HVAC: What You Should Know Before You Begin

Even though it is very important to have an HVAC system that runs optimally, most homeowners are clueless about doing this. Learning this is an important thing for a savvy homeowner to do. The following article will get you in a great position.

Go through your home before you call HVAC professional. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. This can help contractors quickly figure out the issue and how to fix it easily and quickly.

TIP! If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. You will be looking to see which of your rooms feel hotter or colder than they should be.

Know what type of system before calling someone to fix it. This will help you give your chosen contractor any information they might need.

To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Before you do clean the coils and fan blades, always take the precaution of turning off all power to the unit. Also, be sure to clear leaves and debris from your condenser unit.

TIP! Clean your fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Always shut off all power to your unit for any work beyond superficial cleaning.

Clean the debris on your outdoor condenser unit. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, bringing potential damage with it. It can cause it to overheat.

When you are cutting the grass, be sure not to cover your outdoor units with clippings. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction away from your unit. Make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it while blowing your leaves.

TIP! A big mistake that people make is cutting the grass next to the outdoor condenser unit and allowing all of the clippings to blow inside the fan and coil. Now so the grass clippings are shot away from your unit.

Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.

You need to lubricate parts of your fan condenser. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Chose SAE 20 oil, which has been proven to be the most effective.

TIP! If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps.

Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass in a direction from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.

Have your HVAC serviced at least yearly. The best time of year to have the system checked is right before the weather begins to change. Regular inspection will help you avoid unexpected repairs.

TIP! Check your unit at least twice each year. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months.

Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned frequently when the fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it gets blocked, then your system could suffer.

Installing a programmable digital thermostat can help save money. It changes the temperature so the system isn’t in use when it’s cooler outside or no one is home. Take advantage of the convenience of the ability to control many programable thermostats from your favorite electronic device.

TIP! A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. 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.

Have the HVAC system inspected twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.

Service your hearing and cooling systems once each year. During service the technician will check the motor and refill the system fluids. Small problems can occur in any of these areas and lead to serious issues if ignored for too long.

TIP! To cut energy costs, you should service your cooling and heating system once a year at least. When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, and they will oil all the moving parts.

Turn off outdoor condenser when weather turns cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will help keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.

Shut off the air conditioning if nobody is home. Sure, the temp will rise, but no one is home anyway. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.

TIP! If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. You may want to turn your unit off if your house will not become extremely hot or cold.

Install a programmable thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.

To choose a HVAC contractor, it is important to check their reputations. It is always wise to check their status with the BBB. In addition, check out customer reviews that appear online. This is what you have to do in order to make a smart decision.

TIP! If you want to ensure you choose a trustworthy HVAC contractor, invest a little time in researching a few different companies, checking out 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.

When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, oil the parts that move, and they will oil all the moving parts. These simple tasks will keep your HVAC system running at peak performance.

Before you hire someone from an HVAC place, figure out how long they’ve been doing this kind of work. 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. Hiring a newer contractor may be taking a considerable risk.

TIP! How long has the contractor been in business? Firms that have been in business for a long time are easier to assess. Working with someone that does not yet have a reputation in the business is a bit riskier.

Never allow the temperature in your home to get dangerously hot inside. Air conditioners can only really cool a home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.

Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are usually willing to tell of it. This will also let you know which companies to stay away from.

TIP! Ask around so you can find a reputable HVAC contractor. Find someone that has a lot of quality work under their belt.

Research the reputation of companies before hiring them.Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews of potential companies online. Doing this will make sure you make a better decision.

Ask for quotes from multiple contractors. You will be likely to save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. Get in touch with more than a few contractors to best understand the going rate.

TIP! Contractor set their own prices; this is why you should get many quotes. You should save some money this way.

Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.

Are you considering purchasing a new heating and cooling system? You should first think about several things. The rating given to a system tells how much are it can cover. You should buy a little bigger than necessary unit over a little smaller than necessary unit.

TIP! Do you want to buy a new cooling and heating system? You need to think about a few important things. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool and heat an area.

There are a number of great sites out there that let customers to share their experiences with different services. This will be an excellent way to locate people you find a top notch professional.

Determining the direction in which your house faces can help make the HVAC system efficient. Trees in certain areas can provide shade, which means your house will stay cooler. The less your home is heated, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.

TIP! Know which direction the house faces so that your HVAC system operates more efficiently. 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.

Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save quite a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what you should be paying.

Look for leaves or other debris if you notice a thumping sound in your unit. Sometimes there is debris that gets in the fan’s way. Simple removal of the debris will solve the problem. Check the fan and coil before you waste time contacting a professional.

TIP! If you HVAC unit is clicking, immediately check for any type of obstruction. There may be particles of debris that are touching the fans.

In order to be comfortable in your home 365 days a year, your HVAC system must remain in working order. It can be pretty frustrated when this system breaks down. Luckily, any homeowner can know just how to proceed when they are aware of the information contained in this article.

It’s important to have doors and windows that are efficient for the most efficiency for your HVAC unit. Be sure their seal is tight so no exterior air gets in or interior air gets out. Talk to a professional to determine the best way to do this.

TIP! If you want your HVAC to run well, you need to have doors and windows that work well with things too. Make sure seals are tight to avoid exterior air seeping in and interior air seeping out.