Many people forget about their HVAC until it is too late. It can be difficult to find the right person to fix your system. The tips listed here will help you work your way through the process.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This helps make sure your contractor will need.
Be aware of the type of system that is installed in your home prior to calling a contractor to fix it. Learn the brand and the model. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor all the information they need.
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 and how to fix it.
Lubricate your condenser if it has oil ports. These are often covered with rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Before you choose an HVAC contractor, have an idea in your mind of what needs to be done. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. If you do not know what you want, the process can become tedious, especially over the phone. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.
Put outdoor condensers in the shade if you are installing them.
Be sure you have twice annual HVAC system checks. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
In order to keep your outside condenser fan running efficiently, make sure the coils and the fan blades are cleaned before the cooling season begins. Turn off the power if you are going to work on your HVAC system. Remove leaves and debris from the condenser outside.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
During your service visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These simple things are going to allow your system to run its best.
When spring rolls around, give the condenser fan blades and coils a good clean. Before you begin cleaning the unit, make sure that it is unplugged. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.
Don’t let your house get way too hot to where it’s dangerous. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time limit. If your home become 100F or more, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and look for reviews as well. Doing this will make sure you choose wisely..
As you notice the tress begin to lose their leaves, keep an eye on your outdoor condenser unit. When the leaves fall from nearby trees, clean the grill of your fan often. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your home. Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
There are quite a number of great sites now that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is an excellent method of finding people that you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you want to avoid.
You need to lubricate parts of your fan condenser. These are usually covered with rubber or metal caps. Chose SAE 20 oil, which has been proven to be the most effective.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You have the potential to save a great deal of money this way. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what you should be paying.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not up to snuff. If you do have leaks that are repaired, you’ll find that fixed leaks are worth the money.
If you own your own home or have permission from your landlord, replace your single pane windows with double paned versions. Double pane windows will help keep your home cooler in the summer. Conversely, this also works to keep warm air in during colder months.
Measure the area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You generally need about 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If more than one room needs AC service, just add their total square footage.
Pick an HVAC companies that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies will ensure that their technicians working honestly and on schedule. The technicians should also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC unit quickly. After they see what the problem is, they resolve issues swiftly.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. Programmable thermostats can automatically dial back settings, saving you money. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to know that they have done the type of experience needed to work on your particular system.
Always get references before hiring any contractor.
Keep your air conditioner off when people aren’t home to save you money. The house will heat up when it is turned off, but only a certain amount. Leaving it on all the time only makes it work harder and results in a larger utility bill.
Some contractors will attempt to charge you later for items like materials and fuel. Having a written contract will let you avoid issues like this.
These products are known to meet strict guidelines for efficiency. The guidelines are created by the United States. They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking time to fully research various units may help you get long-term savings on energy costs.
Do not allow your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. 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. With high humidity, this is an unsafe temperature even for sleeping.
You might be surprised that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that are leaky. These can account for up to one fourth of your home’s utility costs. It is easy and cheap to fix the ducts yourself, and you will see a noticeable change in the amount you pay for electricity.
Look for HVAC contractors that uses Energy Star equipment and products. This ensures efficiency that the EPA standards for efficiency. This will help you to save money on your heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
Spend some time on researching for reliable HVAC companies to ensure that they have a good reputation. Inquire with the BBB and look elsewhere for other reviews from customers. These steps are going to help to ensure your decision is a wise one.
Keep your system operating efficiently and enjoy clean air by cleaning the heating ducts. Look often at the ducts regularly so you can make sure they are in good shape. Damaged ducts could increase your heating bill to rise.
Make sure that your condenser unit is protected once the weather begins to get colder.This can be done by placing a cover on it.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. If the unit is too large, it won’t cool more than a smaller unit, just less efficiently. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Make sure the owner’ manual in handy when you use the unit. The information contained within this manual is going to give you quite a few things to learn about the unit you have and will help you out if you’re dealing with problems.
Now that you know a thing or two about HVAC systems, you should feel comfortable dealing with them. Next time you have trouble with your unit, you will now be much better prepared. Use what you’ve just learned to make it a simple process.
Turn to online reviews if you’re not sure how you should hire to perform HVAC maintenance. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. This will make it easier for you to find the right contractor.
