Follow these tips on dealing with your HVAC system.
Before calling for help, know the system you have. Know the model and brand and find it’s maintenance history, if possible. Your contractor will appreciate this information.
Clean your fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. If you can’t describe the problem, you may not get an accurate quote. It can be harder if you don’t know what’s wrong. Understand this information beforehand.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often during the fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it becomes blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Before you clean the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Additionally, it’s important to clear out leaves and other debris from the outside condenser unit.
10 Drops
If the fan condenser on your unit has ports for oil, make sure you lubricate it once a year. You’ll see that the ports here are closed with a rubber or metal cap. Your oil should be an SAE 20. This particular oil is very lightweight and it only requires about 10 drops per port.
Lubricate your condenser at least once a year. You will see rubber or metal cap covering the ports. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
If you want to know where you should put an outdoor compressor, you should place it somewhere where there is a lot of shade. When your unit takes in cool air, it takes less energy to tool the air, thus boosting efficiency.
Be sure to have twice annual HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
You need to have a contractor review your unit twice a year. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double panes.This will also help you keep in during the winter months.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. The unit will become damaged if you do not take care of it. This will help keep your HVAC system in good health for years, which means you will save on repair bills.
Don’t ever let your home get way too hot to where it’s dangerous. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If your home become 100F or more, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Getting a programmable thermostats can be a terrific way to realize savings. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with the BBB and look for your situation. These simple steps will help to ensure your decision is a better decision.
If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. When it’s off the house will get hot, but only by a certain amount. If you leave it on all day, it’s fighting the heat constantly, meaning it’s using a lot of electricity to do its job.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, put your thermostat over to fan.You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Check the Internet for reviews on those who fix or install HVAC systems. There are now different online sites that let customers share their service experiences. This can help filter out the people you would like to work with.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
Each contractor establishes his own fees, so before you hire one, obtain a few estimates. If you call people before you work on hiring one person, you can save some money overall. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Companies that have been around for longer have a proven track records typically provide better service. Hiring a newer contractor may be taking a bigger risk.
Have you been thinking about buying a new HVAC system? Many things must be taken into account before you purchase one. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool and heat an area. It is always better to buy a unit that is a little bit bigger rather than one that might be slightly smaller.
Speak with family and friends to get a recommendation for a reputable HVAC unit.People that have had quality work done are usually willing to tell of it. This can also help you with good information on which contractors you should avoid at all costs.
Check out your ductwork for leaks if your whole home isn’t being cooled or heated. You can call in your local utility company to do the testing for you, often for free or at a lower cost than a contractor. If you do have leaks that are repaired, this testing will pay for itself.
There are plenty of online websites that give people the opportunity to leave comments about how they received. This will help you who is great and who isn’t.
If you HVAC unit is making a clicking sound, check immediately for any debris that may have accumulated in it. There may be particles of debris that are touching the fans. You can solve the issue by removing debris. Look at this prior to calling a technician.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. You may want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioner shopping. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. If multiple rooms need cooling, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently. If you do end up paying, this testing will pay for itself.
Make certain that you hire an experienced contractor with a good reputation. Reliable companies keep a close eye on their technicians and ensure they honor their appointments. These techs that come out should be quickly able to figure out the issue and remedy the problem right away. This will maximize your overall satisfaction.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot in the area to be cooled. If you are cooling more than one room, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
As you are thinking about where to put your AC unit, consider how the air moves out of it. If you have to put the unit in a corner, use one that doesn’t blow into the wall.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This is the simplest thing that you can do to keep your unit run properly.
Before hiring a contractor to work on your HVAC system, you should inquire about the type of experience they have. You need to ensure that they are experienced with the work that you need done. While you may not know if a worker with no experience will work well or not, it’s not a good idea to take a chance with this.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have done the sort of work you require.
Hire contractors that can repair or install HVAC systems with 24-hour emergency services. You want a company that will be there when you need them.
Always make sure to get some references before hiring any contractor.
Be sure you know what goes into what you’re about to pay for the HVAC work if you’re paying a contractor. You might find that some contractors try to add hidden charges for odd items, such as materials and fuel. Solidly written contracts let you prevent such issues.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency hotline. They must be able to reach your home at any time, no matter what.
Drape a cover over your condenser unit in the winter to protect it. Doing this extends the life of your condenser when it is not in use. Also, when it’s less than sixty degrees outside, you shouldn’t use the compressor. Just use the fan so that you do not stress the unit.
Some contractors will attempt to overcharge for add-ons like travel expense or fees and other charges. A contract will prevent this possible problem.
To save money on your bills, choose an HVAC system that bears the Energy Star label. Products with this logo save money on electricity and are much more environmentally friendly. These guidelines are determined by the United States government. The EPA is who governs Energy Star guidelines. By taking the extra time to look into this information could help with long-term energy and money savings.
Always check out any references provided to you by an HVAC contractor.
As the temperatures plummet, you should protect your HVAC’s condenser unit. This can be done by placing an insulating cover on it. Running the system when the outside temperature is below 60 degrees will lower its efficiency.
You may be surprised that as many as two-thirds of households have ducts that are leaky. These can represent one fourth of the utility costs. Sealing up your ducts is cheap and easy, and it is something you can do yourself, saving you money on your utility bills every year from then on.
Make sure that you keep all owner’s and operator’s manuals about your HVAC system in a convenient place. It contains lots of advice specific to your unit which might prove critical if trouble arises. If your manual got lost or misplaced, you can get a new one from the manufacturer.
Look for HVAC contractors that use Energy Star products and equipment. This rating means that the EPA. This will help you can save cash on energy all year.
Get an estimate in writing from the company you hired for your HVAC. They have to be on paper. This will help you to get a reasonable price. Without them, you may not know you are getting a fair deal. Compare your estimates on price, completion time and any other factors available. A company whose estimate is too low and too good to be true probably is.
Keep your system operating efficiently and enjoy clean air by cleaning the heating ducts. Look often at the ducts regularly so you can make sure there is nothing wrong with them. Damaged ducts increase your energy bill by wasting air that is warm.
Make sure your condenser unit is protected. This can easily be done by placing an insulating cover on it.
The HVAC in your house is a vital part of your daily life whether you know it or not. Without maintenance, you may find yourself very uncomfortable. Make sure that you do not let this happen.
