It can be hard for homeowners to understand where to go when they have a cooling or heating system isn’t working properly. To ward off disaster, it is worth any time spent to become familiar with the subject. The thrust of this article is to assist homeowners who need quick insight into HVAC.
Know what type of system before looking for a repair person. This will ensure that you to give your chosen contractor any information they need.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, tour your home before calling a technician. Notice the temperature in each room. Are some cooler or hotter than others? That knowledge can help the technician figure out what is going on.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Clean your fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
The operation of your HVAC system can be in danger when the tree leaves begin to fall. At least twice a week, you need to clean the grill of your fan. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, it could cause your system to break down.
Clean the debris on your condenser unit. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can also cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Turn the power 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.
A good place to place your compressor unit outside is in a shady spot. The cooler the air that the unit is able to access, the less work it has to perform.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it is clogged, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Make sure your HVAC system checked twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Make use of a thermostat when you are installing an HVAC. 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. Also, you can find a thermostat that is controllable from a computer or smart phone.
Fan Setting
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you notice this, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Service your HVAC unit at least one time a year. The motor should be checked, the parts oiled and the freon levels inspected. This maintenance means that your system will operate optimally.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Ask people that you know and relations for contractor recommendations. People that have had great service are usually willing to share this information. This can also a great way to get names of those companies that you should be avoided.
If nobody is home, turn off the AC. Sure, the temp will rise, but no one is home anyway. If will be constantly fighting the heat and using lots of electricity if it is left on all day.
There are plenty of sites these days that let customers talk about the service they received. This is an excellent method of finding contractors that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save tons of cash simply by asking for many quotes. You want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Some air conditioners can ice up. Freezes also occur in your drain line. These freezes are easily confused as leaks to the untrained eye. When you see ice, turn the unit to fan. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Are you considering purchasing a new heating/cooling system? You will need to know some things into account. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they effectively heat or cool. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
Figure out which direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system can work better. The less heat inside the house, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. If you purchase something that is too big, it won’t be cost effective to run. Look at the manual to figure out the manufacturing rates the unit for accurate cooling information.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in your cooling system. Check this out before calling a contractor.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You generally need 20 BTU for each square footage of the room. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, just add their total square footage.
Ask for helpful information when you are looking for a HVAC contractor. People who’ve had great service are usually willing to tell of it. You are likely to also hear about negative experiences.
The home’s heating and cooling system is integral if you want to be comfortable. However, by arming yourself with the right knowledge ahead of time, it doesn’t have to be a dire situation. The tips you learned here can help homeowners make informed decisions regarding their HVAC systems.
