The way your home can always be a desirable temperature is if you are properly heating and cooled is important. That means your HVAC system healthy. If you don’t properly care for your unit, you can expect costly repairs and miserable living conditions. Here are some suggestions to help you keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Before an HVAC expert comes to your home to do any repair work, walk around the home and check out the temps in every room. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This makes sure the contractor will need.
Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. This will make the quote process much easier. In addition, you need to be able to tell the contractor what you have already tried. It’s important to know this beforehand.
If you are having issues with your HVAC, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Shut off power before working or cleaning your system. Remove leaves and debris from the condenser outside.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to give you a price estimate on the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Before you get started, cut the power. Then you need to get the grill popped off and get the blades out so you can clean them and your unit gently.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass cuttings in a different direction from your unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
When you mow your lawn, take care that you don’t get grass clippings all over your outdoor unit. Get the grass shot away from your unit. Also do this when blowing leaves or shoveling snow.
Trees Start
If your condenser comes with oil ports, you should lubricate it yearly. These are usually covered with rubber or metal caps. 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.
Your HVAC system could suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it gets blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Have your HVAC serviced at least yearly. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. This will help you to avoid problems.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once a year.You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather gets 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. Doing this keeps your system working well for years and saves you from having to spend money to repair it.
Put your outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them.
Replace single pane windows by installing double pane, if possible. 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 also facilitates heat retention in winter.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units 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 helps your system remain in good working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. Programmable thermostats can reduce your power HVAC energy costs by as much as ten percent, just by dialing back your thermostat ten or fifteen percent up to eight daily hours. Take advantage of the convenience of the ability to control many programable thermostats from your favorite electronic device.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This also helps keep it warm in the winter months.
Service your HVAC unit at least one time a year. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. Small problems can occur in any of these areas and lead to serious issues if ignored for too long.
Never allow your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners really can only cool down a home by 20 degrees. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it will only cool off to about 80F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
To help lower cooling costs when not at home, make sure the air conditioner is turned off. 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.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Sometimes, air conditioners collect ice. Drain lines can also suffer an occasional freeze, and these are sometimes mistaken for plumbing leak issues. If this is something that’s happening to you, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. It’s a good idea to call up professionals to help with this even though you can get the ice to melt when you switch everything to the fan.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC contractor. People who’ve had a good experience are usually willing to tell of their contractor. This is also help you to figure out some names of businesses that should be avoided.
Check any company you are considering to see how long it has been around. Someone that has been in the business for a while probably isn’t going to scam you. It is always risky to hire a contractor with little experience.
Are you considering purchasing a new HVAC system? There are things you need to keep in mind. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool and heat an area well. You are wise to err on the side of a unit rather than a bit too small.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. Making some phone calls before deciding is a good way to save money. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
You can now see how important a properly maintained HVAC system is. Pay attention to keeping it maintained to make sure it won’t go bad. 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.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It blocks the heat from inside, reducing how much energy you need to cool down your home during summer. If this is installed correctly, it will give you the ability to actually use your attic as extra space to live in.
