Anyone who has an HVAC unit in their house knows the importance of properly maintaining it. An HVAC system wastes a bit of money. This article has tips to help you keep your HVAC unit in tip top shape.
Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Know the model and brand and find it’s maintenance history, if possible. In this way, you can be sure your repair person has all vital information.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean the coils and blades in your condenser at the beginning of summer. Before you clean the unit, be sure to turn off the power. In addition, be sure to get rid of any leaves or other debris that may have accumulated on the outside condenser.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Clean the debris from outside units often. The dirt could pile up and harm your system. It can get overheated, which will cause problems with the whole system.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass in a direction from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. For safety, always turn the power off first. Secondly, pop the grill off, take the blades off and clean them as well as the actual unit.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once a year.You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
When you mow your lawn, take care that you don’t get grass clippings all over your outdoor unit. Try shooting the clippings away from it. The same thing should go on when you blow leaves, so take your time when you’re working around HVAC units that are around when you’re blowing debris around.
Make sure you have your HVAC systems is checked at least twice a year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
HVAC units may suffer when leaves are falling off the trees. Whenever leaves are falling, consistently clean the fan grill. The fan needs to have an unobstructed path for air to enter the unit, and if it becomes blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
A programmable thermostat can help you out when it comes to your power bills. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
When it gets cold outside, it is necessary to turn off outdoor condenser units. If the temperature drops to under 60 degrees, you risk damage to the unit if you leave it on. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
When they come out for a service visit, the motor will be inspected, and they will oil all the moving parts. These repairs will keep your system.
Getting a programmable thermostats can be a terrific way to realize savings. It changes the temperature so the system isn’t in use when it’s cooler outside or no one is home. In addition, some models make things really easy on you, allowing you to adjust them from the computer.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look at the manual or on the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
To help keep your energy costs down, have your heating and cooling system serviced at least once a year. During the service check, the system motor will be inspected, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These things will boost the performance of your system.
There are many sites these days that allow customers talk about their service experiences. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with and those that you don’t want to work with.
Go to people that you know and ask for recommendations when it is time for you to hire an HVAC contractor. People will tell you who they have used and if they are worth calling. You will also find out who NOT to use!
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even find that you can use your attic space if it is done right.
Check reviews online to find professional help. There are different sites that let customers share experiences of different services. You will be able to make a more informed choice if you do this.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently. When these leaks are fixed, the tests will pay for themselves.
It is always a wise move to obtain a few quotes from different contractors because prices can vary. Save yourself some money by calling around before you make your final decision. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
If you HVAC unit is making a clicking sound, look for an obstruction. Often the issue is some sort of debris hitting the fans in your cooling system. Check this out before spending on a professional.
Do you want to buy a new cooling and heating system? There are things you must consider first. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool and heat an area. It is probably wiser to purchase a system that is slightly larger than what you think you need rather than one that is smaller.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioning. You will need 20 BTU per square foot of room space. If more than one room needs AC service, sum their areas.
Determine which way your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. Consider where to place trees to reduce the morning sunlight on your home. The less heat, the easier time the air conditioner in your home will have.
Pick HVAC business that know what they’re doing and can work quickly. The best companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule and keep appointments. A knowledgeable technician should also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. After they figure out what is causing the problem, it’s just a matter of time before they have it back and running properly.
You can’t know what sized air conditioner to purchase unless you measure the area you need cooled. This calculation will tell you how many BTU’s you need. When you are cooling more than one room, you must add together all of the square footage.
If you can only put it into a corner, be sure you’re getting a unit that has air flow coming from a direction that’s not facing the wall.
Choose an HVAC contractor who know what he is doing and works quickly. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule and keep appointments. These techs should be able to figure out what is up with an HVAC rather quickly. Once the problem is identified, fixing it should be quick and easy.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. Make sure they are experienced doing the kind of work that is needed.
Find out how much experience a given contractor has before you hire him or her. It is best to match the job you have to a company with that kind of experience. Less experienced workers could work out just fine, but you really shouldn’t take any chances.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency hotline. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, be it in the middle of a heatwave or in the worst snowstorm of the year.
Make sure to get references when hiring your contractor. You want to make sure that the contractor has satisfied previous customers. You can find out whether the company and their employees are honest and good workers this way.
Some contractors will attempt to overcharge you after the work is complete for things such as material fees and fuel charges. Having a solid written contract can help you avoid any issues like this.
Be certain you know what to expect when you hire contractors to do a certain job. Some contractors attempt to add charges on later for things such as material fees and fuel charges. A contract will really help you if something like this materializes.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This can save you a great deal on your bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
When it’s winter time, get your condenser unit covered so it can be safe. Doing this extends the life of your condenser when it is not in use. In addition, you should never run the compressor when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees. Do this by simply turn on the fan so that you don’t cause the unit unnecessary strain.
These energy devices are guaranteed to meet strict guidelines for efficiency. The standards are evaluated by the United States. They are called the environment and human health. Taking time to fully research various units may help you save a significant amount of money.
When a quote is given, make sure to ask for a heat-loss calculation in addition to the price. You need it to know how many BTUs are necessary. They need to consider all doors and windows, insulation and room sizes.
You might be surprised to discover that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that leak. These can represent one fourth of the utility costs. Sealing up your ducts is cheap and easy, you can even do it yourself, saving you money on your utility bills every year from then on.
Take advantage of the opportunity to add a programmable thermostat when you are putting in new heating and air-conditioning or repairing your old system. 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.
Find an HVAC professional who uses Energy Star equipment. This rating means that is required by the product is more efficient than those without it. This means that they can help you save money on your expenses throughout the year.
Purchase an Energy Star HVAC unit. These are qualified energy products that meet strict efficiency guidelines. The standards are set forth by the EPA. The EPA is who governs Energy Star guidelines. The time spent researching these units could yield long-term energy savings.
Keep your HVAC system running efficiently by cleaning the heating ducts. Look often at the ducts regularly so you can make sure there is nothing wrong with them. Ducts that are damaged can increase your heating because you have to pay more to keep the area warm.
Inspect and clean your heating ducts on a routine basis so the air you receive is fresh and clean. Make sure to look at the ducts often and fix anything that you see wrong. A broken duct will allow the warm air to escape, causing your power bill to rise.
The condenser unit needs protection in cold weather. Try putting a cover on top of it.
As the temperatures plummet, you should protect your HVAC’s condenser unit. Buy a cover to keep it safe. Don’t use this unit if you’re working in temperatures below around 60 degrees because your system won’t work that well below temperatures like this.
Keep the owner’s manual for your unit nearby at all times whenever you are working on any kind of unit. The manual will help you out if you’re dealing with problems.
Hopefully, you now feel a little more confident in your HVAC knowledge. Regular maintenance will make sure your operating costs are lower in the long term. Keep these tips in mind as you strive to keep your HVAC unit in the best shape possible.
