A properly running HVAC system can make one’s home life more pleasant. If an HVAC system should fail, it can be very frustrating. Learning how to maintain your HVAC system begins with the tips below.
Before you call someone to help you fix your system, be sure to know what sort of system you have in place. Write down what brand your system is along with the model number and, if they’re available, maintenance records. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
You should clean your condenser fan’s blades and coils every spring. Turn it off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Remove the grill and the blades, and then you can give them all a gentle clean.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
As the trees around your home lose leaves, it can cause your HVAC unit trouble. When the leaves fall from nearby trees, clean the grill of your fan often. The air needs to be unobstructed into the fan, and any blockages create performance issues for the whole system.
Sae 20 Oil
Lubricate your condenser yearly if it has oil ports. You’ll see that the ports here are closed with a rubber or metal cap. You should select an SAE 20 oil since it is lightweight and does not contain detergent. Be sure to use just 10 drops or so, or your system may overfill.
Lubricate your condenser once each year. You can find the ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Have the HVAC system checked twice a year at the least. Ideally, you should have it looked at in the spring and fall so you know everything is set for the hot and cold months. This type if preventative maintenance is highly necessary to ward off any expensive troubles from coming your way.
Have the HVAC serviced twice per year. This should be done in the fall and the spring.
Replace any single-paned windows with double-paned versions. Good double pane windows keep cool air in during the summer and minimize your utility expenses. This also works during the cold months to keep the warm air inside.
Turn off your outdoor condensers you have when it becomes cold out. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This helps your system remain in good working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
When everyone is gone, turn your AC off. When you turn the air conditioner off, the house may heat up a little but only a certain amount. Leaving it on for the entire day means that it is struggling to keep things cool, something that takes lots of energy.
During a maintenance visit, the contractor will oil parts, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These things will boost the performance of your HVAC system running smoothly.
Don’t allow your home to overheat. Expect an air conditioning unit to drop the temperature down 20 degrees within a short amount of time. A home that is over one hundred degrees will only be cooled to around eighty. Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
Never allow the temperature in your home to get dangerously hot inside. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
In order to select an HVAC contractor that you can trust, it pays to invest some time researching a few prospective companies and checking their reputations. You may also want to check with the BBB for information. This will help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. These simple steps will help to ensure your decision is a better decision.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. If you get a unit that is too large, it will cost a lot in energy costs. Check the manual it comes with for the information you need.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this happens, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Turn to online reviews if you’re not sure how you should hire to perform HVAC maintenance. Many online sites permit customers to let others know about their experiences with various services and contractors. This will be an excellent way to locate people you should work with and people that may not work well with you.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for this information.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. In an ideal situation, you can estimate a reasonable rate by getting quotes from up to a half-dozen individual contractors or businesses.
Ask around so you are looking for a reputable HVAC contractor. People that have had quality work done are worth calling. This can also a great way to get names of those companies that should be avoided.
Install a radiant barrier in your attic to boost HVAC efficiency. This blocks heat from entering your home, which lowers how much energy is needed to keep it cool in the warm months. You may even find that you can use the attic space more effectively.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You will be likely to save a lot of cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. You want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors to determine what you should be paying.
Have you been thinking about buying a new HVAC system? There are some things you need to keep in mind. Each system has a rating and that rating tells the area that can be effectively temperature controlled. You should buy a little bigger than necessary unit over a little smaller than necessary unit.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. You may even find that you can use your attic space if it is done right.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. 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. When you repair the leaks, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.
Are you thinking about buying a cooling and heating system that’s new? You will need to think about a few things into account. The rating given to a system tells how much are generally rated based on the area they cover. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than purchasing one that is a smaller one.
The HVAC system is only one piece in an efficient home. You must also consider the quality of your windows and doors. Be sure that they’re sealed well so that air from the outside or inside doesn’t come in or escape. Ask a contractor to test them for you.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you get leaks repaired, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
Take a measuring tape and get the square footage of the area where the unit will be cooling. The area’s calculation can help you figure out what the size is and there are 20 BTUs for every foot squared in this area. When several rooms must be cooled, determine the square footage of each room and then add the numbers together.
Hvac System
You should replace the filter on your HVAC system once every month. This represents an easy way to keep your system working well. Filters are cheap, and changing them regularly adds up to long term savings.
Now that you’re done reading this article, you understand how important it is to have a properly maintained HVAC system. Without routine maintenance, disaster is inevitable. You are lucky to find this article so you know how to ensure your HVAC system provided proper heating and cooling.
Before you decide on the location of your air conditioning unit, take a look at the air flow direction. Make sure you have plenty of air flow control options if you are forced to install the unit in a corner.
