The heating and cooling systems of comfort experienced within a home are very important. That means your HVAC system healthy. If you don’t properly care for your unit, you can expect costly repairs and miserable living conditions. Here are some tips to help you keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Go through your home before you call HVAC professional. Make note of which rooms are cold and which are hot. That will help your repairman figure out where the problem is, and how he can fix it easily and quickly.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will help you give the contractor the necessary information.
Before choosing a HVAC company find out what the company offers. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate without looking at your system. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.
Clean the debris that accumulates on an external condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can cause your unit.
Before the summer you should clean out your condenser fan’s blades and coils. The power to the unit should be removed before you begin any maintenance, even cleaning. Remove leaves and debris from the condenser outside.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Regularly remove debris from outside condenser units. Things tend to pile up around these units, especially after storms come through, which could cause problems to your system. Overheating can occur, which often spells disaster for your system.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass in a direction from the unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Make sure your HVAC unit is in the shade. The air in the shade is cooler and can help save on energy costs.
10 Drops
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. If the outside temp is under 60 degrees, turn the unit off to prevent damage. This will ensure your system stays in good working order every year, saving you money on costly repairs.
Lubricate your condenser at least once a year. You can easily find the ports have a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning costs. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you’re not around. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather turns cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can ensure your system working for years without the cost of repairs.
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. This means that if the weather is above 100 degrees, then you’ll still be baking in 80 degree weather at first! This is not a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This will also helps keep it warm in heat when it gets cold.
Make certain the HVAC company you choose has a proven track record. This gives you some history so that you can be sure the company is reliable. If you choose to hire a new contractor, you may be risking things.
Do not allow your house to get dangerously hot. Air conditioners really can only cool a home by just twenty degrees Fahrenheit within a short time. If your home become 100F or more, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
To improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, think about placing a radiant barrier in your attic. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. You may even find that you can use the attic space more effectively.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you notice this, disable the compressor by switching the thermostat to run the fan only. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Have you been thinking about buying a new HVAC system? There are many things to consider. Systems are rated by the amount of area the system can heat and cool effectively. It may be wise to get a unit that is a bit larger than needed. Just don’t get one that is smaller than you need.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. A local utility company often performs free duct testing. If it isn’t free, then it is still cheaper than an HVAC specialist in most areas. When the leaks are repaired, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Determining the direction in which your house faces can help make the HVAC system efficient. You can help keep your home cool with the strategic placement of trees. The less heat inside the house, the less time that the AC has to work.
Ask around so you are looking for a HVAC contractor. People who’ve had a good experience are usually willing to tell of their contractor. This is also a great way to find which companies to stay away from.
When your unit is clicking, immediately go out and look to see if anything is inside it. Frequently the cause is some kind of debris that is making contact with the cooling system of the fan. You just have to take out the obstruction and the problem is solved. Look before calling in a technician.
There are a lot of sites these days that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This method provides you are interested in dealing with all the information you want to avoid.
Your doors and windows need to be as efficient as the HVAC system you use. They should have tight seals so outside air cannot get in and inside air can not get out. You can also hire someone to test them.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save tons of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. You may want to call at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system working well. This represents an easy way to keep your system working well. Filters cost only a few dollars, so it’s a small monthly price to pay.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home and the outside. You could even use your attic space more effectively.
Hire an HVAC contractor that is efficient and quick. You want one that maintains a schedule. The technicians need to also know what to do to figure out what’s going wrong with an HVAC unit quickly. After they know what the problem is, it’s just a matter of time before they have it back and running properly.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your existing system is not up to snuff. When the leaks are repaired, you may see that the testing pays for itself.
As you are thinking about where to put your AC unit, consider how the air moves out of it. If you have to place it in a corner of your home, be sure you’re getting a unit that has air flow coming from a direction that’s not facing the wall.
Determine the direction that your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. The less heat, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
You should always ask a contractor a few simple questions before hiring them for a job, such as how long they’ve been working in this field. You need to be sure that they’re able to do the work and have done it before. Though some workers with less experience are great, you do not want to risk it.
Square Footage
Only hire a contractor to install or repair your HVAC system if they offer a 24-hour hotline for 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 will need about 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. When several rooms must be cooled, you must add together all of the square footage.
During the winter months, you will want to cover your condenser unit to protect it. This helps protect your unit from damage. Do not use the compressor if the temperature drops below 60 degrees. Turn on the fan and avoid straining the unit.
If you have to put the unit in a corner, be sure to buy a unit which allows for the air flow direction to be changed away from the wall.
Buy an Energy Star HVAC unit to save money. This will save you a ton of money during the year. These are put in place by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The government is in charge of this. Taking time to look into these units may help you get long-term savings on energy costs.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have the sort of work you require.
Believe it or not, approximately 66 percent of all homes have leaking ducts! These can lead to as much as a quarter of your utility costs. It is easy and cheap to seal the ducts. You can do it yourself so that your electricity bill does not skyrocket.
You can now see how important a properly maintained HVAC system is. Don’t ignore it or it could fail on you because you didn’t give it regular maintenance. Apply the above advice to keep it in good shape, avoiding unpleasant surprises.
Make sure to periodically clean your heating ducts on the HVAC unit to keep it heating efficiently and providing fresh, clean air. Look often at the ducts to make sure there is nothing wrong with them. Ducts that are damaged can increase your heating bill by wasting the warm air.
