A well-maintained HVAC system is something you need in a home so you have to be sure you maintain this equipment right at all times. A lot of people spend quite a bit to fix things when they don’t work right, but could have avoided such issues if they had maintained them properly. The tips below will help you to keep your HVAC systems.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. Make a list of the temperatures in each room and whether they are hot or cold. That knowledge can help the technician figure out what is going on.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will let you know that you’re able to give your chosen contractor the information that can help them.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor, have some sort of idea of the work that needs to be done. Discussing the problem is simplified if you understand what has happened with the unit. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. Learn this information to start with.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Always shut the power off before doing any work or cleaning on the unit. Also, make sure you remove any debris or leaves from the condenser unit outside.
Clean the fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
Clean any debris that accumulates on an external condenser unit. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.
10 Drops
Make certain that you clean your condenser when the weather begins to warm. Don’t forget to disconnect the power first. Then remove the grill, remove the blades and clean it from top to bottom gently.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser at least once each year. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap covering them. 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.
When you mow your lawn, take care that you don’t get grass clippings all over your outdoor unit. Make sure you shoot the clippings in the other direction from the unit. The same thing should go on when you blow leaves, so take your time when you’re working around HVAC units that are around when you’re blowing debris around.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade.
If you are a homeowner, or if you can get permission from your landlord, install double-paned windows in place of any single panes in your home. Windows that are double pane keep the cool air in and can greatly reduce the amount of time your air conditioner will need to run. It keeps heat in during the winter, too.
During the visit, the system motor will be inspected, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These repairs will boost the performance of your HVAC system running smoothly.
Having a programmable thermostat installed is a money saving idea. These can save you around 10 percent on your heating and cooling costs by just turning it back 10 percent to 15 percent for around eight hours each day. Plus, some models allow you to control them over the internet or from a smartphone.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Shut off the air conditioning if nobody is home. You may want to turn your unit off if your house will not become extremely hot or cold. It will use more electricity if you keep it running.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time.Hiring a newer contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Always take the time to check out the reputation of any HVAC contractor before you consider hiring them. The BBB is always great when you are looking for references or online reviews. These simple steps will help make a better decision.
There are a few sites now that allow customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is a good way to find contractors to work with.
Some air conditioners can ice up. You may even encounter a freeze in your drain line which is often confused with a plumbing leak. If you see this, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. The ice will melt. You will likely need professional help to stop the problem.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not up to snuff. If you do have leaks that are repaired, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
Use an online sizing calculator to help you calculate the proper size of the air conditioning unit you should purchase. If you make the mistake of purchasing a unit that is too large, it will not cool efficiently. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The less amount of heat inside of your home, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
Always check to see how long a company or contractor has been working for. Established companies that are doing well will usually be the best ones to go with. Hiring a newer contractor may be taking a considerable risk.
If you HVAC unit is clicking, look for an obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris hitting the fans in your cooling system. Check this out yourself first before you call in the professionals.
Checkout online reviews if you do not know which contractor to call for installation, maintenance or repair of your HVAC system. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can get a professional out to help you test them.
To help your heating and cooling system run efficiently, install a radiant barrier in your attic. It blocks outside heat from coming in which 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 the attic space more effectively.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square foot of room space. If multiple rooms need cooling, make sure to add the square footage together.
Inspect your HVAC unit quickly for blockage if you become away of any clicking sound. Often the issue is some sort of debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Get rid of the debris and this will no longer be an issue. Always check for yourself before getting someone out to repair the unit.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. It will improve the easiest way to take care of your unit.
If there’s only one thing that you do in terms of HVAC maintenance monthly, it should be to replace your air filter. It is the easiest and cheapest way you can take care of it. It only costs a couple of bucks to replace the filter.
Pick HVAC companies that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies keep the technicians will always be on schedule. A knowledgeable technician should also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC. Once they are able to locate a problem, fixing it should be quick and easy.
When determining the location of your air conditioning unit, think about which way the air flows. For a corner location, check for a unit that has the ability to direct the air flow in a different direction from the wall.
If you have to put the unit in a corner, be sure to buy a unit which allows for the air flow direction to be changed away from the wall.
Prior to engaging the services of a contractor to handle your HVAC system, be sure to find out about the kind of experience he has. It’s important that a contractor is experienced in the area of the kind of work you require. It’s best to find someone who knows what they’re doing.
Always make sure to get some references prior to hiring any contractor.
Always request references when you are considering a HVAC contractor. It’s important to know if the contractor does as he says. This can assure you hire someone trustworthy.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency hotline. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, no matter what.
Hire contractors that can repair or install HVAC systems with 24-hour emergency services. They must be able to reach your home at any time, in any weather.
Cover your condenser unit for protection in the weather becomes less than optimal. This helps the condenser operating longer when not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid putting strain on the unit.
Always look for the ENERGY STAR logo on a unit before you make the purchase. It will be much more efficient if you do. These are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The time spent researching these units could yield long-term energy savings.
Always check out any references that you receive for an HVAC contractor.
Two thirds of all homes have ducts which leak. These can cost you as much as twenty five percent of what you pay for utilities. Making certain these are sealed will minimize the electricity used by your unit.
As stated above, your HVAC system is very important and you need to keep it running right. Fortunately the tips above can help you avoid expensive repairs. It is your job to ensure you know all you can about your HVAC unit and you understand everything that has been discussed in this article.
Seek out HVAC contractors that only use products that carry the Energy Star label. If it has Energy Star logo, you can be sure that it has met the energy efficiency standards required by the EPA. Products with this label will help you preserve power and money.
