Coming home to an HVAC unit is no fun at all. The tips that follow will assist you do just that.
Know what type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This will let you to give the contractor the information that can help them.
Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. It’s hard to get an estimate since they haven’t look at your system. They need to come look at the unit. It’s a good idea to learn this information in advance.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, do a tour of your house before you call in help. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is.
Clean the fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your condenser as well.
Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Always turn the unit off before you do anything to it, including leaning. Leaves and debris can build up inside the unit and cause damage.
Turn it off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade.
When the trees are losing their leaves, your HVAC unit can suffer. When the leaves fall from nearby trees, clean the grill of your fan often. The fan should have a clear path for air to come in. If it is blocked, your system will suffer.
Turn off outdoor condensers you have when the weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your system last much longer and will have to be repaired less often.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also helps retain heated air during the colder months.
If the fan on your condenser includes oil ports, they must be lubricated annually. You will see rubber or metal caps covering the ports. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don’t want to put in too much.
When it’s checked out, the motor will be inspected, and they will oil all the moving parts. These easy to do things are going to allow your system to run at its peak performance.
Don’t let your house get way too hot to where it’s dangerous. An AC unit will reduce the internal temperature by twenty degrees in a fair time. If your home become 100F or more, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Put your outdoor unit in places with shade. This will help you save on your energy bill.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews posted by former customers. These simple steps can help make a better decision.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home.Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Your HVAC unit requires regular maintenance at least two times per each year. This should be checked often for debris and malfunctions. Even if you can’t see anything wrong, checking it may help you locate and repair some possible issues.
There are a number of sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding people that you should work with and those that you don’t.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save quite a bit of money by asking for price quotes. You may want to call at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
When colder weather arrives, switch off all outdoor condenser units. If it’s lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. This will ensure your system stays in good working order every year, saving you money on costly repairs.
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 could even use the attic space more effectively.
Use these tips to master your HVAC system. A breakdown of your unit can be frustrating. And high repair costs on top of that just compounds the issues. Prevent this with the solid information you have here. Remember these tips, and keep your system in tip-top shape.
Install a thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. If you adjust it to keep the house a little warmer or a little cooler during the time you are sleeping, you may see your energy bill go down by as much as ten percent. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.
