A lot of people have HVAC units in their home. An HVAC is a unit that helps keep your home’s temperature comfortable temperature. You will likely need to hire a contractor to install and maintain it. The following information will help you understand how to handle your HVAC unit.
Make a circuit around your home before calling for help with your HVAC. Make a list of the temperatures in each room and whether they are hot or cold. You can then relay this information to the technician so that they can more easily figure out what the problem is.
Know the name and type of system before looking for a repair person. This will help you give the contractor the necessary information.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coil in the spring. Turn the power off so nothing moves. Secondly, pop the grill off, take the blades off and clean them as well as the actual unit.
If your HVAC system is acting up, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. This information will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Keep your outdoor units free of debris when you are mowing the lawn. Direct the grass clippings in a direction away from the HVAC unit. 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.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
If your fan condenser has oil ports, you must lubricate it once per year. These ports have a metal covering. Sometimes it is rubber. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Clean any debris off your outdoor condenser unit. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.
Consumers are usually advised to have their HVAC systems inspected twice a year. The best time of year to have the system checked is right before the weather begins to change. A quick check is worth it to avoid problems down the road.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim your grass cuttings in the other direction. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
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. Conversely, they keep warm air in during the winter.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it is clogged, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. It changes the temperature so the system isn’t in use when it’s cooler outside or no one is home. Also, you can find a thermostat that is controllable from a computer or smart phone.
Have your HVAC system serviced at least yearly. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
If nobody is home, turn off the AC. The house will only heat to certain level and a decent HVAC system can quickly cool this down once you are home. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This same effect also helps keep it warm air in the winter months.
Use an online sizing calculator to help you calculate the proper size of the air conditioning unit you should purchase. If you purchase something that is too big, it won’t be cost effective to run. Always look through the manual as well.
During the visit, the system motor will be inspected, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple things will help your system.
Check out how long the HVAV contractor you are considering has been in business. Companies that are well established have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Working with someone that does not yet have a reputation in the business is a bit riskier.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously hot temperature. An AC unit is really only able to reduce the temperature of your home approximately twenty degrees in a fair time. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
If you need help locating someone to help take of your HVAC system, a great place to seek advice is online at a review site. You have a choice of review sites to use. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work and ones that are poor.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check them out at the best one for reviews posted by former customers. These simple steps are going to help to ensure your decision is a better decision.
Before you hire a contractor, make sure you get different quotes. If you make a few calls before you decide, it can result in great savings. Never settle for a price until you’ve called at least five contractors to gain a realistic idea of a fair price.
Ask your friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People that have gotten great work done in the past generally love to share this information. This is also a great way to get names of businesses that should avoid at all costs.
Try installing a type of radiant barrier in the attic for to have a more efficient HVAC system. It keeps heat blocked from inside to the outside, and that lowers how much energy it takes to keep your home cool. You could even use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You should save tons of money this way. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what you should be paying.
Make an HVAC system run more efficiently by determining what direction your house faces. Block the sun in the morning with trees around your home. The less heat inside the house, the less time that the AC has to work.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The cooler your home already is, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
It is important that you know the measurements of the area you need to cool. You will need approximately 20 BTU per square foot, so calculate the necessary size based on that formula. If multiple rooms need cooling, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Replace your air filters every month. This is such a simple thing that takes little time, and it can save you money by helping to keep your system running longer. Many chain stores sell filters for under $5.00, and that low price is worth it.
Pick an HVAC business that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on schedule. The tech will also know what to do to figure out what’s going wrong with an HVAC unit quickly. Once they know what’s wrong, they will also be able to quickly and efficiently resolve it.
The best HVAC company will be able to arrive quickly and work quickly and effectively. Companies who understand their customers are important often require their workers to follow a schedule and show up to all appointments. They should quickly know what’s wrong with your system as well. Also, they should be able to service it quickly.
Always request references prior to hiring any contractor.
Ideally, your contractor should have emergency services available. Whether a hurricane just blew through or it’s the hottest day of the year, they need to be able to come and fix your system.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They should be able to get to your home whenever you need them there, no matter what.
Use a fully-enclosing cover to protect your condenser unit in the winter. This will increase the life of your condenser. In addition, you should never run the compressor when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees. Switch on the fan instead and do not put strain on the unit.
Some contractors will attempt to charge you after the work is complete for items like materials and fuel. Having a signed contract can help you avoid any issues like that.
Prior to hiring an HVAC contractor, check out their references. Never assume that just because the contractor gives you references that they will check out well. It will just take minutes to check out a contractor, so you shouldn’t hesitate.
Cover your condenser in the winter time. This helps the life of your condenser last longer if it is protected when not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid putting strain on the unit.
Make sure any quote you get has a heat-loss calculation included. This calculation will ascertain what the correct BTU is for the system you need for your home or business. This number comes after examining the windows and doors where heat and escape.
This will help you to figure out how many BTUs the BTU your system needs to have to keep a home comfortable.
You may be surprised that as much as 66% of households have ducts that leak. This equals up to 25% of your energy bill. It’s not difficult or expensive to seal the ducts around your home by yourself.
These tips will really help you deal with your HVAC issues. Making certain that is operates optimally is a great idea. Rely on the advice found here to help you find the right option for installation or repair of your HVAC unit.
Clean your ducts on a regular basis to boost efficiency. Don’t forget to have a good look in the depths of the ducts too, to be sure there’s nothing in there that doesn’t belong, nor has any damage been done. Damaged ducts can raise your heating bill and waste warm air.
