Follow these tips on dealing with your HVAC system.
Before calling someone to repair your system, make sure you know what kind of HVAC system you actually have. Learn the brand and the model. This will help make sure that the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Know what type of system before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor the necessary information.
Tour your home before calling a contractor. Make a list of the rooms which are comfortable and which just aren’t. This will allow a contractor to quickly figure out what the issue is and how it can be fixed fast.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Before you clean the unit, be sure to turn off the power. If you see debris, get rid of it.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
Outdoor condenser units need to be cleaned regularly. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your HVAC system. It will damage the system by overheating.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. First, the power should be turned off so things don’t move as you work. Then you need to get the grill popped off and get the blades out so you can clean them and your unit gently.
Your HVAC unit may suffer when trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it gets blocked, then your system could suffer.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose leaves. When you see nearby trees shedding their leaves, clean the fan grill on your unit constantly. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
If there are oil ports on your fan condenser, lubricate it annually. You will see rubber or metal caps covering the ports. Pick out a SAE 20 type of oil because it has no detergent, is lightweight, and you should put around 10 drops in the ports but make it to where they don’t get too full.
Turn off outdoor condensers you have when weather gets cold.This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This simple tip will maximize the life of your unit.
A good place to place your compressor unit outside is in a shady spot. The cooler the air that the unit is able to access, the less work it has to perform.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning bill. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. If your air conditioner is able to constantly suck in cool air, it won’t have to work overtime to cool your space, which can in turn save you money on your electricity bills.
Don’t ever let your home to become dangerously hot. Air conditioners can cool a home down about 20 degrees in a short time. If your house’s interior temperature hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Be sure to have twice annual HVAC system checks. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. Regular inspection will help you avoid unexpected repairs.
Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews of potential companies online. These steps can help make a better decision.
You can keep energy costs in your home lower by choosing to have professional maintenance done on your HVAC unit. During the visit, the contractor will oil parts, inspect the motor and the freon levels. Doing this simple task can ensure that your system will be running for years with no problem!
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something you notice, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Turn off your air conditioner when no one is home to help save money. By raising the temperature from, for example 78 to 80, your house will be warmer, but only up to 80 before your AC kicks in. If you decide to set the temperature to 82 or 83 or so on, your AC won’t go on until it reaches that temperature. It will use more electricity if you keep it running.
Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. It is riskier to hire someone who does not have a contractor with little experience.
If you want to ensure you choose a trustworthy HVAC contractor, invest a little time in researching a few different companies, checking out their reputations. 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. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.
Ask people that you know and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who have had a good experience are usually willing to tell of it. This can also help you to figure out some names of companies that you should avoid at all costs.
Try finding online A/C sizing calculators to figure out the ideal size for a unit for the house or a room. If the unit is too large, it won’t cool more than a smaller unit, just less efficiently. Always look through the manual as well.
There are a lot of websites online that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This will help you should work with and people that may not work well with you.
Ask people you know for recommendations if you need to hire a contractor for an HVAC system. Those who have had a great experience should have no issue giving you this info. This will also help you avoid bad companies.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so 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 use the attic space if it is done right.
Consider installing a radiant barrier to your attic to help your HVAC system run more efficiently. It ensures that your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. If this is done properly, it will help extend your living space.
Are you thinking about having a cooling and heating system installed? There are things to think about first. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool or heat an area well. You are wise to err on the side of a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
Are you thinking about buying a new HVAC system? You may want to consider the following. An HVAC system gets its rating by how effective it will heat and cool an area. Getting a unit that’s a little larger than you need will be better than getting one that’s smaller.
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 your existing system is malfunctioning, look for leaks in the ducts. Your local energy company may do such testing at a reduced cost or maybe even for free. When you repair the leaks, the tests will pay for themselves.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot. If you need to cool multiple rooms, combine all the square footage.
For top efficiency, figure out what direction your home faces. Block the sun in the morning with trees around your home. When there is less heat inside your home, the air conditioner will not have to work as hard.
Pick HVAC business that understands the unit and can work quickly. The best companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on time. A licensed technician will also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC. After they know what the problem is, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.
The very least you should be doing to care for your HVAC system is making sure to change out the old filter, and replacing it with a new one every single month. This is an easy and essential thing to do. Filters cost only a few dollars, so it’s a small monthly price to pay.
Some contractors will attempt to overcharge you after the work is complete for things such as material fees and fuel or extra material. Having a solid written contract can help to avoid any issues like this.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. You must know whether or not their customers have had an issues, and this includes trouble with the quote they were given or workers not showing up on time. The references will help you avoid wasting your money on someone that is not professional.
Hvac System
Make certain that a new HVAC has the Energy Star on it. These units are energy efficient and meet the strict guidelines set for efficiency. These are put in place by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Agency for Environmental Protection. By taking the extra time to look into this information could help with long-term energy and money savings.
Keeping your home comfortable relies on having a great HVAC system. Without proper maintenance of your HVAC system, your home will not be a comfortable place to be. Take these tips to heart and never forget about your HVAC system.
It’s amazing to find out that 66% of homes have leaky ducts! This can greatly increase your electric bill. You can fix your ducts on your own, plus it’s simple to do and cheap, too.
