HVAC: What You Should Know Before You Begin

Letting your HVAC system break is not something you want to deal with. You may be here because you wish to learn about what you can do in order to help the HVAC system last a long time. The following article below has some helpful tips for you.

Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Learn the brand and the model. Then, you’ll be ready to tell the contractor what they need to know.

TIP! Know what type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. Get information on the make and model, plus if you have information on the history of maintenance, that will help, too.

Know the name and type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This will facilitate the process when your contractor any information they might need.

Keeping the outside condenser clean of debris and leaves will improve the system’s efficiency. If you are doing more than a light surface cleaning, make sure that the power is shut off to the HVAC unit. Remove leaves and debris from the outside condenser.

TIP! Help the outside condenser fan run efficiently by cleaning the coils and fan blades before the summer starts. Always shut the power off before doing any work or cleaning on the unit.

Know what work you need before you select an HVAC contractor.It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.

Clean the debris off your outdoor condenser unit. Your HVAC system may run into problems after storms if it is surrounded by debris. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your unit.

TIP! Be sure to regularly clean debris from external condenser units. Wind can pile up all sorts of debris against its grill.

Clean your condenser’s fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.

Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. First, make sure the power is off to ensure nothing moves while you are working. Then, take off the grill and get the blades out. Clean everything with care.

TIP! Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. For safety, always turn the power off first.

Clean the condenser on your debris off your outdoor condenser unit. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause your unit.

It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. When it draws in air for cooling, it will be more efficient because it will not need to work as hard to cool down the air.

TIP! When selecting the spot to put the outdoor compressor for your unit, choose somewhere that gets plenty of shade. The unit will operate more efficiently to cool your home if the intake air is cooler to begin with.

Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.

Boost energy efficiency by putting your condenser unit in the shade. This will ensure cool air is sucked in, meaning less cooling must be done by the unit.

TIP! Put outdoor condensers in the shade. It will help you save on your energy bill when you do this.

Lubricate your condenser once a year. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.

Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice a year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best. Even though it may seem as nothing is wrong with the unit, a simple inspection can prove otherwise.

TIP! Have the HVAC system serviced twice per year. The normally recommended time for HVAC system inspections is once before the peak cooling season when it gets hot and you’ll be using your AC, and once before the peak heating season, during the cold months when you’re likely to be using your heat.

Put outdoor condensers in the shade if you are installing them.

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. You’ll pay less for repairs which you follow this tip.

TIP! When colder weather arrives, switch off all outdoor condenser units. This should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage.

Turn off your outdoor condenser when weather turns cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep the system working for years to come.

If you can, use double-paned windows instead of single-paned ones. Having double pane windows allows your air conditioning unit to be run much less during the summer, because the cool air is kept inside the home. It keeps heat in during the winter, too.

TIP! Double pane your windows to prevent drafts. Double pane windows can help minimize how much you use your air conditioner in the summer, because they keep cool air inside the home.

It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This also helps keep in heat when it gets cold.

If nobody is home, turn off the air conditioner to save money. 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.

TIP! If there isn’t anyone at home, then there’s no need for the AC unit to be running and wasting electricity. When you turn it off, the house heats up, but only to a certain threshold.

Research the companies before hiring them. Check them out at the best one for reviews posted by former customers. These simple steps will help ensure you make a better decision.

Make certain you properly investigate any company prior to hiring them. Check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), and look them up on review sites online to see what previous customers have to say about their experience. Doing this can help you make a better decision.

TIP! In order to select an HVAC contractor that you can trust, it pays to invest some time researching a few prospective companies and checking their reputations. Check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), and look them up on review sites online to see what previous customers have to say about their experience.

Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a newer contractor may be taking a bigger risk.

Did you know an AC unit can freeze? Sometimes the drain line will freeze, causing leaks. If you see this, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. It is best to call a professional in to fix this particular issue, even though the switch to fan setting should cause the ice to start melting.

TIP! You can get ice in your air conditioner. This can also happen on the drain line.

Ask friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People will tell you who have used and if they are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This will also provide you to figure out some names of businesses that you should avoid hiring.

Before you hire any HVAC company, ask them how long they’ve been open for business. The older they are, the more likely it will be for you to find out their history, which will help you gauge their quality. Hiring a contractor who is just starting out can be risky.

TIP! Before you hire any HVAC company, ask them how long they’ve been open for business. A company that has been in business for a long time will have a solid track record, and you can use this to figure out if you should spend your money with them.

There are plenty of great sites out there that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding people that you want to work with all the information you don’t.

Ask around so you can find a reputable HVAC contractor. Anyone that has previously needed work done on their HVAC unit are more than happy to tell you their experiences. This will also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid hiring.

TIP! When you need an HVAC contractor, obtain recommendations from friends and family members. You should be able to find someone that has had a good experience.

Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You can save a great deal of money by asking for many quotes. You may want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.

Determine which way your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. You can help keep your home cool with the strategic placement of trees. The less your home is heated, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.

TIP! Determine which way your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. When you determine the parts of your home that get the most sunlight, you can consider strategic landscaping that includes shade trees to somewhat reduce your home’s exposure to heat from direct sunlight.

Hvac System

Your HVAC system will run more efficiently if your windows and doors are energy efficient. Each of these should have an airtight seal on them. Talk to a professional to determine the best way to do this.

TIP! You can’t get the most out of your HVAC unit, unless you have efficient windows and doors installed. Your windows and doors should be able to stay tightly sealed so air doesn’t get in or out.

It should be obvious to you that you must care for your HVAC system properly in order to avoid problems. If your HVAC system fails on you it can cost a tremendous amount of money to fix. Keep this from happening to you by following the advice provided here.

Use an HVAC company who has a lot of experience in the field. Reliable companies insist that their technicians are prompt. A knowledgeable technician will also easily diagnose any problems with your HVAC. Once, they find the problem, they will fix it fast.

TIP! Be sure the HVAC contractor you pick is fast and knowledgeable. A reliable company will ensure their technicians keep appointments and stay on their schedule.