The method you use to cool and cooling systems of your home is very important. This means that it is of utmost importance your HVAC system needs to be in top shape.If you don’t take good care of it, then your repair costs can mount while your living conditions deteriorate. Here are some tips to get you out.
Check out the system that you have before you call a professional. Get information on the make and model, plus if you have information on the history of maintenance, that will help, too. This helps make sure the contractor has the information they will need.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This information will be helpful to any contractor asks for this information.
Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. Understand this information beforehand.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you a price estimate on the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils come spring. Before you do clean the coils and fan blades, always take the precaution of turning off all power to the unit. Clean the outside of your condenser unit regularly.
Clean the debris that accumulates on an external condenser units. 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.
If the condenser for your HVAC system is located outside, make sure you clear away any debris that might settle in or around it. Things tend to pile up around these units, especially after storms come through, which could cause problems to your system. It can get overheated, which will cause problems with the whole system.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coil in the spring. Before you get started, cut the power. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose leaves. When the leaves fall from nearby trees, clean the grill of your fan often. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, it could cause your system to break down.
Your HVAC system could suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan needs to have an unobstructed path for air to enter the unit, and if it gets blocked, it could cause your system to break down.
Look for shade when placing a compressor outdoors. If your unit is sucking in cooler air, it will have less work to do to cool that air as it sends it inside which boosts efficiency.
Have your HVAC system serviced at least yearly. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
One great way to save some cash when you’re working on keeping a home cool is to install a thermostat that’s programmable. A programmable thermostat can save you up to ten percent on your cooling and heating costs by simply turning the thermostat back ten to fifteen percent for eight hours a day. Some can even be controlled from a computer.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This will also help you keep in during the winter months.
Turn off your air conditioner when no one is home to help save money. The house will only heat to certain level and a decent HVAC system can quickly cool this down once you are home. Leaving your heating or cooling running full blast while you are away is a waste of money and energy.
A programmable thermostat can really help you out when it comes to your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
Spend some time on researching for reliable HVAC companies to ensure that they have a good reputation. You may also want to check with the BBB for information. Doing this makes it more likely that you choose wisely..
When they come out for a service visit, oil the parts that move, moving parts well oiled and the level of freon adjusted if necessary. These few simple things will keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
You can get ice in your air conditioner. There are also occasional freezes in the drain line, which are often confused for plumbing leaks. Turn your unit to the fan setting to turn off the compressor. Once you know the problem, contact a local HVAC professional and let them know what’s going on in your system.
Research the reputation of companies before hiring them.Check with the best one for your situation. These simple steps will help to ensure your decision is a wise one.
Ask those you know for the name of a great HVAC technician, should you need one. People who have had a good experience are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This can also be used to see who you should avoid.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. If this doesn’t work, call in help.
Online reviews are a great source of information about HVAC contractors. You have a choice of review sites to use. This will tell you who is great and who isn’t.
Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a contractor can be risky.
Contractor set their own prices; this is why you should get many quotes. Making some phone calls before deciding is a good way to save money. Ideally, five or six contractors should be called so you can get a good ball park figure of a reasonable rate.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system can work better. The less your home is heated, the less time that the AC has to work.
Make sure that your doors and windows are efficient. 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.
If your HVAC system is clicking, immediately check for any type of obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Check this out before calling a contractor.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. Plan for 20 BTU of power in your air conditioner for each square foot that needs to be cooled. Combine the square footage of all rooms, in the event that you will be cooling more than one.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before buying a unit. You will need about 20 BTU per square foot in the area to be cooled. If you have multiple rooms to cool, sum their areas.
Before you hire a HVAC contractor, you should find out what their experience is. Have they done this type of job before? It’s best to find someone who knows what they’re doing.
Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to verify they have the type of work on your particular system.
Ask for references from any contractor you’re considering. Check to see what other customers have experienced with them. This will allow you to stay away from people that will scam you, but only if you’re calling references.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They must be able to reach your home at any time, be it in the middle of a heatwave or in the worst snowstorm of the year.
Avoid using any contractor for HVAC repairs or installation, unless they provide you with a 24-hour number for emergency situations. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, whether during a heatwave or a terrible snowstorm.
There are contractors out there that will overcharge you. Having a signed contract will let you avoid these types of issues.
During the winter months, you will want to cover your condenser unit to protect it. This will help your condenser last longer when not being used. Another bit of great advice is to not run the unit’s compressor if it’s under 60 degrees outside. Turn on the fan and avoid straining the unit.
Cover your condenser when the winter. This will help your condenser last longer when it is not in use. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the condenser unit.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor, research their references. Many people make the mistake of assuming references are legitimate just because they were give up freely, but this is not always the case. It only takes a couple minutes to call to check a person out by calling, so don’t worry about doing that.
This will tell you how many BTUs your system requires to keep the environment of your home comfortable.
Any time that you are given a quote for HVAC work, it’s vital that you them to do a heat-loss calculation, too. This will help you to figure out how many BTUs the new system needs to have to keep a home comfortable. They should be counting windows and doors, checking insulation, and measuring your home’s internal space as well.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This lowers your heating and cooling bills as it constantly adjusts your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
Opt for a programmable thermostat when getting your HVAC. You will realize real savings when the system is allowed to rest at night while you are asleep.
Choose a contractor that prefers Energy Star units. This rating means that your system has met the EPA standards for efficiency. This can help you save more on your bills year round.
Refer to the owner’s manual for your unit when you operate it. The manual is always filled with useful information that you may not be able to find in tips like these. They are very specific to the product in question. The manufacturer should have them available on their website if you can not locate yours.
Make sure your condenser unit is protected. This can be done by placing a cover on the condenser unit.
Always get an estimate in writing when dealing with an HVAC company. These estimates should be written down on paper. Comparing estimates is a must. This ensures that you receive good service. Compare all of the deals that you are offered. If any company gives you an estimate that sounds very low, this is a sign that they may not do good work for their customers.
You should now have a better idea of how to keep that HVAC unit running smoothly. Avoid letting it fail by regularly maintaining the system. These tips will keep your home comfortable year-round.
