The heating and cooling systems of your home is very important. This means that it is of utmost importance your HVAC system needs to be in top shape.If you don’t properly care for your unit, you will be costing yourself a lot of money. Here are some tips to help you started.
Before you start calling to find someone to fix your unit, make sure you know the type of system that is installed. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
Know the name and type of system before looking for a repair person. This will help make sure that the contractor the necessary information.
By the end of spring, the fan blades and coils of your condenser should be thoroughly cleaned, so operation can proceed with greater efficiency. The power to the unit should be removed before you begin any maintenance, even cleaning. Clean off any leaves or debris from your external condenser unit.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This information will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Each spring it’s time to clean the inside of your condenser unit, including the fan and the sensitive coil. Turn it off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then you need to get the grill popped off and get the blades out so you can clean them and your unit gently.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
A big mistake that people make is cutting the grass next to the outdoor condenser unit and allowing all of the clippings to blow inside the fan and coil. Make certain the debris goes away from it. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
Leaves falling from trees can wreak havoc with your HVAC unit. When you see nearby trees shedding their leaves, clean the fan grill on your unit constantly. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
Have your heating and cooling system serviced twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once a year. These ports have a metal covering. Sometimes it is rubber. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don’t overfill it.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also helps keep it warm air in during the winter months.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. If you have a unit taking in air that’s cooler, it won’t have to work so hard to cool air that it sends to your home.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you save money on air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
It is very important that your HVAC system is serviced two times a year. This should be done in the fall and again in the spring. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.
During this service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning costs. It changes the temperature so the system isn’t in use when it’s cooler outside or no one is home. Furthermore, there are a few programmable thermostats that you can control from your computer or any other web-connected device.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with the BBB and online reviews of potential companies online. This will help you have to do in order to make the right choice.
Service your hearing and cooling systems once each year. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. All of these little jobs will add up to big savings in energy use, with the improved efficiency.
Fan Setting
Put a bit of time into researching various HVAC specialists; you’re more likely to choose the right one for the job. A good start would be the BBB to see if there are any complaints, then search online for review sites where you can see what actual customers had to say about their experience. In this way, you can be more sure of getting a good HVAC company.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this happen, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
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. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can be risky.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. Hiring a contractor may be taking a considerable risk.
When you need the services of an HVAC professional, ask your friends and family if they can recommend someone to you. When someone hires a quality professional, they are usually happy to share their info. This will also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid hiring.
Ask people that you know and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People that have had great service are usually willing to share this information. This can also a great way to get names of companies that should be avoided.
Check around and get a number of quotes prior to hiring a contractor. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Do you need a quality HVAC? There are things to consider. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool and heat an area. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit rather than purchasing one that is a smaller one.
If your existing system is malfunctioning, look for leaks in the ducts. This is a job your local utility provider may do for you inexpensively or even free of charge. Paying for the test is fine as repairing the leaks will pay for itself quickly.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you get leaks repaired, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
If you hear clicking inside your HVAC unit, look for an obstruction. Sometimes there is debris that gets in the fan’s way. Removing the debris solves the issue. Look at this prior to calling a technician.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from the HVAC unit, immediately check for any type of obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting fans in your cooling system. Check it out yourself first before spending on a contractor.
Choose an HVAC contractor who know what he is doing and works quickly. Companies who understand their customers are important often require their workers to follow a schedule and show up to all appointments. The technicians should also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC in no time. Once, they find the problem, they will fix it fast.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. You can get these tested at little to no charge by a professional to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
When placing your AC unit, think about the direction the air will flow. If it has to be placed in a corner, make sure your unit permits airflow to be redirected.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This is the simplest thing that you can do to keep your unit running in good operating condition.
When choosing someone to work on your HVAC system, make sure they provide you with references. It helps to find out whether prior customers were satisfied with their overall experience. This will reduce your chances of hiring a scam artist.
If it has to be placed in a corner, ensure that the air is not directed towards a wall.
Understand the costs beforehand with your HVAC unit. Some contractors attempt to add charges on later for things such as material fees and fuel charges. Having a written contract will let you avoid these types of issues.
Always get references from a contractor.
Cover your condenser in the winter. This simple tip will extend the life of your condenser considerably. Additionally, it’s important to remember not to utilize the compressor if your outside temperatures drop below 69 degrees. Instead, just use the fan if need be.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They must be able to reach your home at any time, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
Consider have a programmable thermostat installed. This will allow you to save quite a bit of money on utilities as your system gets to rest as you do things like sleep.
Now you will be able to take good care of your HVAC system. You must stay on top of things! Use the suggestions given above so you don’t find one day that your home is either too cold or too hot.
About two-thirds of homes have ducts that leak. 25% of your utility bill could be a result of such leaks. Seal the ducts as best as you can to prevent this from happening.
