The heating and cooling systems of comfort experienced within a home are very important. That is why it is important to keep your HVAC has to be in tip top shape. If you do not properly care for it, it can lead to expensive repairs and an uncomfortable way of living. Here are some great tips to help you started.
When you start making calls to get someone to help with your HVAC system, it’s a good idea to know what system you have before that phone call. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. Your contractor will appreciate this information.
If you struggle with your HVAC, look around your home before calling in people to help. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. You need to know this before you begin.
Know what work you need before you select an HVAC contractor.It will be hard for a contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Help the outside condenser fan run efficiently by cleaning the coils and fan blades before the summer starts. Turn off your power before doing any job like this. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit regularly.
When you cut the grass, don’t cover the outdoor units with their clippings. Make sure you shoot the clippings in the other direction from the unit. When blowing leaves, do the same. Always take care when passing your HVAC units while moving leaves, grass or other debris.
Grass Clippings
If the condenser fan has oil parts, then you need to lubricate it at least once per year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Choose an oil graded SAE 20, it is non-detergent and lightweight. Place about 10 drops into each of the ports, taking care that it does not overfill.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Direct the grass clippings away from the equipment. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. The fall and spring are the optimal times for this maintenance. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.
Lubricate your condenser once a year. These ports are usually covered by a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
When it gets cold outside, it is necessary to turn off outdoor condenser units. If it’s lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
Have the HVAC serviced twice per year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
If the house is yours or you’re permitted to, replace the windows that are single pane with windows that are double pane. To keep your home cool, investing in double pane windows is a must. Conversely, they keep warm air in during the winter.
Turn off outdoor condensers you have when weather gets cold.This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your system last much longer and will have to be repaired less often.
Use online reviews to help you find a source for HVAC maintenance. There are many sites that other customers can place their reviews. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on your air conditioning bill. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Do you need a new HVAC system? If so, you must consider a number of things. Each system has a rating and that rating tells the area that can be effectively temperature controlled. It is better to purchase a slightly larger than needed unit, rather than a slightly smaller than needed unit.
Never let your home to get dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool your home down unreasonably high temps. If your home become 100F or more, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Check out your ductwork for leaks if your whole home isn’t being cooled or heated. Call local utility companies to test it for you since many do it for a small fee or even free, which is lower than HVAC contractors. The testing will pay for itself once you find and repair the leaks.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
When your unit is clicking, immediately go out and look to see if anything is inside it. Sometimes debris interferes with the cooling system fans. You just have to take out the obstruction and the problem is solved. Check it out before spending on a contractor.
There are a number of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. This is an awesome way to locate contractors to work with.
It’s important to have doors and windows that are efficient for the most efficiency for your HVAC unit. Each of these should have an airtight seal on them. Testing for energy efficiency may be free, if you are interested in hiring a professional to find out.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. 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 could even find that you can use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Replacing your unit’s air filter each month is a key maintenance task. It is the easiest and cheapest way you can take care of it. A few bucks is worth it!
Are you looking into getting a new HVAC system? There are things you need to keep in mind. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they effectively heat or cool. You are wise to err on the side of a unit rather than a smaller one.
An experienced HVAC company should be chosen to help you out. Good companies attend to their customers in a timely manner. A licensed technician should also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. After they figure out what is causing the problem, it should be taken care of right away.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When you repair the leaks, you may see that the testing pays for itself.
As you ponder where to install your new AC unit, think about how the air flows around the room. For a corner location, check for a unit that has the ability to direct the air flow in a different direction from the wall.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in. You can also hire someone to test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
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. They should have a good history of working with HVAC units. Less experienced workers could work out just fine, but you really shouldn’t take any chances.
Pick an HVAC business that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies will ensure that their technicians stay on schedule. A licensed technician should also easily diagnose any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. Once they are able to locate a problem, they can help resolve the problems in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Make sure to get references when hiring your contractor. You want to make sure that the contractor has satisfied previous customers. Checking references helps you avoid scammers.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, no matter what.
When you get someone to work on your HVAC, make sure you know what the total cost includes. They may tack on fees that are ridiculous, like a fuel surcharge. Having a solid written contract will help you avoid any issues like this.
This information is used to determine the BTU your system has to be.
Always follow up on any references provided to you by a prospective HVAC contractor. Too many people take for granted that reference are indeed legitimate, when in fact they may not be. It just takes a couple of minutes to contact someone to check people out, so take your time with it.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This can save you a great deal on your energy bills because your settings to ensure optimal performance.
If you are having an existing HVAC system repaired or getting something new installed, ask them to install a programmable thermostat. You will reduce your electric bills, as it will rest during the night.
These types of units are energy efficient and meet strict efficiency guidelines. These are put in place by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking time to fully research various units may help you save a significant amount of money.
Almost 2/3 of homes have ducts that are leaking. These can lead to as much as a quarter of your utility costs. It is not difficult to seal your ducts, and you will see a noticeable change in the amount you pay for electricity.
You might be surprised to discover that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that leak. This can cost around a quarter of utility expense! Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, and it is something you can do yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.
You want to find a contractor that can provide you with an Energy Star unit. An Energy Star unit has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. This can help you reduce your expenses throughout the year.
Look for HVAC contractor that use Energy Star equipment and equipment. This ensures efficiency that your system has met the EPA. This means that in the end you can save cash on the bills when it comes to your cooling and heating costs.
The heating ducts must be cleaned on a regular basis for best performance. Make sure the ducts for heating get inspected every once in a while so you know there aren’t dents, punctures, or disconnected parts. Damaged ducts could increase your energy bill.
Keep your HVAC system running efficiently by cleaning the heating ducts. Look often at the ducts to make sure they are in good shape. Damaged ducts could increase the energy bill.
As the temperatures plummet, you should protect your HVAC’s condenser unit. A thick cover should be placed on top of it to prevent any debris from coming in. If the temperature dips under 60 degrees, don’t implement the unit because it won’t be effective.
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. These tips will help you keep your unit maintained and should help you if you ever need it replaced as well.
