It can be quite upsetting to arrive home at the end of the day to discover your HVAC has broken down. The following tips are great for helping you in this process.
The coils and blades on the fans should be cleaned once a year. Start by turning off the power to avoid having anything move when you work on it. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This information will facilitate the process when your contractor you hire to repair it.
The operation of your HVAC system can be in danger when the tree leaves begin to fall. When you notice your trees shedding, frequently clean your unit’s fan grill. The fan needs to be able to get proper air inside without any blockages, and extra blockage can later develop into more serious problems.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Lubricate your fan condenser if it has oil ports. You will see rubber or metal caps covering the ports. Pick out a SAE 20 type of oil because it has no detergent, is lightweight, and you should put around 10 drops in the ports but make it to where they don’t get too full.
Be sure to regularly clean external condenser units regularly. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can also cause the unit to overheat and break down.
It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. This will limit the work that it has to do.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. The best time of year to have the system checked is right before the weather begins to change. Even though it may seem as nothing is wrong with the unit, a simple inspection can prove otherwise.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass in a different direction away from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. If it’s lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. This will keep your system in working order year after year, saving you a ton on repairs.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it gets blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
Replace single pane windows by installing double pane, if possible. To keep your home cool, investing in double pane windows is a must. Conversely, they keep warm air in during the winter.
10 Drops
A good way to save money with your air conditioning is by installing a programmable thermostat. It changes the temperature so the system isn’t in use when it’s cooler outside or no one is home. Also, you’ll find that you can program your thermostat from a computer or anything connected to the web.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once a year. You can find these ports as they have a rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
If you want your energy costs to go down, have the heating an cooling system you own serviced every year at least. When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, and they will oil all the moving parts. This maintenance means that your system will operate optimally.
Put your outdoor units in places with shade.
Turn off your air conditioner when no one is home to help save money. This will save you money on your energy bills. Leaving the system on all day will cost a lot of money in terms of electricity.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. This also keeps warm air in during the winter months.
Don’t let your home get too hot. AC units will only cool a house down 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. Depending on how humid it is, this isn’t really that safe for a person to sleep in when it’s really hot.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Make sure to make a well-informed decision on the size of your HVAC. Buying one that’s too large will not cool that well. Read over the owner’s manual to see the manufacturers suggestions as to the cooling capacity of the unit for the most accurate information.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this, disable the compressor by switching the thermostat to run the fan only. If this doesn’t work, call in help.
Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are usually willing to tell of it. You can also get company names that you should stay away from.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. It is riskier to hire a contractor with little experience.
Make certain that you get written estimates before you hire a contractor. You will be likely to save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. Contact a minimum of five contractors so you can determine realistically what the price will be.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money by asking for price quotes. Call around to find out what the best deal possible.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, there may be something obstructing it. Many times it could be debris hitting the cooling system fans. Get rid of this obstruction and that should take care of the problem. Check the fan and coil before you waste time contacting a professional.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You could even use your attic space more effectively.
If you do only one thing for HVAC maintenance, it ought to be replacing the air filter. It will improve the efficiency of your unit. Filters cost only a few dollars, so it’s a small monthly price to pay.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in. You can get a professional out to help you test them.
Consider what potential direction your air conditioner’s flow will have when choosing where to put it. Put it in a corner where the air does not flow into the wall.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If more than one room needs AC service, sum their areas.
Find out how much experience a given contractor has before you hire him or her. You want to make sure that they have experience with the type of work you need done. Less experienced workers could work out just fine, but you really shouldn’t take any chances.
Always request references prior to hiring any contractor.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency hotline. Particularly if you have a family, you may need service at odd hours or on weekends.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They must be able to reach your home at any time, whether during a heatwave or a terrible snowstorm.
Be sure that both parties understand the terms involved when it comes to any HVAC work that you hire a contractor to perform. Some contractors overcharge for add-ons like travel expense or fees for additional materials. This is why getting estimates in writing is so important.
Some contractors attempt to charge you after the work is complete for items like materials and fuel. Having a good written contract can help avoid any issues like this.
In the winter, keep your condenser unit properly covered. That is going to extend the functional lifespan of your condenser. Also, when it’s less than sixty degrees outside, you shouldn’t use the compressor. Do this by simply turn on the fan so that you don’t cause the unit unnecessary strain.
Always follow up on any references that are given to you by an HVAC contractor.
Be sure to investigate the references you are given by any HVAC professional. You may be horrified by what you find. It just takes a couple minutes to check them out.
Be sure you keep your HVAC up and running by using the advice found above. It isn’t a good thing to come home to a HVAC system that isn’t working properly. The repair costs will be very high too. With the great information found in this article, you can prevent this disaster. Use them to maintain your unit.
Heat-loss calculations are important when getting an estimate. This information is used to determine the number of BTUs your system should be. This number will depend on the number of doors and windows in your home.
