Letting the HVAC system fall into ruin is an incredibly foolish decision for any homeowner.You are likely here because you want to learn about what you can do in order to help the HVAC system to last. The article has some helpful tips just for you.
If your HVAC system is acting up, do a tour of your house before you call in help. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Write down the make, model, and any maintenance history. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor any information they might need.
Hvac Contractor
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to give you a price estimate on the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim your grass clippings in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
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. The outside condenser unit should be kept free of leaves and other debris.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it is clogged, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Put your outdoor units in places with shade.
If there are condenser units as part of your HVAC system, clean them often as they tend to have lots of debris. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Your HVAC system should be checked a few times per each year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather turns cold. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will help keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Turn it off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, take off the grill and get the blades out. Clean everything with care.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. This same effect also keeps warm in during the winter.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outside unit. Have the grass shoot in the opposite direction. If you’re blowing leaves, this same problem can occur, so make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it.
Companies with proven track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. You want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose leaves. When you see nearby trees shedding their leaves, clean the fan grill on your unit constantly. If your fan is obstructed, it can keep your system from working properly.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You may even use the attic space more effectively.
If you HVAC unit is clicking, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. Often the issue is some sort of debris that’s hitting fans in your cooling system. Check it out before calling a contractor.
Many homeowners forget to oil their condenser at least once per year, but it is required. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Make sure they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Square Footage
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather gets cold. To prevent damage, turn off your unit if the outside temperature is less than 60 degrees. You’ll pay less for repairs which you follow this tip.
Measure the area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of the area to be cooled. If multiple rooms need cooling, be sure to add their square footage together.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This will help your HVAC system running well.
If possible, your single pane windows should be replaced with double-paned ones. Good double pane windows keep cool air in during the summer and minimize your utility expenses. This also helps retain heated air during the colder months.
If you can only put it into a corner, get a unit where the air won’t be trapped against the wall.
It should now be apparent that you can prevent HVAC disasters with proper maintenance. It can cost lots of money to get it fixed. Don’t let this happen; work on using the advice you were given above.
To help you pick a good HVAC contractor, be sure to research a number of different companies. Check with the BBB and online reviews as well. Investing the time to check out potential contractors can save you money and headaches.
