The comfort of a home has a lot to do with whether or not it is being heated and cooled is important.That means your HVAC system healthy. If you do not properly care for it, then your repair costs can mount while your living conditions deteriorate. Here are some tips to get you out.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, check out your home before calling a contractor. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. Give this information to your contractor when they arrive.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This information will facilitate the process when your contractor asks for this information.
What do you need done? Know this before calling a contractor. It is going to be hard to get a price estimate on the phone if the current system isn’t something they’ve seen. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. Learn this information to start with.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best.Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
Each spring, try cleaning the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan. Before you get started, cut the power. Then, remove the grill, then remove the blades and begin the cleaning process of the blades and the unit.
Turn it off so nothing moves.Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
When the trees are losing their leaves, your HVAC unit can suffer. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. The air needs to be unobstructed into the fan, and any blockages create performance issues for the whole system.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when your trees lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if debris is blocking this air flow, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
You must keep your HVAC systems oil ports lubricated annually. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Buy an SAE 20 product that is lightweight, and then put no more than ten drops into the ports.
Put outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
If possible, put your HVAC in a shaded area if it is outside. This will help ensure that the AC is pulling in cooler air, reducing the amount of work it has to do and saving you money.
Have your HVAC system checked twice a year at the least. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. You can reduce your energy costs from energy leaking out through your windows by installing window that are double-paned. Likewise, heat is better retained during the winter.
Don’t ever let your home temperature get dangerously hot. Air conditioners can only cool a home by just twenty degrees in a reasonable amount of time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it will only cool off to about 80F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Turn your AC off if no one is at home. This will save you money on your energy bills. When the AC is left running, your power bill will go up quite a bit.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this happens, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
To choose a reliable HVAC contractor, the best thing to do is to do your homework on a number of possible firms and check out their reputations. You may also want to check with the BBB for information. In this way, you can be more sure of getting a good HVAC company.
There are a lot of sites now that other customers to share their service experiences. This is useful for finding people that you want to hire and those that you don’t.
It is possible for air conditioners to ice over. In addition, the drain line sometimes freezes, and people often think that there is a plumbing leak. 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.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save quite a lot of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You may want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors to determine what you should be paying.
You should always review the experience and history of an HVAC specialist before hiring them. Companies that are established have been proven, and you can use their track record to to determine if they provide good service. Working with someone that does not yet have a reputation in the business is a bit riskier.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home and the outside. You could even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
An online search will give you further information about any contractor you are considering. There are a number of great sites out there that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Are you going to buy a HVAC system? There are things you need to keep in mind. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool and heat an area. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a smaller one.
A radiant barrier is something that you may want to consider. It blocks the heat from inside out, reducing the energy that’s needed for your home to get cooled during the summer. If it is done correctly, it is even possible to convert the attic as a living space.
If your HVAC system is clicking, look for an obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Check it out yourself first before spending on a contractor.
Do you wish to buy a new cooling and heating system? There are things you must consider first. First, the rating a system has indicates how much area they can warm up or cool down. It may be wise to get a unit that is a bit larger than needed. Just don’t get one that is smaller than you need.
Make sure they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can get these tested at little to no charge by a professional to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Test your duct work for leaks. 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. This testing can have large financial benefits.
Pick out an HVAC business that understands the unit and knows what to do. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians will always be on schedule. A knowledgeable technician will also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. After they figure out what is causing the problem, they resolve issues swiftly.
Which way does your home face? Consider where to place trees to reduce the morning sunlight on your home. You will reduce the need for AC when your home is naturally cooler.
If it must be in a corner, use one that doesn’t blow into the wall.
The windows and doors in your home must be efficient in order for your HVAC to perform as efficiently as possible. Make sure they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. It is wise to hire someone to test them out, and this often costs nothing.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to know that they have the sort of work on your particular system.
Speed should be a concern when you are looking for an HVAC specialist. They should be able to get in and get the job done quickly. The best HVAC companies do their best to maintain their appointments and get to their customers quickly. They should quickly know what’s wrong with your system as well. After they see what the problem is, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.
Now you know how to maintain the HVAC in your home. Do not avoid the regular servicing your unit requires. These tips will help you keep your unit maintained and should help you if you ever need it replaced as well.
Check in on the references for your contractor. Find out if the contractor stayed within budget and performed the task in the allotted time they said. This will reduce your chances of hiring a scam artist.
