It might seem overwhelming to learn all about HVAC. If you take your time, it should assist you in understanding the product better. This will be because you are about to be told some good advice should help even the novice when it comes to simple repairs on your HVAC system.
What system do you have? You need this information to tell your contractor. Learn the brand and the model. Then, you’ll be ready to tell the contractor what they need to know.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you to give your contractor asks for this information.
It is important to have some knowledge of your present system and needs before calling a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current setup is. If you do not know what you want, the process can become tedious, especially over the phone. Thus, it is worthwhile to have this knowledge ahead of time.
Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. These are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. If you are doing more than a light surface cleaning, make sure that the power is shut off to the HVAC unit. Clean the outdoor condenser as well.
Put your outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. Left unchecked, your unit is more likely to break down.
Have the HVAC system inspected twice a year. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
The coils and blades on the fans should be cleaned once a year. Before you do so, shut off the power to ensure that none of the parts will move while you work on it. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.
Turn off outdoor condenser when it’s getting cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outside unit. Now so the grass clippings are shot away from your unit. Also do this when blowing leaves or shoveling snow.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This will also keeps warm air in during the winter months.
Look for shade when placing a compressor outdoors. When your unit is bringing in cool air, it will not have to work as hard to cool the air as it moves it inside, boosting efficiency.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you save money on your air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Put your outdoor unit in places with shade. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.
During the visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These simple tasks will keep your system running at peak performance.
You need to have a contractor review your unit twice a year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best. Whether you know of problems or not, good maintenance will help you to avoid future issues.
Do not let your house get extremely hot. An AC unit will reduce the temperature by twenty degrees in a short time span. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. Such thermostats help you save around ten percent when it comes to energy costs. You can often control it from your mobile phone!
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. This is what you have to do in order to make the right choice.
When you are away from home, adjust your thermostat to a money saving temperature. The house will heat up, but not too much. Leaving the system on all day will cost a lot of money in terms of electricity.
Ask friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This will also provide you to avoid undesirable companies.
Check any company you are considering to see how long it has been around. A company that has been in business for a long time will have a solid track record, and you can use this to figure out if you should spend your money with them. Hiring a new contractor comes with an element of risk.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of 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 home and the outside. You may even find that you can use your attic space more effectively.
Talk to others that you have in your life to see if they can recommend an HVAC contractor to you. If a person had a good experience with a company, they are likely to share it. This will prevent you from getting scammed.
Are you thinking about buying a new heating/cooling system? You will need to think about a few things into account. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are wise to err on the side of a unit rather than a smaller one.
Check around and get a number of quotes prior to hiring a contractor. You will be likely to save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. To get the best picture and get an idea of what rates are reasonable, call five or six different contractors.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you have leaks repaired, the tests will pay for themselves.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. This device helps block the heat from the outside, which reduces your dependency on your HVAC system, as well as your bill. If this is installed correctly, it will give you the ability to actually use your attic as extra space to live in.
Figure out the direction your home is facing so your HVAC system more efficient. The cooler your home already is, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Are you thinking of getting a cooling and heating system that’s new? There are things you must consider first. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool and heat an area. It is best to get a bigger unit than you need, instead of a smaller one.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, see if there is any debris in it. The issue may be debris getting into the fans of the cooling system. Check the fan and coil before you waste time contacting a contractor.
Having windows and doors in place is essential to make sure your HVAC system runs well. Your windows and doors should all be tightly sealed. Double pane windows are a great idea. Call a professional to come over to check how good you home is sealed up.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air inside. You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
When considering what size AC unit your home needs, be sure to measure the immediate area you need to cool. Typically, 20 BTUs are required per square foot. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot. If the unit will be cooling several rooms, combine all the square footage.
In terms of regular maintenance, you should be able to replace your HVAC air filter every month . This is an easy thing to do and it will keep your HVAC system running well. These filters are only a couple dollars.
That shouldn’t have been too hard for you to follow if HVAC is something you’re ready to get into. You should be able to keep the HVAC system functioning properly using the tips you’ve read above. You’ll end up saving money and stopping headaches.
Be sure the HVAC contractor you pick is fast and knowledgeable. The best companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on schedule. The technicians should also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC in no time. After diagnosis, they should then know how to deal with the problem.
