This article has the great information to help you understand it better.
Go through your home before you call HVAC professional. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool. You can then relay this information to the technician so that they can more easily figure out what the problem is.
Clean the fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your condenser as well.
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. If you do not know what you want, the process can become tedious, especially over the phone. You need to know this before you begin.
Clean the debris that accumulates on an external condenser unit. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can ruin your system. It can cause your system by overheating.
Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. The power to the unit should be removed before you begin any maintenance, even cleaning. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
If your condenser units are outisde, make sure any debris is cleaned from them regularly. Things tend to pile up around these units, especially after storms come through, which could cause problems to your system. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Grass Clippings
Every spring you need to make sure your condenser fan’s coils and blades on the fan part are clean. Before you do so, shut off the power to ensure that none of the parts will move while you work on it. Next, remove the grill, take the blades and clean them gently, then clean the actual unit.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass clippings in the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
When you are cutting the grass, be sure not to cover your outdoor units with clippings. Now so the grass clippings are shot away from your unit. This includes grass clippings and leaves.
Leaves falling from trees can wreak havoc with your system. Make sure the fan’s grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves.The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it is clogged, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Lubricate your condenser yearly if it has oil ports. These are usually covered with rubber or metal caps. You should select an SAE 20 oil since it is lightweight and does not contain detergent. Be sure to use just 10 drops or so, or your system may overfill.
Put outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Save some cash by shutting down the air-conditioning system when there is no one in the house. You don’t need to keep the house cool if you aren’t there. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.
Have the HVAC system inspected twice a year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Do not let your house get dangerously hot. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. If the temperature in your home reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. When you factor in humidity, this can still be dangerously hot for the human body at rest.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This also helps keep it warm air in during the winter months.
AC units will tend to get ice on them due to the cold. In addition, the drain line sometimes freezes, and people often think that there is a plumbing leak. If this happens, put your thermostat over to fan. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
A programmable thermostat can help you out when it comes to your power bills. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
It can be confusing to figure out what the correct HVAC system size is for your home, but you can solve this with the help of a sizing calculator. If you purchase something too large, you will be throwing away money. You can look online or do other research to get information from HVAC system manufacturers and sellers in order to determine the best unit size for your needs.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. If this doesn’t work, call in help.
Check the Internet for reviews on those who fix or install HVAC systems. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. Read through them and figure out who you want to try out.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home. Look at the manual or on the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, determine the direction that your home faces. Strategically placing trees around your home can block some of the heat coming from the sun, preventing your home from overheating. That will take some of the pressure off your HVAC unit.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a considerable risk.
It’s important to have doors and windows that are efficient for the most efficiency for your HVAC unit. Be sure their seal is tight so no exterior air gets in or interior air gets out. You can also hire someone to test them.
Ask friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had done in the past are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. This is also a great way to get names of companies that you should avoid at all costs.
Measure the area that requires air conditioning. Normally, you need 20 BTU for each square foot that you wish to cool. If you have multiple rooms to cool, be sure to add their square footage together.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The less your home is heated, the fewer occasions you have to use your air conditioner.
Replacing your unit’s air filter each month is a key maintenance task. This is the easiest step to take to ensure that your unit remains in good operating condition. Filters are cheap, and changing them regularly adds up to long term savings.
If your HVAC system is clicking, there may be something obstructing it. The problem may be debris hitting the fans of the cooling system.Check it out yourself first before calling a repairman.
Choose an HVAC company that is quick and knows what they are doing. The best companies out there have technicians that keep a schedule and their appointments too. Good technicians are also able to diagnose issues quickly. They should offer you answers which can be implemented right away.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You will need about 20 BTU per square foot in the area to be cooled. If you need to cool multiple rooms, get their square footage added together.
Ask any contractor you’re thinking of hiring for references. You must know whether or not their customers have had an issues, and this includes trouble with the quote they were given or workers not showing up on time. The references will help you avoid wasting your money on someone that is not professional.
Hvac System
When hiring a contractor, choose one that offers 24-hour emergency hours. They should be available to you if a problem arises.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This is an easy thing that you can do and it will keep your HVAC system running well.
You should cover the condenser on your HVAC unit during the winter. It prolongs the lifespan. The unit’s compressor should never be on when the temperature is 60 degrees or below. Instead, just use the fan if need be.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have done the type of work you require.
Sixty-six percent of houses have leaky ducts. This will kick up your utility costs. 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.
Always make sure to get references when you are considering a contractor.
Look for HVAC contractors that use Energy Star equipment and products. When a product line carries the famous ENERGY STAR logo it has met the difficult standards and guidelines that the EPA has set forth. Purchasing one will help your family save money over time.
Always check any references that you by a prospective HVAC contractor.
Your heating ducts should be properly cleaned out on your HVAC unit to ensure it is working efficiently. Check your heating ducts weekly. Ducts that are damaged can increase your heating bill by wasting the warm air.
This information is used to determine the BTU your system has to be.
Keep the condenser on your HVAC unit protected during the cold weather. This can be done by placing an insulating cover on it. When temperatures are less than sixty degrees, it will not run effectively.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This can save you a great deal on your bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
Make sure your owner’s manual in handy when your unit is being operated. This manual has information that is specific to your unit, so use it if a serious problem occurs. The manufacturer should have them available on their website if you can not locate yours.
You might be surprised that as much as 66% of households have ducts that are leaky. These can account for up to one fourth of your heating and cooling costs. Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, you can even do it yourself, saving you money on your utility bills every year from then on.
Make sure your condenser unit is protected. This can be done by placing a cover on the condenser unit.
Make sure the owner’ manual is always handy. 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.
Most people can learn the basics of HVAC systems. Be sure to make use of these tips one by one. Use all the guidelines that have been provided as you get to work.
