Having an HVAC system in good working order can make a home run better. But if you experience a failure of your HVAC system, the situation can become frustrating very quickly. Learning how to maintain your HVAC system begins with the tips will prove very useful.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Leaves and debris can damage your system. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. When the fan becomes obstructed, you will lose out on quality air.
Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor. A contractor will be hard pressed to provide you with an accurate estimate without looking at your system.It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Be sure to clean debris from external condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can cause it to overheat.
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. Most of these ports have some sort of protective cap covering them. Put 10 drops of lightweight, non-detergent SAE oil in each port. Be careful not to use too much.
Turn it off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Direct the clippings in a direction away from the HVAC unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
Make certain that an outdoor unit is in the shade. When it draws in air for cooling, it will be more efficient because it will not need to work as hard to cool down the air.
Make sure your HVAC systems is checked at least twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when it’s getting cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can ensure your unit is working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Place your HVAC unit in the shade to boost efficiency. As your air conditioner sucks in cool air, little will have to be done to cool it any further, saving you a ton on your energy bills.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This will also help you keep it warm in heat when it gets cold.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. Doing all of this will make sure you make a better decision.
Regularly having your HVAC system serviced can help keep your heating and cooling bills down. The motor should be checked, the parts oiled and the freon levels inspected. Your unit will last longer this way.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
There are quite a few sites now that let customers share their service experiences. This works both in finding those you with all the information you don’t.
If nobody is home, turn off the AC. Even though the house will get hotter, it won’t get too bad if the unit is off. It will use more electricity if you keep it running.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money this way. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. 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 the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool down unreasonably high temps. This limits their overall benefit. This won’t be a healthy environment to live in.
Are you looking at purchasing a new HVAC system? You will need to think about a few things into account. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool or heat an area. You are better off purchasing a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a smaller one.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, see if there is any debris in it. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in your cooling system. Check it out yourself first before calling a repairman.
Before hiring an HVAC company, you need to find out how long they have been in business. Companies that are established have been proven, and you can use their track record to to determine if they provide good service. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can be risky.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can hire someone to test them.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need about 20 BTU for each square foot of the room. If the unit will be cooling several rooms, sum their areas.
If you don’t know who you should contact to do your HVAC maintenance or any installations, look online to see if you can find reviews. A simple search should yield a number of sites with informative reviews. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Pick HVAC business that know what they’re doing and can work quickly. The best companies will ensure that their technicians working honestly and on schedule. The tech will also know how to find the best possible options. Once the problem is identified, they should be able to fix it as fast as they can.
Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to know that they have done the type of experience needed to work on your particular system.
Each contractor establishes his own fees, so before you hire one, obtain a few estimates. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. It is best to speak to several contractors so that you know which rates are reasonable.
Always make sure to get references prior to hiring any contractor.
Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This simple cover keeps the condenser last longer when not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid putting strain on the unit.
Having a radiant barrier installed in your attic is an excellent way to make sure that your HVAC runs better. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. If you do things right your attic can be used as a living space too.
Consider have a programmable thermostat. This can save you a great deal on your heating and cooling bills because your settings to ensure optimal performance.
These qualified energy products are guaranteed to meet very strict guidelines for efficiency. The guidelines are evaluated by the United States. They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking time to fully research various units may help you save a significant amount of money.
Do you want to buy a new cooling and heating system? There are many things to consider. The rating given to a system tells how much are it can cover. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than a smaller one.
You may be surprised to discover that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that leak.These leaky ducts can account for up to one fourth of your heating and cooling costs. Sealing the ducts is easy and cheap to do yourself, and it can significantly decrease your electrical bill yearly thereafter.
Make sure your condenser unit is protected. This can be done by placing an insulating cover on the condenser unit.
Be sure to test for leaks in the ducts if your system seems inefficient. You can call a utility company in your area to help you with testing, and that doesn’t cost much or nothing at all usually. Once you fix the leaks, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
These suggestions should benefit you in taking care of your heating and cooling issues. Bad things will happen when you don’t do regular maintenance inspections. However, this article has given you the advice you need to make sure your HVAC system is always running properly.
