How are you know what kind of system to purchase? What size do you buy? What features do you want? It can be hard to sort through all the new features are coming out each day.
If your HVAC system is acting up, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool. The contractor can probably figure out and fix the problem easier.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will let you to give your chosen contractor the information they might need.
Before selecting a HVAC repairman, know what you need done. If you can’t describe the problem, you may not get an accurate quote. Being unable to explain what has been already done will make it even harder. You need to know this before you begin.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
Do not allow grass clippings to cover the outdoor unit of your HVAC system. Shoot the grass away from the unit. The same should happen if you are blowing leaves, so be especially careful when you are going by your exterior HVAC devices whenever you are moving debris.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. If your unit is sucking in cooler air, it will have less work to do to cool that air as it sends it inside which boosts efficiency.
10 Drops
If you want things to be more efficient, get new units outside or have your current one moved into the shade. It will reduce the temperature of the air going into the unit, meaning that it will not have to work as hard to cool it.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once a year.You will notice these ports as they have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
If at all possible, install double-paned windows in your home instead of those with a single pane. Double pane windows can minimize the use of your air conditioner in hot weather since they keep the indoor air cooler. They help in the winter, too, keeping the heat in.
Be sure you have twice annual HVAC system checks. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
If you want your energy costs to go down, have the heating an cooling system you own serviced every year at least. 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 things will boost the performance of your system.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This helps your system remain in good working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
To help lower cooling costs when not at home, make sure the air conditioner is turned off. The house will only heat to certain level and a decent HVAC system can quickly cool this down once you are home. If will be constantly fighting the heat and using lots of electricity if it is left on all day.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the BBB and look for your situation. This can help you have to do in order to make a smart decision.
Never let your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. A simple AC unit will usually only cool the home around 20 degrees within a short period of time. This limits their overall benefit. Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something that’s happening to you, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Sometimes, air conditioners collect ice. The drain line also occasionally freezes, which can be misdiagnosed as a plumbing leak. If this is something you notice, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. Once you know the problem, contact a local HVAC professional and let them know what’s going on in your system.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time.Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Make sure to make a well-informed decision on the size of your HVAC. If you buy something too large it won’t be efficient as it cools the same. Check your manual to learn what it is rated by the manufacturer if you want accurate information.
Ask people that you know and relations for contractor recommendations. People that have had great service are usually more than willing to tell of it. This will prevent you avoid scammers.
Consider how long a given HVAC company has been in existence before giving them your business. This gives you some history so that you can be sure the company is reliable. It is always risky to hire a contractor with little experience.
There are a lot of sites these days that other customers talk about their experiences with different services. This will tell you to sort out the good from the bad.
Every contractor out there is responsible for setting up their own fees, so get several quotes before hiring anyone. If you make a few calls before you decide, it can result in great savings. Call around to find out what the rates are.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save some money by asking for many quotes. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Do you want to find a quality HVAC? You may want to consider the following. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool or heat an area well. Therefore, you may want to opt for a larger unit.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When you have leaks repaired, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
Determining the direction in which your house faces can help make the HVAC system efficient. Strategically placed trees outside your home can block out the morning sun which can cause your home to overheat. If there’s less heat inside your home, your AC will work less.
Determine which way your home faces.The cooler your home already is, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
All of your windows and doors must be air-tight, in order for your HVAC system to run at maximum efficiency. Be sure that they’re sealed well so that air from the outside or inside doesn’t come in or escape. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
If you HVAC unit is making a clicking sound, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Sometimes debris that gets in the cooling system fans. Look at this prior to calling a service technician.
When deciding what size of an air conditioner is right for you, you will need to measure how much area it will have to cool. Plan for 20 BTU of power in your air conditioner for each square foot that needs to be cooled. When several rooms must be cooled, determine the square footage of each room and then add the numbers together.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
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. It is an easy thing to do yourself in order to have your system running well. Filters are relatively cheap, so it does not cost much to do this.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need about 20 BTU per square foot of the room. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, make sure to add the square footage together.
Think about the air flow coming out of the air conditioner and where you want to place it for maximum comfort. If you must position it in a corner, be sure you can change the direction of air flow to avoid having it hit the wall.
Pick HVAC companies that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem.The best companies keep the technicians working honestly and on schedule. A knowledgeable technician should also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC. When they know the issue, they should know how to fix it quickly so that it works properly.
Ask a contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. It is important that you hire someone that has enough background experience to get the work done properly. While someone with less experience might be able to do a great job too, you do not want to take that chance.
Some contractors will attempt to charge you on material fees and other charges. Having a good written contract can help you avoid any issues like this.
Check all references given to you from an HVAC contractor. People often assume references are legit when a contractor provides them, but that is not always true. It only takes a short amount of time to contact someone, so it is important that you do that right away.
Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This will allow it to last longer when it is not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid straining the condenser unit.
Look into the installation of a programmable thermostat if you are repairing your existing HVAC system or having a new one installed. This can save you a lot on your energy bills and gives you a nice comfortable home.
Always check out any references that you by an HVAC contractor.
Buy an Energy Star HVAC unit to save money. Energy Star units must meet certain guidelines. The Environmental Protection Agency is what sets these guidelines. Choosing to invest in such a unit can help you save on your energy bills in the long-term. Spending your time looking over these types of things can help you to save quite a bit later on.
This determines the number of BTUs needed to maintain comfort in your system has to be.
The owner’s manual should be kept in a safe and easy to locate place. This manual has a lot of tips and tricks that are unique to your unit and may be essential if you experience a serious problem. If you no longer have your manual, it is usually possible to get it from the manufacturer.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This lowers your bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your settings to ensure optimal performance.
Always get an estimate in writing. You need these estimates written. A good company will not refuse to give you a written estimate. Without them, you may not know you are getting a fair deal. Compare items from different companies, such as time frames and rates. Do not trust companies that low-ball your estimate.
You may be surprised to discover that as much as 66% of households have ducts that are leaky. These can add up to one fourth of your total utility costs you have. Sealing the ducts is something you can do easily and cheaply, and it may reduce energy costs greatly in the future.
Make sure the owner’ manual in handy when you use the unit. The manual will help you out if you’re dealing with problems.
One tends to feel confused when picking out an HVAC system. Using the advice from our experts will make the decision easier. If you’ve got the time, review the tips above one more time for sake of clarity. Use the tips to make a more informed decision when it counts.
