manufacturer should have them available on their website if you can not locate yours.
Keep the owner’s manual for your unit nearby at all times whenever you are working on any kind of unit. The information contained within this manual is going to give you quite a few things to learn about the unit you have and will be very useful.
No homeowner wants to face a broken HVAC unit. Understanding them before you have a problem is ideal. Use the information in this article to assist you with your HVAC maintenance.
