It is very frustrating to return home at the end of the day to discover your air conditioner or heating unit isn’t working right. The tips are great for helping you in this process.
What system do you have? You need this information to tell your contractor. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. This will help you give the new contractor the necessary information.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, try touring your home before calling a professional. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Don’t hire a contractor until you know a little about what you are facing. It’s hard for these contractors to give phone estimates without seeing the current system you have. Being unable to explain what has been already done will make it even harder. Thus, it is worthwhile to have this knowledge ahead of time.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils come spring. The power to the unit should be removed before you begin any maintenance, even cleaning. In addition, always remove all debris such as leaves from the outside condenser unit.
Grass Clippings
Clean the condenser on your debris regularly. You can never tell when things will pile up, especially following rain or wind storms. These can wreak havoc on your units. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Direct the grass clippings away from the equipment. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
When spring rolls around, give the condenser fan blades and coils a good clean. Turn the power off so nothing moves. Take the grill off and pull the blades out to clean them.
Your HVAC system could suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it is clogged, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
When you cut the grass, don’t cover the outdoor units with their clippings. Have the grass shoot in the opposite direction. If you’re blowing leaves, this same problem can occur, so make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it.
Sae 20 Oil
It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. The unit will operate more efficiently to cool your home if the intake air is cooler to begin with.
Lubricate your condenser once a year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Be sure you have the HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. The spring and autumn times are the best time to have it checked. Even if nothing seems wrong, checking it out can help you find and fix potential issues.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. If the temperature outside is less than 60ºF, be sure to turn off the unit so that you don’t damage it. This helps your system remain in good working order.
Be sure you have twice annual HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. This should be done in the fall and the spring.
Service your hearing and cooling systems once each year. When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, and they will oil all the moving parts. These simple things will keep your system running at peak performance.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when it’s getting cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can ensure your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
When you want a HVAC contractor who is reliable, you need to spend some time in researching the background and reputation of several potential companies. Inquiring with the Better Business Bureau is always a good idea, as is looking for online review sites where previous customers can post their experiences. These steps are going to help to ensure your decision is a wise one.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on air conditioning costs. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Some air conditioners can ice up. The drain line can freeze, making you think it’s a plumbing leak. If this is something you notice, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. It is best to call a professional in to fix this particular issue, even though the switch to fan setting should cause the ice to start melting.
Don’t ever let your home to overheat. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool your home down a home by 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit, it will only cool off to about 80F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Use online AC sizing calculators to figure out what size unit you need. Buying one that’s too large will not cool that well. Use the manual to determine what size is right for you.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home.Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
Each contractor establishes his own fees, so before you hire one, obtain a few estimates. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. To get the best picture and get an idea of what rates are reasonable, call five or six different contractors.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You will be likely to save some money this way. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what you should be paying.
If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. Often your utility company is willing to test this for you, and it may be free or lower in cost than you would get with a contractor. If a leak is found, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
Are you thinking about buying a cooling and heating system that’s new? You will need to take a few things first. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively cool and heat. You are wise to err on the side of a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a smaller one.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, immediately start looking for any obstructions. This may be because debris is restricting the movement of the fan blades. Simply clear away the debris or remove any foreign objects and your problem is solved. Have a look at the fan prior to putting in a call for service.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your existing system is not up to snuff. When you get leaks repaired, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
The HVAC system is only one piece in an efficient home. You must also consider the quality of your windows and doors. Make sure they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. Call a professional to come over to check how good you home is sealed up.
Hvac System
Hire an HVAC contractor that is efficient and quick. A reliable company will ensure their technicians keep appointments and stay on their schedule. An experienced person will quickly know what is going on with your unit. After they see what the problem is, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.
Make sure that your HVAC system runs smooth by sticking to the tips in the above article. Arriving home to find a broken HVAC system does not feel good. Having to deal with repair costs makes things harder. Prevention is possible through using these tips. Use these tips when you are dealing with your HVAC system.
Think about which way the air flows when installing a air conditioner. If you have to put the unit in a corner, use one that doesn’t blow into the wall.
