Follow these helpful tips to put yourself in the best position.
Make a circuit around your home before calling for help with your HVAC. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This makes sure the contractor has the information they will be sufficiently prepared.
Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. When you see nearby trees shedding their leaves, clean the fan grill on your unit constantly. A blocked unit can quickly become a broken unit.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
To boost the efficiency of your HVAC system, you should put your unit in a shady place. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to give you with an estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
During cold weather , be sure to turn off outdoor condenser units. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees. This can keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
If at all possible, install double-paned windows in your home instead of those with a single pane. You can reduce your energy costs from energy leaking out through your windows by installing window that are double-paned. When it is cold in the winter months, these same windows will keep the warm air inside as well.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Service your HVAC unit at least one time a year. An HVAC specialist will inspect the entire system, including the oil, the motor, and the ducts. Those things are going to help your system at peak performance.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when trees lose their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it gets blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Make sure that your AC is turned off when you are not using it. This will save you money on your energy bills. Obviously, if you leave your air conditioning set at a low temperature all day long even if you’re not home, you’ll be paying to maintain that low temperature.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when the weather turns cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This will help keep your system working for many years.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Air conditioners only cool down a home by 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. Taking into consideration the humidity level, this may not even be adequate for the human body to recover from excessive heat while sleeping.
During the service check, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These few simple things will boost the performance of your system to run at its peak performance.
Did you know an AC unit can freeze? In addition, the drain line sometimes freezes, and people often think that there is a plumbing leak. Use the fan-only setting to allow the system time to thaw. The fan setting can help melt some of the ice, but you should still call a professional to check your unit out.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with different references to determine the BBB and online reviews as well. These steps can help make the smartest and most informed choice.
When you’re purchasing an HVAC system, make sure that you get a unit that is properly sized for your space. If you purchase a unit that’s too large, it will not be efficient since it’ll cool the same. Always look through the manual as well.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this, disable the compressor by switching the thermostat to run the fan only. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Check out how long the HVAV contractor you are considering has been in business. Someone that has been in the business for a while probably isn’t going to scam you. If you hire someone that’s new that this then you’ll be risking your money.
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 this information.
Use online reviews to help you find a source for HVAC maintenance. There are different sites that let customers share experiences of different services. This will tell you who is great and who isn’t.
Ask friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. This is also a great way to get names of companies to stay away from.
Put a radiant barrier in your attic and what your HVAC performance improve. This device helps block the heat from the outside, which reduces your dependency on your HVAC system, as well as your bill. You may suddenly find that the attic even looks like a great option for another bedroom!
There are quite a few sites these days that allow customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This will make it easier for you find a top notch professional.
If you current HVAC doesn’t work that well, try testing ducts for leaks. The local utility company may be able to do this for you at a cost lower than what a contractor would charge you. If you do end up paying, you’ll find that fixed leaks are worth the money.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for many quotes. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
You should know the facing direction of your home for the most effective placement of the HVAC system. Strategically placing trees around your home can block some of the heat coming from the sun, preventing your home from overheating. If there is less heat coming into your home, then your air conditioning unit won’t have to work as hard.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even find that you can use your attic space more effectively.
If you HVAC unit is clicking, immediately check for any type of obstruction. There may be particles of debris that are touching the fans. You can solve the issue by removing debris. Check it out yourself first before you call in the professionals.
Are you thinking about having a new heating/cooling system? There are a number of things to consider. Systems get rated according to how large an area they can effectively heat or cool. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a smaller one.
Having windows and doors in place is essential to make sure your HVAC system runs well. Be sure that they seal tightly so that no interior air seeps out or exterior air gets inside. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. If you do have leaks that are repaired, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
Measure the area that requires air conditioning. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of the room. Just measure your rooms and tally up the total square footage.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You can figure out the unit you need 20 BTU per square foot of room space. If you are cooling more than one room, get their square footage added together.
Always request references when you are considering a HVAC contractor. Did the homeowner get what they expected? Was it done on budget and on time? You can find out whether the company and their employees are honest and good workers this way.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This will maximize the production of your unit run properly.
Be sure to get a written agreement from your HVAC repair person. You might find that some contractors try to add hidden charges for odd items, such as materials and fuel. Having a written contract will let you avoid these types of issues.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have done the type of experience needed to work you require.
See about getting a programmable thermostat on your HVAC unit. This device can save you a great deal of money on your heating and cooling bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your lifestyle.
Always get some references from a contractor.
Look for a unit that has the Energy Star emblem. These units are energy efficient and meet the strict guidelines set for efficiency. These are put in place by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency. Using units that meet these tough standards will save plenty of money on energy expenses over the years.
In order to be comfortable in your home, you need to have a great HVAC system. Without proper maintenance, you will not feel comfortable in your home. Use this information to keep your system running well all year long.
About two-thirds of homes have ducts that leak. These can lead to as much as a quarter of your utility costs. Sealing the ducts is something you can do easily and cheaply, and it can significantly decrease your electrical bill yearly thereafter.
