The only way your home can always be a desirable temperature is if you are properly heating and cooled is important. This means that it is of utmost importance your HVAC system needs to be in top shape.If you don’t care for your HVAC, you will likely experience costly repairs and uncomfortable temperatures. Here are some great tips to help you started.
Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. This will help you give the new contractor the necessary information.
Know the name and type of system before looking for a repair person. This will facilitate the process when your chosen contractor any information they might need.
Go through your home before you call HVAC professional. Know what part of the house is cold and which is hot. Figuring this out will the contractor to diagnose the issues and quickly get to work on fixing it.
If your HVAC system us giving you issues, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is.
Your outside condenser fan can be helped to run better by you cleaning the fan blades and coils prior to summer starting up. Always shut the power off before doing any work or cleaning on the unit. In addition, be sure to get rid of any leaves or other debris that may have accumulated on the outside condenser.
Clean your fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Your HVAC unit may suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. At least twice a week, you need to clean the grill of your fan. A blocked unit can quickly become a broken unit.
Grass Clippings
Check to determine if the fan condenser on your HVAC system is equipped with oil ports, and if it is, be sure to lubricate every year. You’ll see that the ports here are closed with a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is lightweight and detergent free, and put ten drops or fewer into each one. Make sure not to overfill them.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Direct the grass clippings away from the equipment. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Boost energy efficiency by putting your condenser unit in the shade. The unit will have to do less work cooling this air.
Put outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
Have your heating and cooling system serviced twice per year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Equipping your home with a programmable thermostat can be an excellent way to cut utility costs. With this device installed, it can help you save money on your energy bills by you having the power to regulate the temperature throughout the day. Furthermore, there are a few programmable thermostats that you can control from your computer or any other web-connected device.
Turn off any outdoor condenser units when the weather turns cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This simple tip will help keep the system running and can save you money on repairs.
To keep your system running smoothly have your system serviced once a year. When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, oil the parts that move, and see how much freon is in your system. These easy to do things are going to allow your system to run its best.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This also helps retain heated air during the winter months.
Turn your AC off if no one is at home. When you turn it off, the house heats up, but only to a certain threshold. 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.
During a maintenance visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system to run its best.
Don’t let your home get overly hot. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. Depending on how humid it is, this isn’t really that safe for a person to sleep in when it’s really hot.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and look for your situation. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a better decision.
You can always search the Internet when you aren’t entirely sure who you should call for proper HVAC repair or maintenance. Many Internet sites let customers discuss experiences with certain companies. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work and ones that are poor.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this happens, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
You shouldn’t rely on a single quote from one contractor to gauge the cost, because different specialists set their own price. You can save tons of money by asking for many quotes. It is best to speak to several contractors so that you know which rates are reasonable.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
In order for your HVAC system to run more efficiently, think about putting a radiant barrier in your attic. It blocks the heat from inside out, reducing the energy that’s needed for your home to get cooled during the summer. If this is installed correctly, it will give you the ability to actually use your attic as extra space to live in.
Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a newer contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
If you are a having trouble with your existing system, check for leaks in the ducts. Call your utility company and ask if they test for free, as many do. When you repair the leaks, the tests will pay for themselves.
There are a lot of sites these days that allow customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding contractors that you are interested in dealing with and those that you don’t.
Know which direction the house faces so that your HVAC system operates more efficiently. Strategically placed trees can block sunlight and help keep the home cooler without the use of an AC unit. This will reduce the work of your AC unit.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save quite a lot of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
Choose an efficient and knowledgeable HVAC company. Companies that are most reliable stick to the appointment time they give you. They should quickly know what’s wrong with your system as well. This will maximize your overall satisfaction.
Now you’re better educated when it comes to maintaining your home’s HVAC system. Don’t ignore it or it could fail on you because you didn’t give it regular maintenance. Use the tips from above to keep it going strong, so you don’t come home one day to find your place too hot or too cold.
Before you decide on the location of your air conditioning unit, take a look at the air flow direction. Put it in a corner where the air does not flow into the wall.
