Anyone who has a HVAC unit in their home knows how it important it is to have it properly maintaining it. A poorly functioning HVAC system that does no function properly can end up costing the homeowner a ton of money. This article can help you tips to keep your HVAC unit in optimal condition.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. Figure out which rooms are too cool or warm. This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. It is going to be hard to get a price estimate on the phone if the current system isn’t something they’ve seen. If you do not know what you want, the process can become tedious, especially over the phone. This is information that you should have prepared in advance.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Except when you do superficial cleaning, you need to always make sure the power is off on the unit. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.
Clean the debris off your outdoor condensers often. 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 unit.
Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. Make sure the grass does not get in your unit. This also applies to blowing leaves or moving debris. Just be careful with that exterior HVAC unit.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
You want to put the outdoor compressor device in a shaded area. If you have a unit taking in air that’s cooler, it won’t have to work so hard to cool air that it sends to your home.
Have the HVAC serviced at the least. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
It is very important that your HVAC system is serviced two times a year. This should be done in the fall and again in the spring. It doesn’t matter if your unit seems to be properly working, it is still advisable that you perform maintenance and resolve any potential problems.
Turn off outdoor condensers you have when weather gets cold.This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This can keep your system running efficiently for years and save you a lot on repairs.
When it gets cold outside, turn off the outdoor condensers. To prevent damage, turn off your unit if the outside temperature is less than 60 degrees. You’ll pay less for repairs which you follow this tip.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This also keeps warm air in the winter.
If you can, install double-paned windows throughout your home. Double pane windows will help keep your home cooler in the summer. This will help you save a lot of money.
Install a programmable thermostat you can program to save energy costs. Some can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Install a thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. This will help you to keep the temperature at optimal levels. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with the BBB and online reviews of potential companies online. These simple steps are going to help make a better decision.
If nobody is home, turn off the air conditioner to save money. The house will only heat up to a certain point. The unit will use a large amount of electricity to combat the heat during the day when the house is empty.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Never let your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. It is only possible for an air conditioner to lower the temperature in a home by 20 degrees F in a short time. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. Depending on the humidity level, this temperature isn’t considered a safe sleeping temperature for the human body to be able to recover from the summer heat.
Ask your friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People that have had quality work done in the past generally love to share this information. This can also be used to see who you learn the names of those companies that you should avoid.
Research and check the reputation of companies before hiring them. It is always wise to check their status with the BBB. In addition, check out customer reviews that appear online. This will help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
There are many sites you can check out. This is useful for finding people that you want to hire and also with all the information you don’t want to work with.
You can get ice in your air conditioner. You may even encounter a freeze in your drain line which is often confused with a plumbing leak. If this is something you notice, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You should save tons of money this way. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what you should be paying.
Try finding online A/C sizing calculators to figure out the ideal size for a unit for the house or a room. If you buy a unit that is too big, it won’t do an efficient job. Check the manufacturer’s handbook to see what amount of space the unit can effectively cool.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of 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 unit stays hot or cold as it should be. You may even use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Find out how many years an HVAC company has been in business before you hire them. Established companies that are doing well will usually be the best ones to go with. Hiring a new contractor comes with an element of risk.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you have leaks repaired, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
Talk to others that you have in your life to see if they can recommend an HVAC contractor to you. People who have been happy with work they have had done in the past are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. This will also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid hiring.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, immediately start looking for any obstructions. Sometimes there is debris interferes with the fan’s way. Check this out before calling a contractor.
Turn to online reviews if you’re not sure how you should hire to perform HVAC maintenance. Many online review sites provide an avenue for this information. Read through them and figure out who you want to try out.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air inside. You can get these tested at little to no charge by a professional to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Make certain that you get written estimates before you hire a contractor. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. Ideally, five or six contractors should be called so you can get a good ball park figure of a reasonable rate.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is an easy thing to do and it will keep things running well.
Install a radiant barrier in your attic to boost HVAC efficiency. It will serve as a barrier between your home and the outside. If it is done correctly, it is even possible to convert the attic as a living space.
Pick HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on time. A knowledgeable technician should also easily diagnose any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. Once they know what’s wrong, they can help resolve the problems in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Do you want to buy a new cooling and heating system? You may want to consider the following. For example, the ratings on most systems describe how much space they can work to cool or heat. You want a unit which offers a little more than you need.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, no matter what.
Before you hire a HVAC contractor, you should find out what their experience is. It is best to match the job you have to a company with that kind of experience. This will help to maximize their productivity.
Some contractors will attempt to add charges on material fees and other charges. Having a signed contract can help to avoid any issues like this.
Only hire a contractor to install or repair your HVAC system if they offer a 24-hour hotline for 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.
Cover your condenser in the winter time. This can help it last longer if it is protected when not in use. Use the fan setting only to avoid straining the condenser unit.
Be certain you know what the HVAC work costs include. They may tack on fees that are ridiculous, like a fuel surcharge. When you have a solid contract, these problems can be avoided.
This advice should assist you in maintaining and repairing your HVAC system. Faulty HVAC systems can cost you quite a bit of money in maintenance and bills. Keep these tips handy so you can refer to them as needed.
66% of houses have ducts that are leaky. These can add up to a quarter of the utility costs you have. It’s easy to seal up any ducts, and you should notice a big difference in your bills.
