The comfort of a home is heated and cooled is important. That means your HVAC system healthy. Without proper care, you will be uncomfortable while you wait for an expensive repair. Here are some great tips to get you keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Know what type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will help make sure that the contractor you hire to repair it.
Cleaning the blades and coils will help the system run better. Before you clean the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Remove leaves and debris from the condenser outside.
If your HVAC is running into problems, try touring your home before calling a professional. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to give you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. Be sure to turn the power off first; you don’t want anything to move. Next, pop off the grill, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction from your unit.This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Leaves falling from trees can wreak havoc with your HVAC unit. During this time of year, check and clear off the fan grill on your unit on a regular basis. When the fan becomes obstructed, you will lose out on quality air.
Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice per year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Turn off any outdoor condenser when it’s getting cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This simple tip will help keep the system working for many years and save you a lot on repairs.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. Your air conditioner won’t have to work so hard if the air is sucks in is already cool.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm air in during the winter.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check them out at the best one for your situation. This can help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
When the weather cools down, turn your outdoor condenser off. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this, put your thermostat over to fan. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
Update the windows in your home to double-paned if you own it. Double pane windows help minimize your air conditioning use in the summer by keeping the cooler air inside your home. It keeps heat in during the winter, too.
Ask your friends and family for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are usually more than willing to tell of it. This can also be used to see who you learn the names of those companies that you should avoid hiring.
There are many sites that let customers talk about their experiences with different services. This is useful for finding people that you want to hire and those that you don’t.
Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. It will help save on your heating and cooling costs by turning itself down at certain times. You can often control it from your mobile phone!
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You will be likely to save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you have leaks repaired, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. Expect an air conditioning unit to drop the temperature down 20 degrees within a short amount of time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. Depending on the humidity level, this temperature isn’t considered a safe sleeping temperature for the human body to be able to recover from the summer heat.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. If there is less heat coming into your home, your AC will work less.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air inside. You can also hire someone to test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
You can get ice in your air conditioner. This can also happen on the drain line. Change your thermostat in situations like this. This problem will need to be handled by a professional, even though the fan will probably help with the ice situation.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. It is the easiest way you can take care of it.
If it has to be placed in a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.
Use an HVAC company that has been in business for a while. Firms that have been in business for a long time are easier to assess. It is riskier to hire someone who does not have a long history.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand more about your HVAC system. Maintain your unit on a monthly basis. Use the suggestions given above so you don’t find one day that your home is either too cold or too hot.
