You might not pay attention to your HVAC system in the home until it isn’t working It can be hard to get a repairman to fix your HVAC system. The tips here will ensure you do that and much more!
If the condenser for your HVAC system is located outside, make sure you clear away any debris that might settle in or around it. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system. Overheating could occur, which will be problematic.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, try touring your home before calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. Be sure to turn the power off first; you don’t want anything to move. Then you need to get the grill popped off and get the blades out so you can clean them and your unit gently.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
When choosing the area for placing an outdoor compressor device, place it in a shady area. The unit will operate more efficiently to cool your home if the intake air is cooler to begin with.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
In order for your new unit to be as efficient as possible, or to make older units more efficient, make sure it’s put in a shaded area. If the air your machine draws in is already cooler, it will require less energy to regulate before it’s filtered into your home.
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.
Your system should be checked twice a year. The fall and spring are the optimal times for this maintenance. Even if everything seems fine, check things out to find potential problems.
Grass Clippings
When it gets cold outside, it is necessary to turn off outdoor condenser units. To prevent damage, turn off your unit if the outside temperature is less than 60 degrees. Doing this keeps your system working well for years and saves you from having to spend money to repair it.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim your grass clippings in a direction away from your unit. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Replace single pane windows by installing double pane, if possible. They help cool air remain inside your home, effectively cutting back on how much you have to run your air conditioner. They help in the winter, too, keeping the heat in.
Have your HVAC serviced at the least. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. Programmable thermostats can automatically dial back settings, saving you money. Plus, some models allow you to control them over the internet or from a smartphone.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when it’s getting cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps your system working order.
If nobody is home, turn off the AC. When you turn it off, the house heats up, but only to a certain threshold. It will use more electricity if you keep it running.
Never allow your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time period. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Do not allow your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. Even the best air conditioners can only realistically cool your home approximately 20 degrees Farenheit. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. Depending on the levels of humidity, that is not a safe temperature when it comes to sleeping or escaping from the heat of summer.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this, 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 will make the ice melt.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up. You may even encounter a freeze in your drain line which is often confused with a plumbing leak. If you see this, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. It’s a good idea to call up professionals to help with this even though you can get the ice to melt when you switch everything to the fan.
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 this information.
You can always search the Internet when you aren’t entirely sure who you should call for proper HVAC repair or maintenance. Many online sites permit customers to let others know about their experiences with various services and contractors. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You should save tons of money this way. You may want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Make certain that you get written estimates before you hire a contractor. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. In an ideal situation, you can estimate a reasonable rate by getting quotes from up to a half-dozen individual contractors or businesses.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It ensures that your unit stays hot outside. You may even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Are you looking at purchasing a HVAC system? You need to know some things first. An HVAC system gets its rating by how effective it will heat and cool an area. Therefore, you may want to opt for a larger unit.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system more efficient. The cooler your home already is, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
You can’t get the most out of your HVAC unit, unless you have efficient windows and doors installed. They should have tight seals so outside air cannot get in and inside air can not get out. A professional can sometimes test these for you for free.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from the HVAC unit, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in your cooling system. Check this out before you call in the professionals.
When choosing the proper air conditioner size, measure the area that needs cooling. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. If you need to cool multiple rooms, make sure to add the square footage together.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioning. You generally need by calculating 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If more than one room needs AC service, get their square footage added together.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system every month. This represents an easy way to keep your system working well. Filters are relatively cheap, so it does not cost much to do this.
You are done reading the article, and now you should be a bit more aware about HVAC systems. You now know where to look, what you are looking for, and what they should be doing when you hire them. Use these tips to ensure great success.
When placing your AC unit, think about the direction the air will flow. Put it in a corner where the air does not flow into the wall.
