HVAC Advice You Need To Have Right Now

You think that anything to do with HVAC is complicated. This is probably because you don’t have the technical nature of these systems.

Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Know the model and brand and find it’s maintenance history, if possible. Your contractor will appreciate this information.

TIP! Before calling for help, know the system you have. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history.

Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you know that you’re able to give your chosen contractor the information they might need.

If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.

TIP! Go through your home before you call HVAC professional. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool.

If your HVAC is running into problems, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.

Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Before you clean the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Take away all of the debris as well.

TIP! By the end of spring, the fan blades and coils of your condenser should be thoroughly cleaned, so operation can proceed with greater efficiency. Before you do clean the coils and fan blades, always take the precaution of turning off all power to the unit.

Clean the debris on your condenser unit. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause your system to malfunction by overheating.

Clean any debris that accumulates on an external condenser unit. Excess debris can really affect your system’s quality. Left unchecked, your unit is more likely to break down.

TIP! If your condenser units are outisde, make sure any debris is cleaned from them regularly. Particularly after bad weather, you should inspect your unit.

Your HVAC units might suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often during the fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it is clogged, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.

Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. When you work with your lawn mower, make sure it spits the grass to the side opposite of your unit. Also do this when blowing leaves or shoveling snow.

TIP! When you cut the grass, don’t cover the outdoor units with their clippings. When you work with your lawn mower, make sure it spits the grass to the side opposite of your unit.

10 Drops

Get your HVAC unit serviced two times per year. This should be checked often for debris and malfunctions. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.

TIP! Check your unit at least twice each year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best.

Lubricate your condenser if it has oil ports. You can find the ports as they have a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.

It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. Try to insulate your windows to prevent air from being lost. This will help you save a lot of money.

TIP! Update the windows in your home to double-paned if you own it. To keep your home cool, investing in double pane windows is a must.

Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.

Equipping your home with a programmable thermostat can be an excellent way to cut utility costs. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Some can even be controlled from a computer.

TIP! A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning costs. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you’re not around.

It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double panes.This same effect also helps retain heated air in during the winter months.

Service your HVAC unit at least one time a year. When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, and they will oil all the moving parts. These easy to do things are going to allow your system to run its best.

TIP! You should have your HVAC system inspected at least once, but preferably twice, per year. When it’s checked out, the motor will be inspected, moving parts well oiled and the level of freon adjusted if necessary.

During the service check, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These simple things will help keep your HVAC system running smoothly.

If everyone is out, turn the air conditioner off. This will save you money on your energy bills. If the A/C is on when you’re gone, it’ll be working hard constantly.

TIP! When you are away from home, adjust your thermostat to a money saving temperature. When you turn the air conditioner off, the house may heat up a little but only a certain amount.

Never allow your home to get dangerously high level. An air conditioning unit is really only cool your home by 20ºF quickly. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, 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.

Problems with an air conditioning unit happen when it ices up. This can also happen on the drain line. If you see this, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. If the issue persists, call in help.

TIP! Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. The drain line also occasionally freezes, which can be misdiagnosed as a plumbing leak.

Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check with the BBB and online reviews of potential companies online. Doing all of this can help you make a better decision.

Use an online sizing calculator to help you calculate the proper size of the air conditioning unit you should purchase. If you purchase a unit that’s too large, it will not be efficient since it’ll cool the same. Check your manual to figure out what the rating is from the manufacturer to be sure you’re getting the right information.

TIP! Use an online sizing calculator to help you calculate the proper size of the air conditioning unit you should purchase. While you might think that a larger HVAC system is always better, in fact, larger systems sometimes are not the best choice for a particular space.

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this happens, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.

Check any company you are considering to see how long it has been around. The older they are, the more likely it will be for you to find out their history, which will help you gauge their quality. If you choose to hire a new contractor, you may be risking things.

TIP! Before you hire any HVAC companies, find out how the amount of time they’ve been in business. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money.

Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.

Measuring the space you want to cool is the first step to figure how large of an air conditioner you need. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. Add the square footage for multiple rooms together.

TIP! Measure the area that requires air conditioning. For each square foot you’ll need 20 BTU of cooling power.

Companies that are around awhile have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time.It is always risky to hire a long history.

Replace your air filters every month. It’s a simple thing to do to keep it running properly. A new air filter is only a couple of bucks at your local hardware store.

TIP! The very least you should be doing to care for your HVAC system is making sure to change out the old filter, and replacing it with a new one every single month. It’s a simple thing to do to keep it running properly.

Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save tons of money this way. You want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.

Think about which direction air is going to flow from an air conditioner unit when you pick out where to put it. If it must be in a corner, make certain that the air does not point towards a wall.

TIP! As you ponder where to install your new AC unit, think about how the air flows around the room. If you can only put it into a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.

A radiant barrier is an awesome device which will help improve the efficiency of your HVAC. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even find that you can use the attic space if it is done right.

When you get someone to work on your HVAC, make sure you know what the total cost includes. Some contractors overcharge for add-ons like travel expense or fees for additional materials. Avoid issues such as these by procuring a written contract.

TIP! Always be very clear about what will be included in your estimate of cost on any HVAC work you have someone do. There are contractors out there that will make you pay for extra things like charges for fuel or materials.

Do you wish to buy a new HVAC unit? You could keep a few important things. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively heat or cool. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a smaller one.

Use a fully-enclosing cover to protect your condenser unit in the winter. This will help it to last longer. Never use the compressor when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead, just use the fan if need be.

TIP! Your HVAC will perform better during the winter if you protect the condenser with a cover. Doing this extends the life of your condenser when it is not in use.

Determine the direction that your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. The cooler your home already is, the less time that the AC has to work.

Opt for a programmable thermostat when getting your HVAC. This sort of device will save you a lot of money in terms of energy because it allows your system some downtime while you are warm in your bed.

TIP! See about getting a programmable thermostat on your HVAC unit. This will save you money on your utility bill and give your unit needed rest.

Understanding how to work with the HVAC unit should be more apparent to you know. Without proper motivation, it is difficult to begin, so remember that before you get involved. You won’t be sorry you did, especially when it clicks in your mind!

Opt for an HVAC unit with the Energy Star rating. These products are manufactured to the strict standards only qualified energy products meet. These are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Using units that meet these tough standards will save plenty of money on energy expenses over the years.

TIP! Opt for an HVAC unit with the Energy Star rating. These are more efficient than other units.