The comfort of a home is heated or cooled is important. That is why it is important to keep your HVAC has to be in tip top shape. If you aren’t taking care of your system, things will cost a lot to fix and it will be hard to live with it all. Here are some tips to get you out.
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. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. 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 what type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This helps make sure the contractor has the information they will be sufficiently prepared.
Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. A contractor will be hard pressed to provide you with an over-the-phone estimate if unfamiliar with your system. Being unable to explain what has been already done will make it even harder. So, you should know this beforehand.
Be sure to clean external condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can cause your system by overheating.
As you notice the tress begin to lose their leaves, keep an eye on your outdoor condenser unit. Clean outdoor units often to remove leaves. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
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. They generally have a rubber or metal cap on them. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don’t overfill it.
Sae 20 Oil
Have the HVAC system serviced twice per year. The normally recommended time for HVAC system inspections is once before the peak cooling season when it gets hot and you’ll be using your AC, and once before the peak heating season, during the cold months when you’re likely to be using your heat. Even if everything seems fine, check things out to find potential problems.
Lubricate your fan condenser yearly if it has oil ports. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps covering the ports. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Replace any single-paned windows with double-paned versions. Having double pane windows allows your air conditioning unit to be run much less during the summer, because the cool air is kept inside the home. Conversely, they keep warm air in during the winter.
Put your outdoor units in places with shade.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning costs. 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. In addition, some models make things really easy on you, allowing you to adjust them from the computer.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. This also helps retain heated air during the winter months.
If nobody is home, turn off the air conditioner to save money. When you turn it off, the house heats up, but only to a certain threshold. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the BBB and look for your situation. These simple steps are going to help make a better decision.
Don’t let your house get too hot. A simple AC unit will usually only cool the home around 20 degrees within a short period of time. The temperature will only reduce to about 80 if your home heats up to 100 degrees. This won’t be a healthy environment to live in.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
To choose a reliable HVAC contractor, the best thing to do is to do your homework on a number of possible firms and check out their reputations. A good start would be the BBB to see if there are any complaints, then search online for review sites where you can see what actual customers had to say about their experience. You will make a more informed choice if you use these resources.
Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. It is always risky to hire someone who does not have a contractor with little experience.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. Buying a unit that is too large for your home is a poor decision that wastes money. Read over the owner’s manual to see the manufacturers suggestions as to the cooling capacity of the unit for the most accurate information.
Ask people that you know and family for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. It’s also a good way to learn which companies should not be contracted for work.
Figure out how long the HVAC company you choose has been in business. Companies with proven track records typically provide better service. Hiring a new company will be riskier.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. You may even find that you can use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Your HVAC system can run more efficiently if your attic has a radiant barrier. This mechanism will prevent outside heat from coming in, reducing your energy consumption when cooling. You may suddenly find that the attic even looks like a great option for another bedroom!
Are you thinking about having a HVAC system installed? You should first think about a few important things. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit rather than purchasing one that is a smaller one.
Determine the direction your home is facing to help get your HVAC system functioning efficiently. Block the sun in the morning with trees around your home. The less your home is heated, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your existing system is not up to snuff. When you have leaks repaired, the tests will pay for themselves.
If you hear clicking inside your HVAC unit, look for an obstruction. Frequently the cause is some kind of debris that is making contact with the cooling system of the fan. You can solve the issue by removing debris. Check this out before calling a repairman.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The less heat in your home, the fewer occasions you have to use your air conditioner.
Pick a contractor who gets back to you quickly and understands the job. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule and keep appointments. The technicians need to also know what to do to figure out what’s going wrong with an HVAC unit quickly. Also, they should be able to service it quickly.
If you hear a clicking in the HVAC unit at home, check immediately for any debris that may have accumulated in it. The issue may be debris getting into the fans of the cooling system. Check this out before spending on a contractor.
Never hire a contractor before asking about the work experience they have when it comes to dealing with HVAC units. You want to make sure that they have experience with the type of work you need done. 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.
If you must position it in a corner, make sure your unit permits airflow to be redirected.
Only hire someone to help you with an HVAC system if there is a 24 hour line you can call when you have problems. This includes during extreme weather.
Ask a contractor about their experience.Make sure they are experienced doing the kind of work that is needed.
When you get someone to work on your HVAC, make sure you know what the total cost includes. Unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulous contractors that will tack un-discussed charges onto your bill. Make sure that you have an ironclad written contract to avoid these disasters.
Always make sure to get references when you are considering a HVAC contractor.
Cover your condenser when the weather becomes less than optimal. Doing this extends the life of your condenser when it is not in use. Also, you shouldn’t use your compressor if the temperature outside drops to below 60 degrees. Only use the fan during those times.
Hvac System
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. To properly calculate the heat-loss calculation, a service tech will count the number of windows and doors, calculate the square footage and determine the amount of insulation in the home.
You can now see how important a properly maintained HVAC system is. Do not allow it to fail on you when you do not pay attention to maintaining it regularly. Use these tips to keep your HVAC system from failing when it should be running smoothly. It’s not really a tough job at all!
Sixty-six percent of houses have leaky ducts. 25% of your utility bill could be a result of such leaks. Sealing up your ducts is cheap and easy, you can even do it yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.
