Follow these helpful tips to put yourself in the best position.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Take a look at the system or the owner’s manual to find the name and model number. This will help you give the new contractor the necessary information.
Before contacting a repair service, walk around the home and check out the temps in every room.This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. Know what part of the house is cold and which is hot. This can help the contractor determine the problem areas quickly and fix the problem easily.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Regularly remove debris from outside condenser units. Debris can pile up after a storm, bringing potential damage with it. The whole thing can overheat, causing major problems and possibly an enormous expense for you.
Turn it 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.
Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. When you notice your trees shedding, frequently clean your unit’s fan grill. The air needs to be unobstructed into the fan, and any blockages create performance issues for the whole system.
Grass Clippings
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once each year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Buy an SAE 20 product that is lightweight, and then put no more than ten drops into the ports.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Direct the grass clippings away from the equipment. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. This will limit the work that it has to do.
Have the HVAC serviced at least yearly. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. It’s best to have it checked before you turn it on for the summer and again for the winter. Whether you know of problems or not, good maintenance will help you to avoid future issues.
Turn off any outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This simple tip will help keep the system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Condenser units for the outdoors should be shut off when it starts to get cold outside. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.
During a maintenance visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These simple things will boost the performance of your system.
If the house is yours or you’re permitted to, replace the windows that are single pane with windows that are double pane. Try to insulate your windows to prevent air from being lost. This same effect also keeps warm air in during the winter months.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
To help keep your energy costs down, have your heating and cooling system serviced at least once a year. During a maintenance visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These few simple things will help your system to run at its peak performance.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home.Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Don’t let your home get too hot. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. If you have your home at above 100 degrees then you can only get it to about 80 or above. Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
Ask your friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People who have had great service are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This will also provide you to avoid undesirable companies.
Shop around before hiring an HVAC contractor. Look at review sites and check with the BBB. This will help you make the best choice.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save tons of money this way. Call at least four or five different HVAC specialist to find the rates are.
Research what size air conditioner you should purchase for the size of your home by using online calculators they have for this purpose. If you make the mistake of purchasing a unit that is too large, it will not cool efficiently. Look at the manual for more information.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home and the outside. You could even find that you can use your attic space if it is done right.
Before you go out there and hire an HVAC contractor, find out the length of time they’ve been in the industry. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money. Taking risks is not something that you want to do in this area.
Do you want to buy a new HVAC unit? You should first think about a few important things. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool or heat an area. You are wise to err on the side of a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a smaller one.
Ask those you know for the name of a great HVAC technician, should you need one. If a person had a good experience with a company, they are likely to share it. This can also help you to figure out some names of businesses that you should avoid at all costs.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not up to snuff. When the leaks are repaired, you may see that the testing pays for itself.
If you don’t know who you should contact to do your HVAC maintenance or any installations, look online to see if you can find reviews. There are plenty of online websites that give people the opportunity to leave comments about the service they received. This can help filter out the people you would like to work with.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the easiest step to take to ensure that you can do to keep your unit remains in good operating condition.
Do you want to find a quality HVAC? You could keep a few points in mind. Systems have ratings according to the total area they effectively heat or cool. It is better to purchase a slightly larger than needed unit, rather than a slightly smaller than needed unit.
Pick an HVAC companies that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule and keep appointments. A licensed technician will also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC. After they know what the problem is, it should be taken care of right away.
You should know the facing direction of your home for the most effective placement of the HVAC system. Trees in certain areas can provide shade, which means your house will stay cooler. That will take some of the pressure off your HVAC unit.
If it must be in a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system working well. This is the easiest step to take to ensure that your unit remains in good operating condition. Many chain stores sell filters for under $5.00, and that low price is worth it.
Always make sure to get some references prior to hiring any contractor.
The best HVAC company will be able to arrive quickly and work quickly and effectively. You want one that maintains a schedule. They should quickly know what’s wrong with your system as well. After a quick diagnosis, they resolve issues swiftly.
This determines the number of BTUs your system has to be.
Before you decide on the location of your air conditioning unit, take a look at the air flow direction. When it’s being put into a corner, you have to be able to direct the air out into free space.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This lowers your energy bills because your settings to ensure optimal performance.
Prior to engaging the services of a contractor to handle your HVAC system, be sure to find out about the kind of experience he has. You need to know that they have done the sort of work you require. This doesn’t mean a less experienced person may be bad, but you shouldn’t take any chances with your HVAC.
You may be surprised that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that leak. These can add up to a quarter of your total utility costs you have. Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, and it is something you can do yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.
When you have a contractor come to give you an estimate, make sure they perform a heat-loss calculation. That will indicate the BTU requirements of your new system. This includes counting doors and windows, checking all the insulation and measuring the total internal space of your home.
The HVAC in your house is a vital part of your daily life whether you know it or not. It is crucial that you take care of it accordingly. Remember these hints to keep your HVAC system operating at it’s maximum efficiency.
Find an HVAC company that only uses Energy Star equipment. This ensures efficiency that is required by the EPA. This will help you to save money on utility bills.
