Letting the HVAC system fall into ruin is an incredibly foolish decision for any homeowner.You are likely here because you wish to learn about getting your HVAC last a long time. The article below has some helpful tips for you!
Before making that repair phone call, make sure you know the specifics about your particular system. Take a look at the system or the owner’s manual to find the name and model number. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor any information they might need.
If you struggle with your HVAC, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Make a circuit around your home before calling for help with your HVAC. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. That way, the contractor will have an easier time diagnosing the problem and repairing it fast.
Turn it off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Make sure your power is off before doing more than cleaning, such as working on the unit. Also, be sure to clear leaves and debris from your condenser unit.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction from your unit.This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
You need to lubricate parts of your fan condenser. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Put 10 drops of lightweight, non-detergent SAE oil in each port. Be careful not to use too much.
Sae 20 Oil
Make certain that an outdoor unit is in the shade. When the unit sucks in cooler air, then less work is required to cool it further which in turn boosts the units efficiency.
Lubricate your fan condenser yearly if it has oil ports. You will notice these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Installing double paned windows can save a lot of money over single panes, so upgrade if you are able. To keep your home cool, investing in double pane windows is a must. This also works during the cold months to keep the warm air inside.
Have the HVAC serviced at the least. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Consider getting a programmable thermostat for your AC. In fact, you can save as much as 10 percent on both heating and cooling when you turn your thermostat by by 10-15 percent for at least 8 hours daily. Also, you’ll find that you can program your thermostat from a computer or anything connected to the web.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This will also keeps warm air in heat when it gets cold.
If you’re away from home during the day, raise the temperature setting on your air conditioner to save money. With the system off, the house will only heat up to a certain temperature. However, leaving it on increases your electric bill and wear and tear on the system.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you out when it comes to your power bills. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
Research multiple contractors before choosing one. Checking with the BBB is a good idea, and so is checking online reviews to see the experiences that other customers have had with a company. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.
During a maintenance visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These few simple things will keep your system to run at its peak performance.
Make sure to make a well-informed decision on the size of your HVAC. If you get a unit that is too large, it will cost a lot in energy costs. Any unit’s manual will be able to give you an accurate idea for the size of the unit versus your home.
Don’t let your home temperature get overly hot. Air conditioners can only cool a home down about 20 degrees in a reasonable amount of time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Talk to others that you have in your life to see if they can recommend an HVAC contractor to you. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. You are likely to also hear about negative experiences.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. This is what you have to do in order to make a contractor that is of high quality.
Are you looking into getting a new heating/cooling system? There are several things you should consider. Systems have ratings according to the total area they effectively heat or cool. If your home falls in size between two units, select the one that is larger.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Your HVAC can work more efficiently if you take into consideration which way your home faces. 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 heat inside the house, the less time that the AC has to work.
There are a number of great sites out there that give people the opportunity to leave comments about how they were treated by services. This is useful for finding people that do good work and those that are poor.
If your HVAC system is clicking, look for blockages right away. Frequently the cause is some kind of debris that is making contact with the cooling system of the fan. All you need to do is remove the debris to solve the problem. Look before calling in a technician.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in. You can also hire someone to test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
To gain maximum HVAC efficiency, you need efficient windows and doors too. They have to have a tight seal, stopping air from going in or out. You could have a professional run a test for you, and sometimes this testing is done at no charge.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You generally need 20 BTU per square foot of the room. If more than one room needs AC service, be sure to add their square footage together.
If there’s only one thing that you do in terms of HVAC maintenance monthly, it should be to replace your air filter. This will maximize the production of your HVAC. Filters cost only a few dollars, so it’s a small monthly price to pay.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is a very simple job and it keeps the simplest thing that you can do to keep your unit running at maximum efficiency.
Never hire a contractor before asking about the work experience they have when it comes to dealing with HVAC units. It’s important that a contractor is experienced in the area of the kind 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.
Pick out an HVAC business that understands the unit and knows what to do. The best companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule and keep appointments. A knowledgeable technician will also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC. When they know the issue, they should know how to fix it quickly so that it works properly.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. Did the homeowner get what they expected? Was it done on budget and on time? Also, it will prevent you from getting robbed.
If it has to be placed in a corner, be sure you can change the direction of air flow to avoid having it hit the wall.
Only hire a contractor to install or repair your HVAC system if they offer a 24-hour hotline for emergencies. You want a company that will be there when you need them.
Always make sure to get some references prior to hiring any contractor.
Use a fully-enclosing cover to protect your condenser unit in the winter. When the condenser is not being used, the cover will help it to last much longer. Never use the compressor when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing a strain on your unit by using the fan instead.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.
You should ask the contractor if they included heat-loss calculations inside their initial quote. This determines the amount of BTUs your system needs to make sure your home stays comfortable. This means that they need to count all doors and windows in your home, along with an insulation check, and taking full measurement of your home.
Hvac System
To save money, try going with an HVAC unit that is an Energy Star unit. These products are held to a high standard of efficiency. The rules are created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You will save money by paying attention to these details.
As you can see from reading the above article, it is vital that you take good care of your HVAC system to prevent it from going bad. If you have your HVAC system go bad it can cost you a lot of money to get it fixed. You can help prevent overspending by knowing who to hire, what to look for in a unit and what size unit to choose.
Choose a contractor that prefers Energy Star products. These systems meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the EPA. Thus, they will produce savings on energy bills all year long.
