Anyone who has an HVAC system in their house knows how it important it is to have it properly maintained. A poorly functioning HVAC system can end up costing the homeowner a ton of money. This article offers you tips to keep your HVAC unit in optimal condition.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, check out your home before calling a contractor. Determine which rooms are hotter or colder than they should be. That will help your repairman figure out where the problem is, and how he can fix it easily and quickly.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Cleaning the blades and coils will help the system run better. Shut off power before working or cleaning your system. If you see debris, get rid of it.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best.Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
Be sure to regularly clean debris from external condenser units. Particularly after bad weather, you should inspect your unit. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your unit.
Clean the debris on your outdoor condenser unit. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It could overheat and cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. Clean outdoor units often to remove leaves. Your fan needs an unobstructed way to get air inside, and the more blocked up it becomes, the more headaches will develop for you with the system.
10 Drops
If your condenser comes with oil ports, you should lubricate it yearly. Such ports tend to have coverings made of rubber or metal. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don’t want to put in too much.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once a year.You can easily find the ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
When selecting the spot to put the outdoor compressor for your unit, choose somewhere that gets plenty of shade. The cooler air entering the unit will require less work to get to the proper temperature.
Put outdoor unit in places with shade.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. You save money this way because the air conditioner is now pulling in cooler air, which is easier to cool further.
Your HVAC unit requires regular maintenance at least two times a year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Consumers are usually advised to have their HVAC systems inspected twice a year. The best times to have the system checked is spring and fall, so you are sure everything is running at peak performance before the heating and cooling seasons. Even though it may seem as nothing is wrong with the unit, a simple inspection can prove otherwise.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This also helps keep it warm in during the winter months.
Regularly having your HVAC system serviced can help keep your heating and cooling bills down. During the visit, the contractor will oil parts, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These few simple things will help your system to run at its peak performance.
During a maintenance visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. This will help your system performing at maximum efficiency.
Turn off your air conditioner when no one is home to help save money. When you turn the air conditioner off, the house may heat up a little but only a certain amount. The longer the unit stays on, the more it ends up costing you in energy bills.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners really can only cool a home down a home by 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Do not allow your house to get extremely hot. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. So, if you house heats up to about 95, you won’t see the temperature go below 75 for a while. Taking into consideration the humidity level, this may not even be adequate for the human body to recover from excessive heat while sleeping.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews posted by former customers. These simple steps will help make a wise one.
When you’re purchasing an HVAC system, make sure that you get a unit that is properly sized for your space. If you buy a unit that’s too large, it won’t be energy efficient for your needs. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Before you go out there and hire an HVAC contractor, find out the length of time they’ve been in the industry. This gives you some history so that you can be sure the company is reliable. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can be risky.
There are plenty of sites these days that give people the opportunity to leave comments about their experiences with contractors. This is a great way to find people you wish to work with all the information you don’t want to work with.
Online reviews are a great source of information about HVAC contractors. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. You will be able to make a more informed choice if you do this.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. You may even use the attic space if it is done right.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. The local utility may be able to test for you, and their services are frequently free or low cost. When you have leaks repaired, the testing has paid for itself.
Are you considering purchasing a new HVAC system? There are things you need to keep in mind. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
You should know the facing direction of your home for the most effective placement of the HVAC system. If you have trees placed in strategic areas, you can block the sunlight in the morning. A cooler home means less work for your air conditioner.
If you hear a clicking in the HVAC unit at home, immediately start looking for any obstructions. Sometimes debris that gets in the cooling system fans. Check it out before you waste time contacting a professional.
If you’re only wanting to do the minimal amount of HVAC maintenance, you should work on replacing your air filter. It is an easy thing to do yourself in order to have your system running well. A few bucks is worth it!
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air inside. You can hire a professional.
Think about which way the air flows when installing a air conditioner. Make sure you have plenty of air flow control options if you are forced to install the unit in a corner.
Measure the area that requires air conditioner shopping.You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot of the room. If you are cooling more than one room, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
When choosing someone to work on your HVAC system, make sure they provide you with references. It’s important to know if the contractor does as he says. You can avoid scam artists, yet only when you actually check up on references.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the system running in tip top shape.
Hire contractors that can repair or install HVAC systems with 24-hour emergency services. Your system can go out after hours, and if you need help, you want someone who can be there at any time of the day.
Pick HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians will always be on schedule and keep appointments. A knowledgeable technician should also easily diagnose any potential faults with your HVAC. After they know what the problem is, they resolve issues swiftly.
Understand the costs beforehand with your HVAC unit. There are contractors out there that will make you pay for extra things like charges for fuel or materials. Having your contract in writing is obviously a must.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have the sort of experience needed to work on your particular system.
Use a fully-enclosing cover to protect your condenser unit in the winter. This will make sure the condenser will last for a long time. Additionally, do not use it when the temperature dips below 60. Instead, put the fan on and don’t strain it.
Always request references when you are considering a contractor.
Incredibly, two-thirds of homes have ducts that leak! This equals up to 25% of your energy bill. It is simple and inexpensive to seal your ducts. It is even something you can do yourself. Taking this step can make a big difference in your electric bills.
Some contractors attempt to charge you later for items like materials and other charges. A contract that covers the basics will really help you if something like this possible problem.
Keep your system running efficiently by cleaning the heating ducts. Look often at the ducts to make sure there is nothing wrong with them. Damaged ducts increase the energy bill by wasting air that is warm.
Always follow up on any references that you receive for an HVAC contractor.
Be sure you get an estimate that’s written from an HVAC company. These estimates need to be written out. You never know when someone will try and change the terms of a verbal agreement. This procedure helps to ensure you get the best service. Compare all of the deals that you are offered. Avoid a contractor that bids really low because chances are service will be poor.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This can save you a great deal on your bills because your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
You may be surprised that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that leak. These leaky ducts can lead to as much as a quarter of your utility costs. Sealing the ducts is easy and cheap to do yourself, and it can significantly decrease your electrical bill yearly thereafter.
Do you better understand the job of your HVAC system now? Do you understand simple maintenance techniques and how to keep your system operating year-round? It can become very expensive to put off maintenance of your system. Remember this advice in order to ensure that your HVAC remains in tip top condition.
