Having a great HVAC system in good working order can make a home run better. But if you experience a failure of your HVAC system, the situation can become frustrating very quickly. Learning how to maintain your HVAC system begins with the tips below.
Before calling someone to repair your system, make sure you know what kind of HVAC system you actually have. Write down the make, model, and any maintenance history. This will give contractor’s a better idea of what to expect before they show up, which will help things go more smoothly on arrival.
Know the name and type of system before calling someone to fix it. This will help you give the new contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Make a circuit around your home before calling for help with your HVAC. You will be looking to see which of your rooms feel hotter or colder than they should be. Taking this step aids a contractor in figuring out what the problem is and how to repair it as quickly as possible.
If your HVAC is running into problems, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Before you choose someone to do HVAC work, figure out what they need to do for you. You can’t get a decent estimate over a telephone, so disregard those numbers and wait until they view your system. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. It’s important to know this beforehand.
Clean the debris on an external condenser unit. 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 can cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.
If you have outside condenser units, make sure to regularly clean the debris that builds up. Wind can pile up all sorts of debris against its grill. It will damage the system by overheating.
Grass Clippings
Every spring you need to make sure your condenser fan’s coils and blades on the fan part are clean. First, the power should be turned off so things don’t move as you work. Then remove the grill, remove the blades and clean it from top to bottom gently.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Direct the grass clippings in a direction away from the equipment. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
If you need to decide the best place to put your outdoor compressor unit, consider putting it in a location that is in the shade. 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.
Your HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves.The fan needs to have an unobstructed path for air to enter the unit, and if it becomes blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
Boost energy efficiency by putting your condenser unit in the shade. If the air your machine draws in is already cooler, it will require less energy to regulate before it’s filtered into your home.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade.
Outdoor condenser units need to be turned off when the weather turns 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. This will help keep it in good condition for many years.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This also keeps warm air during the colder months.
Turn your AC off if no one is at home. When you turn the air conditioner off, the house may heat up a little but only a certain amount. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.
Don’t let your home get dangerously high. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time limit. 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.
Don’t let your home get overly hot. Even the best air conditioners can only realistically cool your home approximately 20 degrees Farenheit. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This is not a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check with the best one for your situation. This will help you have to do in order to make the right choice.
Research the companies that you consider using. Checking with the BBB is a good idea, and so is checking online reviews to see the experiences that other customers have had with a company. Doing this can help you make a better decision.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this happen, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
To find out which HVAC company is worth hiring, make sure to use the Internet to look for reviews about any company you’re interested in. You have a choice of review sites to use. This method provides you with all the information you need to make the best hiring decisions.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Your HVAC system can run more efficiently if your attic has a radiant barrier. This type of barrier will help to block heat, which in turn will help your system work less at cooling your home. It it’s installed properly, you might even be able to use your attic as an extra room.
Companies that have been around for longer have a proven track records typically provide better service. It is always risky to hire someone who does not have a long history.
Are you considering purchasing a new heating and cooling system? You need to know some things first. Each system has a rating and that rating tells the area that can be effectively temperature controlled. It is best to get a bigger unit than you need, instead of a smaller one.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even find that you can use your attic space if it is done right.
Look for leaks in the ducts if your system isn’t working right. Your utility company will usually test the unit for free or for a small fee. If you do end up paying, you’ll find that fixed leaks are worth the money.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. A professional can also test these for you for free.
Make an HVAC system run more efficiently by determining what direction your house faces. Strategically placed trees outside your home can block out the morning sun which can cause your home to overheat. If there is less heat in the home from sunlight, then the HVAC will require less work to actually cool the home.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before buying a unit. You generally need 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. If you are cooling more than one room, just add their total square footage.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, immediately start looking for any obstructions. Sometimes there is debris that gets in the fan’s way. Simply get rid of the debris to get rid of the issue. Have a look at the fan prior to putting in a call for service.
You should now know more about your HVAC unit. If you neglect to care for it, you will increase the risk of it ceasing to work when you most need it to. That could bring about a very expensive repair bill. Thankfully you found this article, giving you some great tips that can help keep your HVAC system working well in your home.
The most important thing to do to your HVAC system each month is replace the air filter. It’s a simple thing to do to keep it running properly. Also, this will not cost a lot of money.
