How on earth will you know which system to purchase? What size do you consider? What sort of features do you need? It can be hard to figure out each day.
Before you call someone to help you fix your system, be sure to know what sort of system you have in place. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. Then, you’ll be ready to tell the contractor what they need to know.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will be helpful to any contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
If you struggle with your HVAC, try touring your home before calling a professional. Notice the temperature in each room. Are some cooler or hotter than others? That knowledge can help the technician figure out what is going on.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, tour your home before calling a technician. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is.
What do you need done? Know this before calling a contractor. It’s hard to get an estimate since they haven’t look at your system. They need to come look at the unit. It’s important to know this beforehand.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean your outdoor condensers often. Debris quickly gathers here, even more so if there is a storm. This can cause major issues with your system. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.
Turn it off so nothing moves.Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Be careful when doing yard work that you do not get debris on or in your unit. Turn your lawnmower in the opposite direction. Make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it while blowing your leaves.
Grass Clippings
Be sure to place your outdoor unit in a shady spot to maximize efficiency. 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.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Direct the grass clippings in a direction away from the equipment. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
Make sure your HVAC systems is checked twice a year. This should happen in the fall and the spring. Even if nothing seems wrong, checking it out can help you find and fix potential issues.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees start to lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often during the 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. Try to insulate your windows to prevent air from being lost. It keeps heat in during the winter, too.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once a year.These are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Try to have your HVAC system looked at every year, because regular maintenance will go a long way in energy efficiency. The motor should be checked, the parts oiled and the freon levels inspected. These simple things will keep your system running at peak performance.
Put outdoor condensers in the shade if you are installing them.
Do not allow your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. So if your home is 100ºF, you’ll only get the temperature down to about 80. Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
Turn off any outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your system last much longer and will have to be repaired less often.
Sometimes, air conditioners collect ice. Sometimes the drain line will freeze, causing leaks. If you see this, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This also helps keep it warm air in during the winter.
The Internet can really help you out when it comes to finding someone to work on your HVAC unit. A simple search should yield a number of sites with informative reviews. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check with the BBB and online reviews of potential companies online. These simple steps will help ensure you make a better decision.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. Getting several quotes will ultimately help you save lots of money. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this happens, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
If your system doesn’t seem to be working efficiently, check your ducts for leaks. You can call in your local utility company to do the testing for you, often for free or at a lower cost than a contractor. If you do have leaks that are repaired, this testing will pay for itself.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
If you would like your HVAC unit to be more efficient, simply look at where the front of your home faces. Trees block morning sunlight, stopping your home from getting too hot. The less heat inside the house, the less time that the AC has to work.
Do you want to buy a new cooling system? You could keep a few important things. Systems get rated according to how large an area they can effectively heat or cool. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
Look for leaves or other debris if you notice a thumping sound in your unit. Frequently the cause is some kind of debris that is making contact with the cooling system of the fan. Simply clear away the debris or remove any foreign objects and your problem is solved. Before you call a technician, look at it yourself.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not up to snuff. When these leaks are fixed, the tests will pay for themselves.
When considering what size AC unit your home needs, be sure to measure the immediate area you need to cool. In general, you need 20 BTU for each square foot. Make certain that you calculate using all of the rooms the unit will be treating.
If your HVAC system is clicking, there may be something obstructing it. Sometimes there is debris interferes with the fan’s way. Check it out before spending on a professional.
Replace the air filter monthly. This is an easy way to help you keep things running well for you overall. Filters don’t cost too much to use, and that isn’t a lot each month for you to pay.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can get a professional out to help you test them.
When determining the location of your air conditioning unit, think about which way the air flows. If you can only put the unit in the corner, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.
Pick an HVAC companies that understands the unit and can work quickly. The best companies will ensure that their technicians stay on schedule and keep appointments. A licensed technician will also have no problem diagnosing any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. After they know what the problem is, they resolve issues swiftly.
Always find out how much experience a contractor has in the business. It’s important that a contractor is experienced in the area of the kind of work you require. This will help to maximize their productivity.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have an emergency hotline. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, no matter what.
Be sure that both parties understand the terms involved when it comes to any HVAC work that you hire a contractor to perform. The contractors can overcharge later for items like material and fee costs and charges. When you have a solid contract, these problems can be avoided.
Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This helps the condenser last longer when not being used. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the unit.
Always check any references that you receive for an HVAC contractor. You may be horrified by what you find. Never hesitate to spend a few moments making calls to check out someone.
Always check any references that are given to you receive for an HVAC contractor.
Ask every prospective contractor to do a heat-loss assessment. This determines the number of BTUs needed to maintain comfort in your home. This number comes after examining the windows and doors where heat and escape.
Clean your HVAC’s heating ducts on a regular basis to boost efficiency.Check your ducts at least once per month. Ducts that are damaged can increase your heating because you have to pay more to keep the warm air.
Look for an HVAC contractor that uses Energy Star products and equipment. Energy Star items meet the efficiency guidelines set by the EPA. Purchasing one will help your family save money over time.
Selecting your HVAC system can be hard to do, and it may overwhelm you sometimes. But with the information provided above, getting what you need should be much easier. Spend some time re-reading this advice and make good use of it when you start making decisions about keeping your house comfortable.
Make sure your owner’s manual in handy when your unit is being operated. The manual is always filled with useful information that you may not be able to find in tips like these. They are very specific to the product in question. If you are unable to locate your manual, you usually can find it on the website of the manufacturer.
