Anyone that has an HVAC system in their home knows how it important it is to have it running right. A HVAC system can end up costing the homeowner a ton of money. This article can help you keep your HVAC in optimal condition.
If you are having issues with your HVAC, do a tour of your house before you call in help. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is.
Before contacting a repair service, walk around the home and check out the temps in every room.This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
If you have outside condenser units, make sure to regularly clean the debris that builds up. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Clean your fan blades and coils when the weather begins to warm. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outside unit. Now so the grass clippings are shot away from your unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Your HVAC system could suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. When the leaves fall from nearby trees, clean the grill of your fan often. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim your grass in a direction away from the unit. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
If you have oil ports as part of the fan condenser, annual lubrication is key. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight oil and do not overfill them.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned frequently when the fall. The fan needs to have an unobstructed path for air to enter the unit, and if debris is blocking this air flow, it could cause your system to break down.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather gets cold. The unit will become damaged if you do not take care of it. This helps your system remain in good working order.
10 Drops
Update the windows in your home to double-paned if you own it. 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, this also works to keep warm air in during colder months.
Lubricate your condenser if it has oil ports. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Do not allow your house to get extremely hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. This means that if the weather is above 100 degrees, then you’ll still be baking in 80 degree weather at first! Taking into consideration the humidity level, this may not even be adequate for the human body to recover from excessive heat while sleeping.
Be sure you have the HVAC system checks. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, there are calculators on the Internet that can help you figure out the right size. If you get something that’s too big, it won’t work as well for you in the end. Read over the owner’s manual to see the manufacturers suggestions as to the cooling capacity of the unit for the most accurate information.
Install a programmable thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Prior to hiring any HVAC contractor, you should ask how long their business has operated. Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that haven’t been. It is riskier to hire someone who does not have a long history.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this happens, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Check around and get a number of quotes prior to hiring a contractor. If you call around before making a final decision, it can save you a lot of money in the end. Ideally, five or six contractors should be called so you can get a good ball park figure of a reasonable rate.
There are a lot of sites now that other customers to share their service experiences. This is a good way to locate contractors that you wish to work and ones that are poor.
Your HVAC system can run more efficiently if your attic has a radiant barrier. This mechanism will prevent outside heat from coming in, reducing your energy consumption when cooling. You may even find that you can use the attic space more effectively.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. You could even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Are you thinking about having a new HVAC system installed? You should first think about several things. 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 thinking about having a new HVAC system that’s new? You need to take a few things into account. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively cool and heat. You are better off purchasing a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a smaller one.
Know which direction the house faces so that your HVAC system operates more efficiently. When you determine the parts of your home that get the most sunlight, you can consider strategic landscaping that includes shade trees to somewhat reduce your home’s exposure to heat from direct sunlight. The less your home is heated, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Hvac System
Inspect your HVAC unit quickly for blockage if you become away of any clicking sound. Many times it could be debris hitting the cooling system fans. Remove the debris and you have solved the problem. Look carefully at it before you call up a service technician.
The suggestions above should help you develop a strategy for keeping your HVAC system in good working order. You really do not want your HVAC system to be faulty since you could end up with excessive expense due to repairs and maintenance. Check these tips again to make sure your HVAC lasts a long time.
Your doors and windows need to be as efficient as the HVAC system you use. They should have tight seals so outside air cannot get in and inside air can not get out. You can get these tested at little to no charge by a professional.
