The only way your home is heated and cooled is important. That is why it is important to keep your HVAC has to be in tip top shape. If you don’t care for your HVAC, you should expect terrible living conditions and expensive repairs. Here are some tips to get you keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Clean your outdoor condensers often. Things tend to pile up around these units, especially after storms come through, which could cause problems to your system. It could get too hot, leading to even more problems.
Know what type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This will help you give your chosen contractor any information they might need.
Cover your unit when you are mowing the lawn. Make sure you shoot the clippings in the other direction from the unit. This includes grass clippings and leaves.
Turn it off 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.
HVAC units may suffer when leaves are falling off the trees. When you notice your trees shedding, frequently clean your unit’s fan grill. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, it could cause your system to break down.
Grass Clippings
If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. They generally have a rubber or metal cap on them. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don’t overfill it.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim your grass clippings in the other direction. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
If you are choosing where to place your outdoor compressor device, try to put it in a place where there is plenty of shade. When your unit takes in cool air, it takes less energy to tool the air, thus boosting efficiency.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm air in heat when it gets cold.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. Having double pane windows allows your air conditioning unit to be run much less during the summer, because the cool air is kept inside the home. Conversely, they keep warm air in during the winter.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on your air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Install a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. Turning down the thermostat around 10 percent for 8 hours per day can give you a 10 percent savings using the programmable thermostat. Furthermore, there are a few programmable thermostats that you can control from your computer or any other web-connected device.
Never let your home reach a dangerously hot inside. An air conditioning unit will reduce the temperature by twenty degrees in a short time span. If your house’s interior temperature hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Make sure to have your unit serviced once a year. An HVAC specialist will inspect the entire system, including the oil, the motor, and the ducts. This maintenance means that your system will operate optimally.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and look for reviews as well. Doing this can help you make a smart decision.
Always take the time to check out the reputation of any HVAC contractor before you consider hiring them. It is always wise to check their status with the BBB. In addition, check out customer reviews that appear online. This will help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
You can get ice in your air conditioner. This can also happen on the drain line. Try switching to fan-mode and disabling your compressor to test whether the water is a leak or melting ice. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
It can be confusing to figure out what the correct HVAC system size is for your home, but you can solve this with the help of a sizing calculator. If you make the mistake of purchasing a unit that is too large, it will not cool efficiently. Check the manual to see what the manufacturer rates the unit to cool for accurate information.
Ask around so you are looking for a HVAC contractor. People will tell you who they have used and if they are usually more than willing to share this information. This can also provide you should avoid.
Talk to others that you have in your life to see if they can recommend an HVAC contractor to you. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. You can also get company names that you should stay away from.
There are many sites that allow customers to share 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.
You can always search the Internet when you aren’t entirely sure who you should call for proper HVAC repair or maintenance. Many online sites permit customers to let others know about their experiences with various services and contractors. This will be an excellent way to locate people you should work with and people that may not work well with you.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save a great deal of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Are you thinking about buying a new HVAC system? You may want to consider the following. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool or heat an area well. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than a smaller one.
Are you looking at purchasing a HVAC system installed? You need to know some things into account. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool and heat an area well. You are better off purchasing a unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
You can usually have free duct testing performed if you are concerned about your HVAC system not running properly. The local utility may be able to test for you, and their services are frequently free or low cost. When these leaks are fixed, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently.When these leaks are fixed, you may see that the testing pays for itself.
Having windows and doors in place is essential to make sure your HVAC system runs well. Make sure they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. Ask a contractor to test them for you.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. The less heat, the less work your AC will have to do.
Be sure to replace your HVAC air filters every month. It is the easiest and cheapest way you can take care of it. It only costs a couple of bucks to replace the filter.
Square Footage
Pick HVAC companies that know what they’re doing and can work quickly. A reliable company will arrive on time and have the job finished in a jiffy. Techs must be knowledgeable about diagnosing and repairing your system quickly. Once, they find the problem, they will fix it fast.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. If you have multiple rooms to cool, make sure to add the square footage together.
Ask any contractor you’re thinking of hiring for references. You want to be able to ask if what was expected is what the homeowner got, such as being on time and on budget. Also, it will prevent you from getting robbed.
If all you have is a corner spot, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.
Always be very clear about what will be included in your estimate of cost on any HVAC work you have someone do. The contractors can overcharge later for items like material and fee costs and charges. This is why getting estimates in writing is so important.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have the sort of experience needed to work on your particular system.
During the winter months, you will want to cover your condenser unit to protect it. This extends the lifespan of your condenser. Never operate your unit when the temperatures are lower than 60 degrees. You should use the fan instead since this will stop your unit from getting strained.
There are contractors that will overcharge you. Having a solid written contract will let you avoid any issues like this.
Any HVAC contractor references given to you need checking out. Too many people take for granted that reference are indeed legitimate, when in fact they may not be. It only takes a couple minutes to call to check a person out by calling, so don’t worry about doing that.
Now you should be able to see what must be done to keep your HVAC system in working order. Don’t allow things to go bad because you don’t pay attention to doing maintenance. Apply the above advice to keep it in good shape, avoiding unpleasant surprises.
When a quote is given, make sure to ask for a heat-loss calculation in addition to the price. That will indicate the BTU requirements of your new system. They need to consider all doors and windows, insulation and room sizes.
