It can be difficult for many homeowners to understand where to turn when their heating or cooling system begins to fail. To keep yourself from having a problem with this, it pays to spend some time getting familiar with the topic. This article was put together to help homeowners get the help they need for their HVAC unit.
Check the whole house before you call for help. Determine which rooms are hotter or colder than they should be. That way, the contractor will have an easier time diagnosing the problem and repairing it fast.
Know what type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This makes sure the contractor has the information they will need.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor, have some sort of idea of the work that needs to be done. You might not be able to get a price quote unless you let the contractor see your current system first. It will be more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available. Understand this information beforehand.
If you struggle with your HVAC, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Before you clean the surface, be sure to turn off the power. Take away all of the debris as well.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to give you with an estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Clean the debris on your condenser units. Particularly after bad weather, you should inspect your unit. Overheating may be the result if you don’t.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit regularly.
Every spring you need to make sure your condenser fan’s coils and blades on the fan part are clean. Don’t forget to disconnect the power first. Next, pop the grill off, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
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.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction away from your unit. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Grass Clippings
If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. The port usually has either a rubber or metal cap on top of it. Put 10 drops of lightweight, non-detergent SAE oil in each port. Be careful not to use too much.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Direct the grass clippings away from the HVAC unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. 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.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, then your system could suffer.
When the weather cools down, turn your outdoor condenser off. Once the temperature drops into the 50s, the unit should no longer be on. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once each year. You will see rubber or metal cap covering them.Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
If you can, use double-paned windows instead of single-paned ones. They help cool air remain inside your home, effectively cutting back on how much you have to run your air conditioner. This same effect also keeps warm air in during the winter months.
Have the HVAC serviced twice per year. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
One great way to save some cash when you’re working on keeping a home cool is to install a thermostat that’s programmable. 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. You can often control it from your mobile phone!
Turn off your outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This simple tip will help keep it in good condition for many years to come.
In order to keep energy costs down, make sure heating and cooling systems are services at least once per year. The contractor should oil the parts that move and check the motor and freon levels. This will keep you energy efficient and comfortable.
During the visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These simple things will help keep your system running smoothly.
Never let your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
Don’t let your home temperature get way too hot to where it’s dangerous. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool your home down a home by 20 degrees. If your home become 100F or more, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Make certain the HVAC company you choose has a proven track record. Firms that have been in business for a long time are easier to assess. Hiring a new contractor means taking a bigger risk.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for this information.
If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. Often, utility companies will test them free of charge. This testing can have large financial benefits.
Ask friends and relations for contractor recommendations. People who have had a good experience are often happy to share this information. This can also provide you to figure out some names of businesses that you should avoid hiring.
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. A reliable company will arrive on time and have the job finished in a jiffy. A licensed technician should also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. Once the problem is identified, fixing it should be quick and easy.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not up to snuff. Once leaks have been fixed, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
When hiring a contractor, choose one that offers 24-hour emergency hours. Particularly if you have a family, you may need service at odd hours or on weekends.
Determine which way your home faces.The less heat in your home, the less time that the AC has to work.
Be sure you know what goes into what you’re about to pay for the HVAC work if you’re paying a contractor. There are contractors out there that will make you pay for extra things like charges for fuel or materials. Having a signed contract can help to avoid issues like that.
If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, see if there are any obstructions right away. The problem may be debris hitting the fans of the cooling system.Take a look for yourself before calling a technician out.
Be sure to investigate the references you are given by any HVAC professional. Just because the reference was offered by a specialist doesn’t mean that they are real. It only takes a few minutes out of your busy schedule to check a contractor out, so don’t risk it.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in. You can also hire someone to test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
When a contractor comes in to give you a quote, be sure they complete a heat-loss calculation. This calculation will ascertain what the correct BTU is for the system you need for your home or business. From knowing how many doors and windows there are to how much insulation there is, it’s a must.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You generally need about 20 BTU for each square foot of the room. If you have multiple rooms to cool, make sure to add the square footage together.
If you are installing a new HVAC system or even repairing your current set-up, ask your contractor about also installing a programmable thermostat. This thermostat is great because it lets you regulate the temperature in your home all throughout the day and night, which in the end results in lower energy bills.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the simplest thing that you can do to keep your unit running well.
Make certain that a new HVAC has the Energy Star on it. These energy devices are guaranteed to meet very strict efficiency guidelines. The EPA regulates the guidelines for the star. Choosing to invest in such a unit can help you save on your energy bills in the long-term. Investing in a search for the most energy efficient unit will pay off in considerable long-term savings on utility bills.
Always make sure to get references from a HVAC contractor.
Do you know that 66 percent of homes have ducts that are leaky? These can add up to a quarter of the utility costs you have. It is simple and inexpensive to seal your ducts. It is even something you can do yourself. Taking this step can make a big difference in your electric bills.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have an emergency number available to customers around the clock.They need to be able to come to a home when needed, in any weather.
Be sure that your HVAC system’s manual is easy to find. The manual offers quite a few suggestions to use for your specific unit, and it may become necessary to look it over if you notice a serious problem. If you lost your manual, you can request it on the manufacturer’s website.
You might be surprised that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that are leaky. This can result in as much as one fourth of your total utility expense! 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.
It is important that you are provided that before any work is performed, the HVAC company provides you with a written estimate. You need these estimates written. Many tasks call for written cost projections. Without them, you may not know you are getting a fair deal. Compare various facets of potential work, not just price, but also things like how long it will take to get the job done. Don’t place your trust in a company that gives an estimate that’s too low as the work may also be poor.
Look for HVAC contractors that use Energy Star products and equipment. This will ensure that the product is more efficient than those without it.This means that in the end you can save cash on the bills when it comes to your cooling and heating costs.
Be sure to ask for written HVAC company. It is important that it is in writing. There are many jobs that require you to get multiple estimates for to see what they take. This helps ensure you get the best service. Compare various elements of the estimates you are offered.
There is absolutely no question, that poor HVAC performance during the hot seasons or frigid winter months can pose a serious threat to a homeowners finances and comfort. However, had you known what you know now, you could have likely avoided the problem all together. These tips can help homeowners make HVAC decisions that are smart.
