Follow these tips on dealing with your HVAC system.
Know what type of system before looking for a repair person. This will enable you give the new contractor any information they might need.
Before calling anyone to repair your system, know what system you have. Look for the maintenance history and brand and model. This will help you give the new contractor the necessary information.
Clean your fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your condenser as well.
Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass in a different direction from the other direction. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Tour your home before calling a contractor. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. Doing so can help your technician fix your HVAC issue quickly.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser at least once a year. You can find these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
When you call an HVAC system for help, you need to be aware of what you need them to do before calling. It is going to be hard to get a price estimate on the phone if the current system isn’t something they’ve seen. It will be more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available. So, know this information in advance.
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Turn off outdoor condensers you have when the weather turns cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your system running efficiently for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Be careful when doing yard work that you do not get debris on or in your unit. Make sure you shoot the clippings in the other direction from the unit. This also applies to blowing leaves or moving debris. Just be careful with that exterior HVAC unit.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
During a maintenance visit, the contractor will oil parts, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These simple tasks will keep your system.
As you notice the tress begin to lose their leaves, keep an eye on your outdoor condenser unit. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. The fan should have a clear path for air to come in. If it is blocked, your system will suffer.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a new contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, 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 reasonable rates are.
You can boost the efficiency of your HVAC unit by replacing it with a new energy efficient one or moving your old one to a shady outside location. If the air your machine draws in is already cooler, it will require less energy to regulate before it’s filtered into your home.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home and the outside. You could even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Determine which way your home faces.The less heat, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.
Your HVAC system should be checked a few times a year. Your system should be inspected in Spring and Fall. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, there may be something obstructing it. Sometimes debris that gets in the cooling system fans. Check it out before you call in the professionals.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the room. If you are cooling more than one room, combine their square footage in your calculations.
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. This can keep your HVAC running and can save you money on repairs.
Pick an HVAC business that is fast and knows what to do. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians will always be on schedule. The technicians need to also be able to diagnose problems in your HVAC unit quickly. After diagnosis, it’s just a matter of time before they have it back and running properly.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. Make sure they are experienced doing the kind of work that is needed.
If everyone is out, turn the air conditioner off. You may want to turn your unit off if your house will not become extremely hot or cold. If it’s left on all day, it will fight the heat all day, which uses quite a bit of electricity.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
Some contractors will attempt to overcharge you on material fees and fuel charges. Having a solid written contract will let you avoid any issues like this.
Don’t let your house get too hot. AC units will only cool a house down 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. Depending on the humidity level, this temperature isn’t considered a safe sleeping temperature for the human body to be able to recover from the summer heat.
Always check out any references provided to you by an HVAC contractor.
You may be surprised that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that are leaky. This alarming percentage is responsible for nearly one quarter of your energy bill. Sealing the ducts is easy and cheap to do yourself, and it can significantly decrease your electrical bill yearly thereafter.
Find an air conditioner calculator online to determine what models are best for you. If the unit is too large, it won’t cool more than a smaller unit, just less efficiently. Always look through the manual as well.
Look for HVAC contractors that uses Energy Star equipment and products. This rating means that your system has met the EPA standards for efficiency. This means that they can help you save more on your bills throughout the year.
If you want to be comfortable in a home it’s a good idea to get a good HVAC system setup. Failing to maintain this type of system will lead to discomfort. Avoid this by following the tips presented here for proper HVAC functioning.
You should always review the experience and history of an HVAC specialist before hiring them. This will ensure that you find someone who knows their stuff. Working with someone that does not yet have a reputation in the business is a bit riskier.
