The heating and cooling systems of your home has a lot to do with whether or not it is being heated or cooled properly. This is why your HVAC system is constantly checked and you ensure it is properly working. If you have a poor HVAC, you should expect terrible living conditions and expensive repairs. Here are some great tips to get you keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, tour your home before calling a technician. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool. This gives the repairer a starting point to work from.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. A contractor will be hard pressed to provide you an accurate price without accurate information about your system. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Prior to choosing an HVAC customer, try to have an idea of what you want done. You might not be able to get a price quote unless you let the contractor see your current system first. They need to come look at the unit. So, know this information in advance.
Clean the debris regularly. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It could overheat and cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Always turn the unit off before you do anything to it, including leaning. Remove leaves and debris from the outdoor unit.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Regularly remove debris from outside condenser units. 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.
Your HVAC system could suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often during the fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. As your air conditioner sucks in cool air, little will have to be done to cool it any further, saving you a ton on your energy bills.
10 Drops
Check your unit at least twice each year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best. Even if you don’t notice anything wrong, you can check it out to figure out what the potential issues are.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once a year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal caps covering the ports. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
When it gets cold outside, turn off the outdoor condensers. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
If you are a home owner, replace whatever single pane windows you have with more efficient double-paned versions. Windows that are double pane keep the cool air in and can greatly reduce the amount of time your air conditioner will need to run. Likewise, in the winter more hot air stays inside during the cold season.
Be sure to have twice annual HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Make use of a thermostat when you are installing an HVAC. Such thermostats help you save around ten percent when it comes to energy costs. Take advantage of the convenience of the ability to control many programable thermostats from your favorite electronic device.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when it’s getting cold. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can keep your unit is working for years without the cost of repairs.
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. Check with the BBB and online reviews as well. Doing all of this will make sure you hire the best company for your HVAC needs.
During the service check, the contractor will oil parts, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These simple things will boost the performance of your system to run at its peak performance.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, there are calculators on the Internet that can help you figure out the right size. If you buy a unit that is too big, it won’t do an efficient job. Check the manual it comes with for the information you need.
Never allow your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners only cool a home down a home by 20 degrees. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC unit. 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 prevent you from getting scammed.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with the BBB and look for your situation. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a better decision.
Check reviews online to find professional help. There are many review sites you can check out. This can help filter out the people you would like to work with.
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 an inexperienced contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Ask for quotes from multiple contractors. This can help you to save money by knowing what people are charging. Contact a minimum of five contractors so you can determine realistically what the price will be.
You should now have a better idea of how to keep that HVAC unit running smoothly. Do not neglect your system. Use what you’ve learned here to keep things working right so you don’t get home and find out there’s a disaster on your hands.
To help your heating and cooling system run efficiently, install a radiant barrier in your attic. This will block heat from coming in, which means that less energy will be needed to keep your home cool. You may suddenly find that the attic even looks like a great option for another bedroom!
