Lots of people have HVAC units. An HVAC unit that helps keep your home’s temperature comfortable for you throughout the year. You will likely need a professional to install it and maintain your unit. Keep reading for great tips on keeping an HVAC tips.
Before you call someone to help you fix your system, be sure to know what sort of system you have in place. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. Your contractor will appreciate this information.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. This information will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
It is important to have some knowledge of your present system and needs before calling a contractor. You can’t get a decent estimate over a telephone, so disregard those numbers and wait until they view your system. In addition, you need to be able to tell the contractor what you have already tried. It’s a good idea to learn this information in advance.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean the fan blades and coils in your condenser each spring. Be sure to turn the power off first; you don’t want anything to move. Then take off the grill, take the blades out, and gently clean them.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass in a direction away from the unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
When you’re trying to cut your grass, don’t cover a unit outside with the clippings. Instead, make sure that the grass is shooting in the opposite direction. When blowing leaves, do the same. Always take care when passing your HVAC units while moving leaves, grass or other debris.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
Lubricate your fan condenser if it has oil ports. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight oil and do not overfill them.
Sae 20 Oil
When colder weather arrives, switch off all outdoor condenser units. If the outside temp is under 60 degrees, turn the unit off to prevent damage. This can keep your HVAC running and can save you money on repairs.
Lubricate your fan condenser yearly if it has oil ports. These are usually covered with rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
If everyone is out, turn the air conditioner off. You don’t need to keep the house cool if you aren’t there. If the A/C is on when you’re gone, it’ll be working hard constantly.
Put outdoor units in the shade.
It is possible for air conditioners to ice over. You may even mistake the frozen drains as an issue for a plumber. Switch the thermostat to the fan only. While switching the system to the fan setting should begin the ice melting process, the best thing to do is to hire a professional to deal with the problem.
Turn off any outdoor condenser when it’s getting cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This simple tip will help keep your HVAC running efficiently for many years to come.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. This will reduce your overall spending. Try to contact a minimum of five contractors.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double panes.This same effect also helps keep it warm air in during the winter months.
Are you thinking about having a new HVAC system installed? There are things you must consider first. The rating given to a system tells how much are it can cover. It is better to purchase a slightly larger than needed unit, rather than a slightly smaller than needed unit.
During the visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These easy to do things will help your system to run at its best.
If the system you’re using now isn’t working great, then check the ducts for some leakage. Your utility company will usually test the unit for free or for a small fee. If you do have leaks that are repaired, this testing will pay for itself.
Never allow the temperature in your home to get dangerously hot inside. Air conditioners can only really cool down a home by 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
For top efficiency, figure out what direction your home faces. Trees in certain areas can provide shade, which means your house will stay cooler. The less your home is heated, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Your doors and windows need to be as efficient as the HVAC system you use. Seal them tightly to prevent air from coming in. A professional can sometimes test these for you for free.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
Take a measuring tape and get the square footage of the area where the unit will be cooling. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. If more than one room needs AC service, combine all the square footage.
Ask your friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who have had a good experience are often happy to share this information. This will also let you to avoid undesirable companies.
Pick out an HVAC business that is fast and knows what to do. This will ensure that the job is done efficiently. The technicians should also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC in no time. Once, they find the problem, they will fix it fast.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You can save tons of money this way. Call around to find the rates are.
Ask a contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. Confirm that they have done this work before. Although there’s no guarantee that a worker with less experience won’t do the work correctly, it’s better to avoid any problems.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. 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 use the attic space if it is done right.
When hiring a contractor, be sure to ask for a list of references. You need to know if previous clients have gotten what they needed, like timely service within their budget. This will keep the scam artists away, but this only works by actually following up on the references.
Are you looking into getting a HVAC system? There are things you need to keep in mind. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool and heat an area well. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
Make sure you know about the cost of HVAC work when getting a contractor to work on it. Some contractors will attempt to overcharge you on material fees and other charges. You can avoid these issues if you have a contract that is written out.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The less heat in your home, the less work your AC will have to do.
Drape a cover over your condenser unit in the winter to protect it. This can help it last longer when it is not in use. If the temperature outside is lower than sixty, do not use the compressor. Switch on the fan instead and do not put strain on the unit.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, look for blockages right away. Often the issue is some sort of debris hitting the fans in your cooling system. Take a look for yourself before calling a service technician.
Any contractor that is giving you a quote should do a calculation on heat-loss. This helps ensure that you get a unit with the right BTUs to ensure your home is always comfortable, regardless of the outside weather. This number comes after examining the windows and doors where heat and escape.
Make sure they are tightly sealed so air inside. A professional can sometimes test the windows and many times the testing is free.
Ask the contractor to install a programmable thermostat on your unit if it doesn’t already have one. A programmable thermostat will save you tons on your power bills and even gives your system a chance to rest at night while everyone sleeps or is not at home.
Hvac System
Always look for the ENERGY STAR logo on a unit before you make the purchase. These are qualified energy products that meet strict efficiency guidelines. The guidelines are established by the United States. This is vital if you want to cut your costs. The time spent researching these units could yield long-term energy savings.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the simplest thing to do and it will keep your HVAC system running well.
Be sure to search for an HVAC center that carries Energy Star rated products. Energy Star is not merely a commercial product label, but indicates that the EPA of the United States federal government has verified that a product or service meets certain standards. This means that they can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
If you can only put it into a corner, be sure you can change the direction of air flow to avoid having it hit the wall.
Make sure to periodically clean your heating ducts on the HVAC unit to keep it heating efficiently and providing fresh, clean air. Check out the ducts every so often to make sure they are not damaged in any way. Ducts that have some damage will make you pay more in heating because you have to pay more to keep the area warm.
Some contractors will attempt to add charges on later for fuel charges. Having a written contract can help avoid these types of issues.
You need to have any company you are considering provide you with a written estimate. These estimates need to be written out. There are many jobs that require you to get multiple estimates of the cost. An estimate will ensure that you get what you want. Compare various facets of potential work, not just price, but also things like how long it will take to get the job done. Don’t just choose a company that comes in with the lowest estimate because they may not do good work.
Look for HVAC contractors that uses Energy Star products and products. This will ensure that the EPA. This means that they can help you to save money on utility bills.
As you can see, there are some things that can help you when you are dealing with HVAC units and contractors. Making certain that is operates optimally is a great idea. Use these tips to make sure you get the most from your HVAC unit.
