If you’re unfamiliar with HVAC and you need to learn about it, you’ve come to the right place. This article can help you in the right direction. Take the time to read carefully and you will do well.
Before an HVAC expert comes to your home to do any repair work, walk around the home and check out the temps in every room. Figure out which rooms are too cool or warm. Give this information to your contractor when they arrive.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you to give the contractor any information they might need.
Before you choose an HVAC contractor, have an idea in your mind of what needs to be done. It’s hard to get an estimate since they haven’t look at your system. Getting an estimate will be even more difficult if you cannot adequately describe the problem. Know this stuff ahead of time.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
If you have condenser units outside your home, be sure to clean out the debris from them often. Debris quickly gathers here, even more so if there is a storm. This can cause major issues with your system. The whole thing can overheat, causing major problems and possibly an enormous expense for you.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass cuttings in a direction from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. 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.
Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice a year at the least. This should be done in the fall and the spring.
If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. These ports have a metal covering. Sometimes it is rubber. Choose a SAE 20 oil whch is lightweight and non-detergent and place 10 drops or less into each port, ensuring it doesn’t overfill.
During the visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These easy to do things will boost the performance of your system to run its best.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, be sure to keep it in the shade. When the air conditioner pulls in cooler air, it won’t have to do much more to cool it and that will save you a lot of money on energy bills.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the BBB and online reviews as well. Doing these things beforehand will allow you make a smart decision.
Double pane your windows to prevent drafts. In warmer months, these windows will help to maintain the cooler inside temperature. This also works during the cold months to keep the warm air inside.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this happen, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. Such thermostats help you save around ten percent when it comes to energy costs. There are also some programmable thermostats that can be controlled with a computer or other web-connected advice.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time.It is always risky to hire a long history.
If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. The house will only heat to certain level and a decent HVAC system can quickly cool this down once you are home. However, leaving it on increases your electric bill and wear and tear on the system.
Ask your friends and relations for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had done in the past are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. This can also be used to see who you learn the names of those companies that you should avoid.
Put a bit of time into researching various HVAC specialists; you’re more likely to choose the right one for the job. Look at review sites and check with the BBB. Doing this makes it more likely that you choose wisely..
There are different sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is a good way to locate contractors that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Some air conditioners can ice up. There can be occasional freezes in their drain lines, and these are usually confused with plumbing leaks. If this happens, disable the compressor by switching the thermostat to run the fan only. Get a professional to deal with this, even if you see the ice start melting because you turned the compressor off.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of 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 home and the outside. You could even find that you can use your attic space if it is done right.
If you need recommendations for an HVAC contractor, check online. There are many sites that other customers can place their reviews. This will help you to sort out the good from the bad.
Do you need a new cooling and heating system? There are a number of things to consider. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they effectively heat or cool. You are better off purchasing a unit rather than a smaller one.
To help your heating and cooling system run efficiently, install a radiant barrier in your attic. It can help keep heat out during the hot summer months, which means you will lower your power bills. You might even be able to start living in your attic.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system more efficient. The less heat, the less time that the AC has to work.
Do you wish to buy a new cooling and heating system? You need to think about a few important things. These machines are categorized according to the space they are able to efficiently heat and cool. It’s always better to buy something just a little bit bigger, as opposed to trying something too small.
If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, immediately check for any type of obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris hitting fans in the cooling system. Check the fan and coil before you waste time contacting a contractor.
Check out your ductwork for leaks if your whole home isn’t being cooled or heated. A local utility company often performs free duct testing. If it isn’t free, then it is still cheaper than an HVAC specialist in most areas. When you have leaks repaired, the testing has paid for itself.
Make sure they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Your HVAC system will be more efficient if your doors and windows are efficient as well. Make sure the seal is impenetrable from outdoor drafts, and that none of the air you’re paying to heat or cool escapes either. Testing for energy efficiency may be free, if you are interested in hiring a professional to find out.
Pick HVAC companies that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on time. A knowledgeable technician should also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. After a quick diagnosis, it’s just a matter of time before they have it back and running properly.
When determining which size of air conditioner to buy, first measure the area which needs to be cooled. The calculation to determine the size of the unit is typically 20 BTU for every square foot of area. If you need to cool multiple rooms, make sure to add the square footage together.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. Make sure they are experienced with the kind of work that you need.
It is important to think about the direction air flows from your unit. If you have to place it in a corner of your home, be sure you’re getting a unit that has air flow coming from a direction that’s not facing the wall.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
Before you hire a contractor for your HVAC system, ask how much experience they have and with what types of systems. The best contractor for the job will have ample experience working with HVAC systems similar to the one you are using. Although there’s no guarantee that a worker with less experience won’t do the work correctly, it’s better to avoid any problems.
Some contractors attempt to add charges on later for things you ought not be paying for. Having a good written contract will help avoid issues like this.
In the winter, keep your condenser unit properly covered. This will help it to last longer. If the temperature outside is lower than sixty, do not use the compressor. Turn the fan on instead, to avoid putting undue stress on the system.
Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This helps the condenser operating longer when not in use. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the condenser unit.
Look into the references an HVAC contractor provides to you. You may be horrified by what you find. It only takes a couple minutes to call, so be sure and do it.
This will tell you how much BTU your new system will need to keep your home comfortable.
When you get an estimate from a contractor, ask for a heat-loss quote. This determines the number of BTUs needed to maintain comfort in your home. They should check the insulation, doors and windows and the space in your house.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This can save you a great deal on your heating and cooling bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
It’s amazing to find out that 66% of homes have leaky ducts! These leaky ducts can account for up to one fourth of your total utility costs. Getting your ducts sealed is not expensive and isn’t hard. You can probably do it on your own and it will help you to save on things each year.
You might be surprised that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that are leaky. These can lead to as much as twenty five percent of what you pay for utilities. It is easy and cheap to fix the ducts yourself, and you will see a noticeable change in the amount you pay for electricity.
The Energy Star label indicates specific criteria for HVACs designed to indicate high quality to consumers. When a product line carries the famous ENERGY STAR logo it has met the difficult standards and guidelines that the EPA has set forth. That means they’ll save you a ton on your utility bills.
This information should have helped you understand your HVAC better. This is something that you need to do your homework on though. Best of luck to you in all your HVAC endeavors.
Make sure you get a written estimate from your HVAC company. They have to be on paper. Any estimate for work on your HVAC system should include everything that is needed to complete the job. You can get good service this way. You can then compare the estimates for price, timely completion of the work and other variables. Don’t trust a company just because they have a low estimate, as they may be performing lower quality work.
