The comfort of your home has a great deal to do with the temperature that it maintains. That is why it is important to keep your HVAC has to be in tip top shape. If you don’t care for your HVAC, it can lead to expensive repairs and an uncomfortable way of living. Here are some tips to get you out.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, tour your home before calling a technician. Make a list of the temperatures in each room and whether they are hot or cold. That way, the contractor will have an easier time diagnosing the problem and repairing it fast.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, check out your home before calling a contractor. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
If the outside of your home has condenser units, ensure they are constantly cleaned. Leaves and debris can accumulate quickly, particularly following storms, and that can cause problems for your system. It can cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to provide you a price estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Before you do so, shut off the power to ensure that none of the parts will move while you work on it. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
When you’re trying to cut your grass, don’t cover a unit outside with the clippings. Turn your lawnmower in the opposite direction. The same goes for when you blow leaves, so make sure your are careful when moving any debris in the vicinity of your HVAC devices.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Leaves falling from trees can wreak havoc with your HVAC unit. Be sure to clean your fan grill frequently when trees nearby are shedding. Your fan needs an unobstructed way to get air inside, and the more blocked up it becomes, the more headaches will develop for you with the system.
Grass Clippings
It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. Your unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the inside air if the outside air it sucks from is cooler.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim the grass clippings in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
During cold weather , be sure to turn off outdoor condenser units. When the temperature goes below 60 degrees, shut off the unit in order to prevent damage. Your system will work longer for you this way.
Your HVAC units might suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, then your system could suffer.
Update the windows in your home to double-paned if you own it. You can reduce your energy costs from energy leaking out through your windows by installing window that are double-paned. Likewise, heat is better retained during the winter.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser at least once a year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
If you’re away from home during the day, raise the temperature setting on your air conditioner to save money. When it’s off the house will get hot, but only by a certain amount. When you keep it on, you will be using electricity.
Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice per year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Don’t let your home get too hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. Assuming the temperature in your home rises to a hundred degrees, you will only be able to reduce that by twenty degrees. Depending on how humid the environment is, that is not a healthy temperature for the human body when it rests during sleep.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units when it’s getting cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your system running efficiently for years to come.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, there are calculators on the Internet that can help you figure out the right size. If you purchase a unit that’s too large, it will not be efficient since it’ll cool the same. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This also keeps warm air in during the winter.
Before you hire someone from an HVAC place, figure out how long they’ve been doing this kind of work. Companies that are established have been proven, and you can use their track record to to determine if they provide good service. Hiring a new company will be riskier.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on air conditioning bill. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Use recommendations when you are looking for a contractor. Anyone that has previously needed work done on their HVAC unit are more than happy to tell you their experiences. You can also get company names that you should stay away from.
During the 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 simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system to run its best.
Check the Internet for reviews on those who fix or install HVAC systems. Many online sites permit customers to let others know about their experiences with various services and contractors. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with those you want to avoid.
Do not let your house to get dangerously hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only really cool your home down 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, it will only cool off to about 80F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
It is always a wise move to obtain a few quotes from different contractors because prices can vary. By calling around and asking a few different contractors, you can save a ton of money. Contact a minimum of five contractors so you can determine realistically what the price will be.
Research the reputation of companies before hiring them.Check with the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. These steps are going to help to ensure your decision is a better decision.
Put a radiant barrier in your attic and what your HVAC performance improve. This will block heat from coming in, which means that less energy will be needed to keep your home cool. If this is done properly, it will help extend your living space.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Are you going to buy a new HVAC system? There are many things to consider. Learn about the size systems need to be for optimal efficiency. If you are debating the size of the unit, always get one that is just a little bigger rather than one that is a little too small.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in. You can hire someone to test them.
Make an HVAC system run more efficiently by determining what direction your house faces. If your home is surrounded by strategically planted trees, they can often block out the morning sunlight. If there is less heat coming into your home, then your air conditioning unit won’t have to work as hard.
Hvac System
If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Often the issue is some sort of debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Simply clear away the debris or remove any foreign objects and your problem is solved. Look at the system before you call for help.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This is a very simple job and it will keep your HVAC system running at maximum efficiency.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioner shopping. You can figure out the unit you need by calculating 20 BTU per square foot. If you are cooling more than one room, sum their areas.
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.
Find a HVAC company that knows its stuff. A reliable company will ensure their technicians keep appointments and stay on their schedule. Someone skilled in their profession should be able to come out and give you answers right away. Once they are able to locate a problem, they should be able to fix it as fast as they can.
Some contractors attempt to overcharge you on later for things such as material fees and other charges. A contract will prevent this materializes.
Always request references when you are considering a HVAC contractor. Ask these references if the job was what they expected, if it was done in a timely manner and on budget. This will reduce your chances of hiring a scam artist.
This determines the amount of BTUs your system will need to keep your home comfortable.
Be certain you know what the HVAC work costs include. Unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulous contractors that will tack un-discussed charges onto your bill. Having a solid written contract will help you avoid any issues like this.
These are qualified energy products that meet the strict efficiency guidelines. These are determined by the United State Environmental Protection Agency. They are called the environment and human health. Taking the time to fully research various units may help you get long-term savings on energy costs.
Any HVAC contractor references given to you need checking out. When a contractor voluntarily gives references, many assume they are legit. This may be a mistake. It just takes a couple minutes to check them out.
You might be surprised that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that are leaky. This equals up your energy bill. It is not difficult to seal your ducts, and it will save you on your bills every month.
Protect the condenser unit when it gets cold. Try placing a thick cover on top of it. Running the system when the outside temperature is below 60 degrees will lower its efficiency.
Heating Ducts
Keep your HVAC system operating efficiently by cleaning the heating ducts. Check your heating ducts for damage or openings often. Damaged ducts can raise your heating bill to rise.
Now you know just how to get a quality HVAC system. Paying close attention to maintenance will help you avoid problems. Use the information above to make sure it’s doing well, so that you don’t get home and find your home is too cold or too hot.
