The comfort of a home has a lot to do with whether or not it is being heated and cooled properly. That means your HVAC system healthy. If you aren’t taking care of your system, it can lead to expensive repairs and an uncomfortable way of living. Here are some tips to help you started.
Know what type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. Learn the brand and the model. Then, you’ll be ready to tell the contractor what they need to know.
Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. Find out which rooms are hot and which are cold. Figuring this out will the contractor to diagnose the issues and quickly get to work on fixing it.
Clean your fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean off any leaves or debris from your external condenser unit regularly.
Put your outdoor unit in places with shade. As your air conditioner sucks in cool air, little will have to be done to cool it any further, saving you a ton on your energy bills.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather gets cold. If it’s lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. Your system will work longer for you this way.
Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. You can easily find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
If you can, use double-paned windows instead of single-paned ones. Double-pane windows keep inside air cooler, allowing you to reduce AC usage in the summertime. This will help you save a lot of money.
Have the HVAC serviced at least yearly. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
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. Some newer programmable thermostats have computerized controls you can access from your personal computer, laptop or mobile media device.
When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, the motor will be inspected, and they will oil all the moving parts. These few simple things are going to allow your system to run at its best.
Service your HVAC yearly. When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, oil the parts that move, and see how much freon is in your system. This will keep you energy efficient and comfortable.
Don’t ever let your house get dangerously high. Air conditioners can only cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Sometimes air conditioners get iced up. This can also happen on the drain line. Use the fan-only setting to allow the system time to thaw. If this doesn’t work, call a professional.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home.Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. If you get a unit that is too large, it will cost a lot in energy costs. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. It is always risky to hire a long history.
Check any company you are considering to see how long it has been around. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money. New companies are just too risky.
Ask friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who’ve had done in the past are usually willing to tell of it. This can also help you to figure out some names of businesses that you should avoid hiring.
Ask your friends, relatives, and coworkers about their experiences with HVAC contractors in your area. People will tell you who they have used and if they are worth calling. This will also help you avoid bad companies.
There are now different online sites now that let customers talk about their service experiences. This will be an excellent way to locate people you who is great and who isn’t.
The Internet can really help you out when it comes to finding someone to work on your HVAC unit. Many online review sites provide an avenue for this information. This is an awesome way to find contractors to work with.
Are you thinking about having a cooling and heating system that’s new? There are many things you must consider first. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they can effectively cool and heat. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
A radiant barrier improves the efficiency of your HVAC. This mechanism will prevent outside heat from coming in, reducing your energy consumption when cooling. If done correctly, this also enables you to start using your attic as a living space.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. The less heat, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Are you considering purchasing a new heating and cooling system? There are some things you need to keep in mind. Those systems get rated by the area amount they are able to cool and heat effectively. It is probably wiser to purchase a system that is slightly larger than what you think you need rather than one that is smaller.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air inside. You can hire someone to test them.
If you would like your HVAC unit to be more efficient, simply look at where the front of your home faces. Trees in certain areas can provide shade, which means your house will stay cooler. When you do what you can to less how much heat comes into your home, your AC unit can work less, which will save money.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioning. You will need 20 BTU for each square foot of the room. If more than one room needs AC service, just add their total square footage.
Look for leaves or other debris if you notice a thumping sound in your unit. There may be particles of debris that are touching the fans. All you have to do is get this debris out of there to fix the problem. Look carefully at it before you call up a service technician.
Pick out an HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians stay on schedule and keep appointments. The technicians need to also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC unit quickly. After a quick diagnosis, they should then know how to deal with the problem.
To gain maximum HVAC efficiency, you need efficient windows and doors too. Make sure the seal is impenetrable from outdoor drafts, and that none of the air you’re paying to heat or cool escapes either. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
If you have to place it in a corner of your home, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.
Choose an HVAC contractor who know what he is doing and works quickly. Reliable companies insist that their technicians are prompt. The technicians should also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC in no time. Once the technician figures out what’s wrong, they can help resolve the problems in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Always get some references from a contractor.
Avoid using any contractor for HVAC repairs or installation, unless they provide you with a 24-hour number for emergency situations. Particularly if you have a family, you may need service at odd hours or on weekends.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have an emergency hotline. They should be able to get to your home whenever you need them there, whether during a heatwave or a terrible snowstorm.
Protect your condenser unit from winter weather by placing a cover around it. It prolongs the lifespan. In addition, you should never run the compressor when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees. Use the fan.
Some contractors attempt to add charges on material fees and fuel charges. Having a solid written contract can help you avoid any issues like this.
When your install or repair an HVAC system, find out about installing a thermostat that you can program. You will save money because you can let the system take a break when you are sleeping at night.
This will tell you how many BTUs your system requires to keep the environment of your home comfortable.
Choose a contractor that prefers Energy Star products. Anything carrying the Energy Star logo has met guidelines for efficiency as established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Energy Star label is one way for consumers to be certain that their HVAC system and those who work on it comply with standards outlined by the EPA.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This lowers your system some downtime while you are warm in your bed.
The condenser unit needs to be properly taken care of in cold weather. Use a thick cover. Don’t use the cover until the temperature is below 60 degrees.
You may be surprised to discover that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that leak. These can cost you as much as twenty five percent to your heating and cooling costs. Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, you can even do it yourself, saving you money on your utility bills every year from then on.
Make sure the owner’ manual is handy when you use the unit. The manual contains a lot of the information you need and may be helpful should a serious issue arise. If you lost your manual, you can request it on the manufacturer’s website.
The condenser unit needs protection in cold weather. Try placing a cover on it that will help it to stay warm.
Make certain that your HVAC company gives you written estimates before any work is done. They have to be on paper. There are many jobs that require you to get multiple estimates of the cost. An estimate will ensure that you get what you want. Compare all of the deals that you are offered. Don’t trust a company that gives you a lower estimate.
Keep the owner’s manual for your unit nearby at all times whenever you are working on any kind of unit. The manual will be very useful.
Now you’re better educated when it comes to maintaining your home’s HVAC system. Do not let neglect cause major issues. Apply these tips so that you can keep it functioning properly.
