This article has some great information to help you if you like this type of thing.
If your HVAC system is acting up, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. That way, the contractor will have an easier time diagnosing the problem and repairing it fast.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
Know what you need before you hire a contractor. A contractor will not be able to give you an accurate price without accurate information about your system. If you don’t have any idea, they will have trouble giving you any sort of quote. So, know this information in advance.
Be sure to regularly clean debris from external condenser units regularly.Debris can pile up after a storm, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system.It can cause your system by overheating.
Be sure to clean external condenser units regularly. Falling leaves and wind or rain may cause debris to reduce the efficiency of your unit. It could get too hot, leading to even more problems.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. When the unit sucks in cooler air, then less work is required to cool it further which in turn boosts the units efficiency.
Grass Clippings
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. Check into it twice a year before you head into the hot and cold months. Even if you don’t think anything’s wrong, it’s still worth an inspection.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass clippings in the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
If you’re away from home during the day, raise the temperature setting on your air conditioner to save money. Turning it off does allow the temperature to rise, but only so far. The unit will use a large amount of electricity to combat the heat during the day when the house is empty.
Your outdoor HVAC system could suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Don’t let your house get too hot. It is only possible for an air conditioner to lower the temperature in a home by 20 degrees F in a short time. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
Icing up is common in air conditioners. Many times people think there is a plumbing leak, but instead the drain line has water that is frozen. Turn your unit to the fan setting to turn off the compressor. It’s a good idea to call up professionals to help with this even though you can get the ice to melt when you switch everything to the fan.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This same effect also helps keep it warm in during the winter months.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. If you buy a unit that is too big, it won’t do an efficient job. Check the manufacturer’s handbook to see what amount of space the unit can effectively cool.
During this service visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These things will boost the performance of your system to run at its peak performance.
Before hiring an HVAC company, you need to find out how long they have been in business. Established companies that are doing well will usually be the best ones to go with. Hiring a new company will be riskier.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something you notice, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Turn to online reviews if you’re not sure how you should hire to perform HVAC maintenance. Many Internet sites let customers discuss experiences with certain companies. This will tell you who is great and who isn’t.
Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a contractor can be risky.
Contractor set their own prices; this is why you should get many quotes. Getting several quotes will ultimately help you save lots of money. Ideally, five or six contractors should be called so you can get a good ball park figure of a reasonable rate.
Ask friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People that have had a good experience are usually more than willing to share the name of their contractor. This is also help you learn the names of those companies that you should avoid.
Do you want to find a quality HVAC? You could keep a few points in mind. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool and heat an area. Be sure to choose a slightly too large system over a too small of one.
There are now different online sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This method provides you want to hire and also with and those you don’t want to work with.
Which way does your home face? Strategically placing trees around your home can block some of the heat coming from the sun, preventing your home from overheating. When there is less heat inside your home, the air conditioner will not have to work as hard.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You will be likely to save some cash simply by doing your homework. Call around to find the rates are.
If your HVAC system is clicking, look for blockages right away. This may be because debris is restricting the movement of the fan blades. Just pull it out and clean the blade off. See if you can do it yourself before getting a professional.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even use your attic space if it is done right.
To gain maximum HVAC efficiency, you need efficient windows and doors too. Each of these should have an airtight seal on them. A professional can sometimes test these for you for free.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, see if there is any debris in it. Often the issue is some sort of debris hitting fans in your cooling system. Check the fan and coil before you waste time contacting a repairman.
Be sure to replace your HVAC air filters every month. This will help your unit run properly. Filters are cheap, and changing them regularly adds up to long term savings.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. You can hire someone to test them.
As you ponder where to install your new AC unit, think about how the air flows around the room. Put it in a corner where the air does not flow into the wall.
Square Footage
Only choose a contractor to repair or install your HVAC unit if they provide a 24 hour hotline in case of emergencies. 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.
Measure the area that requires air conditioner shopping.You generally need 20 BTUs per square footage of room space. If more than one room needs AC service, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Find out what exactly your contractor plans to do. Unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulous contractors that will tack un-discussed charges onto your bill. Solid written contracts can help you avoid these issues.
If you’re stuck with putting it in a corner, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.
Your HVAC will perform better during the winter if you protect the condenser with a cover. This can help it last longer when it is not in use. Additionally, it’s important to remember not to utilize the compressor if your outside temperatures drop below 69 degrees. Do this by simply turn on the fan so that you don’t cause the unit unnecessary strain.
Always make sure to get references when you are considering a HVAC contractor.
When you get a contractor to come by to offer a quote to you, make sure they do include heat-loss calculation. They can figure out how may BTU will be required to keep your house comfortable. They should check the insulation, doors and windows and the space in your house.
Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This will allow it to last longer when not being used. Use the fan instead to avoid putting strain on the unit.
Whether you are repairing your existing unit or installing a new system, consider a programmable thermostat. This can save you a great deal on your energy bills because your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
This information is used to determine the number of BTUs your system has to be.
Almost 2/3 of homes have ducts that are leaking. This equals up to 25% of your energy bill. It is easy and cheap to fix the ducts yourself, and it will save you on your bills every month.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This lowers your bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your settings to ensure optimal performance.
Be sure that your HVAC system’s manual is easy to find. It can educate you regarding the system and how to handle issues with it. Ask the manufacturer to mail you another copy if you ever lose the one that came with your model.
Keep your condenser protected in cold weather. This can easily be done by putting a thick cover on the condenser unit.
Now you can see that an HVAC is not a difficult subject when you have the right information. Be sure to make use of these tips one by one. Take the guidelines you read here and put them to work for you now!
