
A quality HVAC system is something you need in a home so you have to be sure you maintain this equipment right at all times. A lot of homeowners spend money fixing them up when broken, but if they were able to figure out how to fix things on their own it would have been avoided.The article below can help you about HVAC system maintenance so you will not experience this cost.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, 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.
Always make sure you are up-to-date about your HVAC unit. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. This helps make sure the contractor has the information they will need.
Clean any debris that accumulates on your condenser units. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can cause your system by overheating.
10 Drops
Before you choose someone to do HVAC work, figure out what they need to do for you. It’s hard for these contractors to give phone estimates without seeing the current system you have. Getting an estimate will be even more difficult if you cannot adequately describe the problem. Understand this information beforehand.
Lubricate your condenser once a year. These ports are usually covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade.
As the trees around your home lose leaves, it can cause your HVAC unit trouble. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often during the fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you save money on air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
During the visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These things will boost the performance of your system running at peak performance.
Check to determine if the fan condenser on your HVAC system is equipped with oil ports, and if it is, be sure to lubricate every year. They generally have a rubber or metal cap on them. Buy an SAE 20 product that is lightweight, and then put no more than ten drops into the ports.
Don’t ever let your home get too hot. An air conditioning unit will reduce the temperature by twenty degrees in a short time span. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
If you want things to be more efficient, get new units outside or have your current one moved into the shade. When the air conditioner pulls in cooler air, it won’t have to do much more to cool it and that will save you a lot of money on energy bills.
Ask friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People that have had quality work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. This can also a great way to get names of businesses that you should avoid at all costs.
There are a lot of sites these days that allow customers to share their experiences with contractors. This will tell you to find the right contractor.
Be sure you have the HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. This should be done in Fall and Spring to prepare it for the extreme months. Even if everything seems fine, check things out to find potential problems.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed 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 space more effectively.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. The less heat in your home, the less time that the AC has to work.
Getting a programmable thermostats can be a terrific way to realize savings. In fact, you can save as much as 10 percent on both heating and cooling when you turn your thermostat by by 10-15 percent for at least 8 hours daily. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.
Make sure they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can get a professional out to help you test them.
Square Footage
You can keep energy costs in your home lower by choosing to have professional maintenance done on your HVAC unit. During the visit, the contractor will oil parts, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of room space. If you are cooling more than one room, be sure to add their square footage together.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This is an easy thing to do to keep your unit running in tip top shape.
Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. The drain line can freeze, making you think it’s a plumbing leak. If this is something that’s happening to you, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. You should still call a professional to help regardless.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They should be there when you need them, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.
There are dishonest contractors that try to charge you more later for such things like material fees and fuel charges. Having a solid written contract can help to avoid issues like that.
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. Read over the owner’s manual to see the manufacturers suggestions as to the cooling capacity of the unit for the most accurate information.
Always follow up on any references provided to you by an HVAC contractor.
This determines the number of BTUs needed to maintain comfort in your system has to be.
Before you hire any HVAC company, ask them how long they’ve been open for business. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money. It’s a risk to hire a new one.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This can save you a great deal on your energy bills as it constantly adjusts your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
You may be surprised to discover that as much as 66% of households have ducts that leak. These can lead to as much as a quarter of your total utility costs. Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, and it is something you can do yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.
You can always search the Internet when you aren’t entirely sure who you should call for proper HVAC repair or maintenance. You have a choice of review sites to use. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with those you want to avoid.
Look for an HVAC contractor that uses Energy Star equipment and products. This will ensure that the product is more efficient than those without it.This means that they can help you to save money on your heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
Hvac System
A radiant barrier is an awesome device which will help improve the efficiency of your HVAC unit. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. You could even use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
As stated above, your HVAC system is very important and you need to keep it running right. With luck these tips will save you money. But it is your responsibility to take your HVAC system seriously and keep it in good shape.