Many homeowners are at a loss when the HVAC system starts to fail. To stop such a situation from becoming a real disaster, it is helpful to read up on the topic in advance. This article was written to help conscientious homeowners learn how to hire the proper help they need for their HVAC unit.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This information will help make sure that the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
If you struggle with your HVAC, try touring your home before calling a professional. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. That knowledge can help the technician figure out what is going on.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your external condenser unit regularly.
Turn it off 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.
Clean the coils of your condenser fan each month. If you are doing more than a light surface cleaning, make sure that the power is shut off to the HVAC unit. Also, make sure you remove any debris or leaves from the condenser unit outside.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass in a direction from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Have your HVAC system serviced at least yearly. This should be done in the fall and the spring.
If you have outside condenser units, make sure to regularly clean the debris that builds up. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system. It can cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Turn off outdoor condenser when weather turns cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This simple tip will help keep the system working for many years and save you a lot on repairs.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This also keeps warm air in during the winter.
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. Then take off the grill, take the blades out, and gently clean them.
When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, moving parts well oiled and the level of freon adjusted if necessary. These simple things will help your system to run at peak performance.
Do not allow your house to get dangerously hot. An AC unit is really only able to reduce the internal temperature by twenty degrees in a fair time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
If the fan condenser on your unit has ports for oil, make sure you lubricate it once a year. You’ll find these ports are covered with a metal or rubber cap. Your oil should be an SAE 20. This particular oil is very lightweight and it only requires about 10 drops per port.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check them out at the best one for your situation. These steps will help ensure you make the smartest and most informed choice.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you notice this, put your thermostat over to fan. If this doesn’t work, call in help.
If you want to know where you should put an outdoor compressor, you should place it somewhere where there is a lot of shade. The cooler the air that the unit is able to access, the less work it has to perform.
Look for air conditioner sizing 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.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. Hiring a newer contractor comes with an element of risk.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Additionally, some models of programmable thermostats actually allow you to control them remotely from your office computer or cell phone.
There are many sites that let customers share their service experiences. This will be an excellent way to locate people you who is great and people that may not work well with you.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home and the outside. You could even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Do not allow your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool down unreasonably high temps. This means that if the weather is above 100 degrees, then you’ll still be baking in 80 degree weather at first! Depending on the levels of humidity, that is not a safe temperature when it comes to sleeping or escaping from the heat of summer.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This is the simplest thing that your unit running in good operating condition.
Pick HVAC companies that understands the unit and can work quickly. The best companies keep the technicians will always be on time. The technicians should also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC unit quickly. After they know what the problem is, it should be taken care of right away.
Always take the time to check out the reputation of any HVAC contractor before you consider hiring them. It can be helpful to check out the online reviews of previous customers and it is always wise to check their reputation as listed on a Better Business Bureau website. This will help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
If it has to be placed in a corner, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to know that they have done the type of experience needed to work on your particular system.
Try finding online A/C sizing calculators to figure out the ideal size for a unit for the house or a room. Buying a unit that is too large for your home is a poor decision that wastes money. Check your manual to figure out what the rating is from the manufacturer to be sure you’re getting the right information.
Nobody ever wants their heating and/or cooling systems to go out when it is really hot or really cold. Having a good understanding of the workings of your HVAC system can help. Using the solid advice in the article above can be the best decision any homemaker can make.
