Lots of people have HVAC units in their homes. An HVAC is a unit that helps keep your home’s temperature comfortable for you throughout the year. You will generally need to hire a professional to install it and maintain your unit. Read on for solid tips that will help you with your HVAC systems.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Get information on the make and model, plus if you have information on the history of maintenance, that will help, too. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
If your HVAC system is acting up, try touring your home before calling a professional. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Before you choose an HVAC contractor, have an idea in your mind of what needs to be done. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. They need to come look at the unit. So, you should know this beforehand.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. Don’t forget to disconnect the power first. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.
Clean your fan blades and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. If it sucks in cool air, it will need to work less to coll the air inside, which can make it last longer.
Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim your grass cuttings in a different direction away from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Have the HVAC system serviced twice per year. Your system should be inspected in Spring and Fall. Even if you can’t see anything wrong, checking it may help you locate and repair some possible issues.
10 Drops
When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
Lubricate your condenser if it has oil ports. You can easily find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
If you can, install double-paned windows throughout your home. During the summer, the use of double-pane windows will help keep the cool air locked inside of the home. This also helps keep it warm in the winter.
Put outdoor units in the shade.
Install a thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. 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. There are also some programmable thermostats that can be controlled with a computer or other web-connected advice.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double panes.This same effect also helps retain heated air during the colder months.
To cut energy costs, you should service your cooling and heating system once a year at least. During a maintenance visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. All of these little jobs will add up to big savings in energy use, with the improved efficiency.
Don’t ever let your house get dangerously high. An air conditioning unit will reduce the internal temperature of your home approximately twenty degrees in a short time span. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Your home should not have temperatures that are too hot. Air conditioners really can only cool a home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a reasonable amount of time. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. Taking into consideration the humidity level, this may not even be adequate for the human body to recover from excessive heat while sleeping.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something you notice, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Before you invest in any HVAC contractor, make sure you spend a good deal of time researching their reputations and credentials. It can be helpful to check out the online reviews of previous customers and it is always wise to check their reputation as listed on a Better Business Bureau website. These simple steps will help make a better decision.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. Hiring a newer contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Use recommendations when you are looking for a contractor. If a person had a good experience with a company, they are likely to share it. This will also let you know which companies to stay away from.
Ask for helpful information when you can find a HVAC contractor. People will tell you who they have used and if they are usually more than willing to share this information. This will also let you avoid bad companies.
Contractor set their own prices; this is why you should get many quotes. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for many quotes. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Consider installing a radiant barrier to your attic to help your HVAC system run more efficiently. It blocks heat from the inside out, lowering the amount of energy needed to cool your home in the summer. If you do it right, you may be able to expand your living space into your attic.
Determine which way your home faces.The less heat, the less time that the AC has to work.
Do you need a new cooling system? There are things you must consider first. An HVAC system gets its rating by how effective it will heat and cool an area. If your home falls in size between two units, select the one that is larger.
If your HVAC system is clicking, see if there are any obstructions right away. Sometimes there is debris interferes with the cooling system fans. Check this out before calling a contractor.
Make your HVAC work efficiently when you consider what way your home faces. Trees in certain areas can provide shade, which means your house will stay cooler. This will reduce the work of your AC unit.
This article has shown that assistance is available as far as HVAC is concerned. It is important to have your HVAC unit installed and working properly. Using these tips will ensure your comfort for many years to come.
The one thing you should always do on a monthly basis is change the air filter on your HVAC system. This is an easy way to help you keep things running well for you overall. The filters are only a couple dollars, so it is a small monthly investment.
