It is not easy for homeowners to understand where to go when their heating or cooling system begins to fail. To keep yourself from having a problem with this, it pays to spend some time getting familiar with the topic. This article was put together to help homeowners to find the proper help they have to get.
Before you contact people to assist you in getting your system fixed, know what kind of system you’re working with in the first place. Get information on the make and model, plus if you have information on the history of maintenance, that will help, too. In this way, you can be sure your repair person has all vital information.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will help you give the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor, have some sort of idea of the work that needs to be done. You might not be able to get a price quote unless you let the contractor see your current system first. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. So, you should know this beforehand.
If your HVAC is running into problems, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean the debris on your condenser units. Leaves and debris can accumulate quickly, particularly following storms, and that can cause problems for your system. The whole thing can overheat, causing major problems and possibly an enormous expense for you.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
Be sure to clean the fan blades and coils of the condenser fan. First, turn off the power so that nothing will move as you are working on it. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Clean any debris that accumulates on an external condenser units. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, bringing potential damage with it. It will damage the system to malfunction by overheating.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once each year. The port usually has either a rubber or metal cap on top of it. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass cuttings in a different direction from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. This will help ensure that the AC is pulling in cooler air, reducing the amount of work it has to do and saving you money.
Your HVAC units might suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned frequently when the fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
Make sure your HVAC systems is checked twice a year. The ideal thing to do would be to have it checked out in the fall and spring so you’re able to figure out if everything is ready for the cold and hot months. Whether you know of problems or not, good maintenance will help you to avoid future issues.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser at least once a year. You will see rubber or metal cap covering them.Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
If you are a homeowner, or if you can get permission from your landlord, install double-paned windows in place of any single panes in your home. Double pane windows can help minimize how much you use your air conditioner in the summer, because they keep cool air inside the home. It keeps heat in during the winter, too.
Put outdoor units in the shade.
Try to have your HVAC system looked at every year, because regular maintenance will go a long way in energy efficiency. The service will include motor inspection, oiling of moving parts, and a freon level check. This will help your system run better.
During a maintenance visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple things will help keep your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
To help lower cooling costs when not at home, make sure the air conditioner is turned off. The house will only heat up to a certain point. If it is on all day, it is trying to maintain a cool temperature constantly, using a great deal of electricity to fight the heat.
Do not allow your house to get dangerously hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time limit. If the temperature in your home reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Never allow your home to get dangerously hot inside. A simple AC unit will usually only cool the home around 20 degrees within a short period of time. So if your home is 100ºF, you’ll only get the temperature down to about 80. Depending on how humid it is, this isn’t really that safe for a person to sleep in when it’s really hot.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something that’s happening to you, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Find an air conditioner calculator online to determine what models are best for you. If you make the mistake of purchasing a unit that is too large, it will not cool efficiently. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
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 contractor comes with an element of risk.
Consider how long a given HVAC company has been in existence before giving them your business. Companies that are established have been proven, and you can use their track record to to determine if they provide good service. If you hire someone that’s new that this then you’ll be risking your money.
Ask people that you know and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. This can also help you to figure out some names of businesses that should be avoided.
If your existing system is malfunctioning, look for leaks in the ducts. Often your utility company is willing to test this for you, and it may be free or lower in cost than you would get with a contractor. When the leaks are repaired, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so 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 cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You may even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Your doors and windows need to be as efficient as the HVAC system you use. Seal them tightly to prevent air from coming in. Ask a contractor to test them for you.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently. Once you fix the leaks, you will save substantial money on heating and cooling costs.
Replace the air filter as often as possible. This is the easiest step to take to ensure that your unit remains in good operating condition. It is a small cost to do this.
Determine the direction that your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. If there is less heat in the home from sunlight, your AC will work less.
Prior to engaging the services of a contractor to handle your HVAC system, be sure to find out about the kind of experience he has. It is best to match the job you have to a company with that kind of experience. While someone with less experience might be able to do a great job too, you do not want to take that chance.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. A professional can sometimes test the windows and many times the testing is free.
Always make sure to get references from a contractor. You need to have the ability to speak with homeowners to see if the services they got were any good and if they cost a lot of money. This can assure you hire someone trustworthy.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the system running in tip top shape.
Find an HVAC contractor that can be contacted 24 hours a day, in case of an emergency. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, whether during a heatwave or a terrible snowstorm.
Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This simple cover keeps the condenser operating longer when not being used. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the unit.
Ensure that you have a written contract of the work to be completed. Sometimes, contractors will not include everything in order to secure the job. A contract will really help you if something like this materializes.
Always check any references that are given to you by an HVAC contractor.
Do not forget to check the references of a HVAC contractor. Sometimes people assume the legitimacy of references because the contractor offered them, but this can be a mistake. It will just take minutes to check out a contractor, so you shouldn’t hesitate.
This will help determine the number of BTUs your system in order to keep the temperature in your home comfortable.
If you want to get a brand new HVAC system installed or you just want to repair one, speak with the contractor to see if they’re going to install a thermostat that’s programmable. This can help you save a ton on your utility bills as you let your system rest overnight while you are sleeping comfortably in your beds.
These qualified energy products are known to meet very strict guidelines for efficiency. These are determined by the US Environmental Protection Agency. They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking time to look into these units may help you save a significant amount of money.
Believe it or not, approximately 66 percent of all homes have leaking ducts! These leaky ducts can account for up to one fourth of your total utility costs. Sealing the ducts is easy and cheap to do yourself, and it may reduce energy costs greatly in the future.
Keep your system operating efficiently by cleaning the heating ducts. Look at the ducts to make sure they are in good shape. Damaged ducts can raise your electric bill.
Keep your condenser unit protected in cold weather. Buy a cover to keep it safe. Do not keep this unit on when the temperature is too cold.
Make sure you know where the owner’s and operator’s manuals about your HVAC system in a convenient place. The manual is going to give you quite a few things to learn about the unit you have and will be very useful.
Make sure that you keep all owner’s and operator’s manuals about your HVAC system in a convenient place. It contains lots of advice specific to your unit which might prove critical if trouble arises. If you can’t find the manual, check online.
Always get written estimates in writing. It is important that it is in writing. There are quite a few jobs that you to get multiple estimates of the cost. This can help you are getting a good deal on your service. Compare all of the deals that you receive.
During extreme temperatures of the summer and winter, it can be incredibly frustrating to have your unit go out. The situation can be made easier with this advice. Follow these tips to take good care of your HVAC system.
