Not everyone knows a lot about working on HVAC units. This can pose a problem when an unexpected emergency occurs.
Clean the condenser on your debris regularly. You can never tell when things will pile up, especially following rain or wind storms. These can wreak havoc on your units. Debris like this can cause it to overheat, which could be detrimental to your system.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Be sure to clean the fan blades and coils of the condenser fan. Make sure to turn off the fan’s power first to be safe. Secondly, pop the grill off, take the blades off and clean them as well as the actual unit.
Be sure to clean debris from external condenser units regularly. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can cause your system by overheating.
When you mow your lawn, take care that you don’t get grass clippings all over your outdoor unit. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction. This also applies when you blow leaves, so be very careful near your exterior HVAC units when you move debris.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. If you have a unit taking in air that’s cooler, it won’t have to work so hard to cool air that it sends to your home.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass cuttings in a direction away from the unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Place your HVAC unit in the shade to boost efficiency. It will reduce the temperature of the air going into the unit, meaning that it will not have to work as hard to cool it.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade.
Your system should be checked twice a year. Check into it twice a year before you head into the hot and cold months. Regular inspection will help you avoid unexpected repairs.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm in during the winter.
When it gets cold outside, turn off the outdoor condensers. The unit will become damaged if you do not take care of it. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this happen, put your thermostat over to fan.You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Save some cash by shutting down the air-conditioning system when there is no one in the house. Turning it off does allow the temperature to rise, but only so far. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.
There are a number of online websites that let customers talk about the service they received. This is a great way to find people to hire.
Don’t allow your home to become dangerously hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. When you factor in humidity, this can still be dangerously hot for the human body at rest.
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 by doing your homework. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
To help you pick a good HVAC contractor, be sure to research a number of different companies. The BBB is always great when you are looking for references or online reviews. These simple steps will help make a better decision.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Sometimes air conditioners will ice up. There can be occasional freezes in their drain lines, and these are usually confused with plumbing leaks. 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. Get a professional to deal with this, even if you see the ice start melting because you turned the compressor off.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your existing system is not up to snuff. When you get leaks repaired, the testing has paid for itself.
If you don’t know who you should contact to do your HVAC maintenance or any installations, look online to see if you can find reviews. A simple search should yield a number of sites with informative reviews. This will tell you who is great and who isn’t.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. A local utility company often performs free duct testing. If it isn’t free, then it is still cheaper than an HVAC specialist in most areas. If a leak is found, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
Measure the area that requires air conditioner shopping.You generally need 20 BTU per square foot of the room. If you have multiple rooms to cool, get their square footage added together.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, determine the direction that your home faces. Strategically placed trees outside your home can block out the morning sun which can cause your home to overheat. The less your home is heated, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This represents an easy way to keep things running well for you overall.
To run your HVAC at full efficiency, you must have efficient doors and windows in place as well. All should be tightly sealed with no air getting inside or out. You can get a professional out to help you test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
Pick an HVAC business that understands the unit and knows what to do. The best companies will ensure that their technicians working honestly and on schedule. A knowledgeable technician will also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. After they figure out what is causing the problem, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. For each square foot you’ll need 20 BTU of cooling power. If multiple rooms need cooling, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Homeowners fear their HVAC system breaking down. However, if you just take your time to learn things about this kind of a topic before things go wrong, it won’t be so bad for you. With some knowledge close at hand, problems can be solved efficiently and quickly.
Understand where the air flows in your home and use that information to determine where to put your AC unit. If you have to place it in a corner, get one with moving vents.
