Having a great HVAC system in good working order can be enjoyable in the home. But when your system suddenly stops working, it can be a nightmare. Learning how to maintain your unit minimizes the chances of a breakdown; these tips below.
Before you contact people to assist you in getting your system fixed, know what kind of system you’re working with in the first place. Know the brand name and model number. It is also helpful to have the maintenance history. This will give contractor’s a better idea of what to expect before they show up, which will help things go more smoothly on arrival.
Know what type of system before looking for a repair person. This helps make sure your contractor has the information they will need.
It is important to have some knowledge of your present system and needs before calling a contractor. Providing you with an accurate estimate over the telephone may be difficult to impossible is they can’t see the system you have. If you can’t explain changes you’ve made, the process will be even more difficult. You need to know this before you begin.
Clean the fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
The coils and blades on the fans should be cleaned once a year. First, the power should be turned off so things don’t move as you work. Next, pop the grill off, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Be sure to clean debris from external condenser units regularly. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can also cause the unit to overheat and break down.
A big mistake that people make is cutting the grass next to the outdoor condenser unit and allowing all of the clippings to blow inside the fan and coil. Turn your lawnmower in the opposite direction. If you’re blowing leaves, this same problem can occur, so make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often during the fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. As it brings in cool air to cool, you will save a lot of money.
Sae 20 Oil
A good way to save money with your air conditioning is by installing a programmable thermostat. This will help you to keep the temperature at optimal levels. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.
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, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Turn your AC off if no one is at home. This will save you money on your energy bills. When the AC is left running, your power bill will go up quite a bit.
Have your heating and cooling system serviced twice a year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Research and check the reputation of companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the best one for your situation. It would be wise of you to take these steps.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This simple tip will maximize the life of your unit.
Problems with an air conditioning unit happen when it ices up. You may even encounter a freeze in your drain line which is often confused with a plumbing leak. If you see this, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. If the issue persists, call in help.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on air conditioning costs. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
There are sizing calculators available to determine the proper sized system for your home. Proper sizing will increase efficiency. Check your manual to figure out what the rating is from the manufacturer to be sure you’re getting the right information.
During the visit, the contractor will oil parts, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These easy to do things will keep your system running at peak performance.
Figure out how long the HVAC company you choose has been in business. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money. Hiring a newer contractor may be taking a considerable risk.
Don’t allow your home to become dangerously hot. Air conditioners can only cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. So, if you house heats up to about 95, your air conditioning will only bring that temp down to about 80 degrees. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. You have the potential to save a great deal of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. Ideally, you should call five to six contractors to get a good idea of what a reasonable rate is.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something that’s happening to you, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Do you need a new HVAC system? There are many things to consider. First, the rating a system has indicates how much area they can warm up or cool down. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than a smaller one.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. Hiring a contractor can be risky.
If you current HVAC doesn’t work that well, try testing ducts for leaks. This is a job your local utility provider may do for you inexpensively or even free of charge. You’ll see the test pays for itself once all leaks are fixed.
Ask friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People will tell you who they have used and if they are usually more than willing to share this information. This can also a great way to get names of companies that should avoid.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, there may be something obstructing it. Often the problem will be some kind of debris hitting your fans in your cooling system. That is a simple solution; just take the debris out. Before contacting someone for repairs, make sure you investigate the problem first.
There are now different online sites that other customers to share their experiences with contractors. This will be an excellent way to locate people you should work with and who isn’t.
When determining which size of air conditioner to buy, first measure the area which needs to be cooled. For each square foot you’ll need 20 BTU of cooling power. Account for all of the rooms in the house.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You should save tons of money this way. You want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
If you’re only wanting to do the minimal amount of HVAC maintenance, you should work on replacing your air filter. This is the easiest step to take to ensure that your unit remains in good operating condition. They are very inexpensive and well worth the time and money to replace.
Are you looking at purchasing a new HVAC system? You will need to take a few things first. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool or heat an area well. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
Choose an HVAC company that is quick and knows what they are doing. Good firms ensure they are always on schedule. A professional can also perform a quick diagnosis on a faulty machine to locate the problem. Once they know what’s wrong, they should also know how to get them resolved efficiently and quickly.
If you HVAC unit is making a clicking sound, immediately start looking for any obstructions. Sometimes debris that gets in the cooling system fans. Look at this prior to calling in a technician.
Make certain the contractor you hire has the appropriate experience. The contractor should be experienced in handling the kind of work that you require. It’s best to find someone who knows what they’re doing.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioning. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If multiple rooms need cooling, combine their square footage in your calculations.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. Check to see what other customers have experienced with them. This will keep the scam artists away, but this only works by actually following up on the references.
Pick an HVAC business that know what they’re doing and can work quickly. The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on schedule and keep appointments. A licensed technician should also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. After diagnosis, it should be taken care of right away.
Be sure you know what goes into what you’re about to pay for the HVAC work if you’re paying a contractor. The contractors can overcharge later for items like material and fee costs and charges. You can avoid these issues if you have a contract that is written out.
There are dishonest contractors that will overcharge you. A contract that covers the basics will prevent this materializes.
Believe it or not, approximately 66 percent of all homes have leaking ducts! They can raise your utility bill by as much as 25 percent. Making certain these are sealed will minimize the electricity used by your unit.
Cover your condenser unit for protection in the weather becomes less than optimal. This will increase the life of your condenser last longer when not being used. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the condenser unit.
Use a contractor that makes use of Energy Star products. If they have Energy Star logo, then you know that the product has met the standards set for energy efficiency set forth by the EPA. This will help you to save money on utility bills.
Always check out any references that are given to you by a prospective HVAC contractor.
As the weather cools down, you must keep your condenser unit protected. Try placing a thick cover on top of it. Also, make sure you don’t use the condenser unit when the temperature is in the 50s and below.
You may be surprised that as many as two-thirds of households have ducts that are leaky. These can add 25 percent of what you pay for utilities. It is not difficult to seal your ducts, and it will save you on your bills every month.
If you have your unit running, make sure you know where the owner’s manual is. There are a lot of tricks that you will find in this book. You can get a replacement manual from the manufacturer if you need one.
Seek out HVAC contractors that only use products that carry the Energy Star equipment and products. This rating means that the EPA. This will help you save money on energy all year.
Do you now see just how important it is to keep your HVAC operating properly? Only bad things happen when you fail to perform routine inspections. The excellent tips provided above will help you to keep your HVAC system in tip top shape.
