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What You Need To Learn Before Calling An HVAC Tech For Help

Anyone that uses HVAC systems in a house knows how it important it is to have it properly maintained. A HVAC system can end up costing the homeowner a lot of money. This article can help you keep your HVAC will continue to run effectively.

Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you can give your new contractor all the information they might need.

Before the summer you should clean out your condenser fan’s blades and coils. Shut off power before working or cleaning your system. Leaves and debris can build up inside the unit and cause damage.

TIP! Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Except when you do superficial cleaning, you need to always make sure the power is off on the unit.

If your HVAC system is acting up, check things out yourself prior to calling in a technician. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.

Hvac Contractor

Clean the debris from outside units often. Falling leaves and wind or rain may cause debris to reduce the efficiency of your unit. It can cause your system to malfunction by overheating.

TIP! If there are condenser units as part of your HVAC system, clean them often as they tend to have lots of debris. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system.

Know what you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you a price estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.

Be sure to clean 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 could overheat and cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.

If the fan on your condenser includes oil ports, they must be lubricated annually. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don’t overfill it.

TIP! Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once each year. You’ll find these ports are covered with a metal or rubber cap.

Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass in a different direction away from the unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.

Your HVAC system could suffer when your trees lose leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.

When selecting a location for an outdoor compressor, opt for a shady area, if possible. The cooler air that the unit can suck in, the less work it will need to do to further cool the air.

TIP! If you need to decide the best place to put your outdoor compressor unit, consider putting it in a location that is in the shade. The cooler the air that the unit is able to access, the less work it has to perform.

Sae 20 Oil

Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.

When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. To prevent damage, turn off your unit if the outside temperature is less than 60 degrees. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.

TIP! When the weather cools down, turn your outdoor condenser off. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees.

Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your unit is working for years and save you a lot on repairs.

Never let your home to get dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time limit. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This is not a healthy environment to live in.

If you are a homeowner, or if you can get permission from your landlord, install double-paned windows in place of any single panes in your home. In warmer months, these windows will help to maintain the cooler inside temperature. It keeps heat in during the winter, too.

TIP! Update the windows in your home to double-paned if you own it. Good double pane windows keep cool air in during the summer and minimize your utility expenses.

Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check them out at the best one for reviews posted by former customers. Doing this will make sure you hire the best company for your HVAC needs.

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something that’s happening to you, disable the compressor by switching the thermostat to run the fan only. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.

One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. You have greater control over the temperature settings with these. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.

TIP! Install a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. It will help save on your heating and cooling costs by turning itself down at certain times.

Companies that are around awhile have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a newer contractor comes with an element of risk.

Ask your friends and relations for contractor recommendations. People that have had great service are usually more than willing to tell of it. This will also be used to see who you avoid scammers.

If you want your energy costs to go down, have the heating an cooling system you own serviced every year at least. During service the technician will check the motor and refill the system fluids. Your unit will last longer this way.

TIP! Try to have your HVAC system looked at every year, because regular maintenance will go a long way in energy efficiency. During the visit, the contractor will oil parts, inspect the motor and the freon levels.

Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home and the outside. You may even use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.

If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Often the issue is some sort of debris hitting fans in your cooling system. Look at it before you call up a service technician.

Turn your AC off if no one is at home. The house will heat up when it is turned off, but only a certain amount. It will use more electricity if you keep it running.

TIP! When everyone is gone, turn your AC off. When you turn the air conditioner off, the house may heat up a little but only a certain amount.

Hvac System

Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This is a very simple job and it will keep your HVAC system running well.

Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Air conditioners only cool down a home by 20 degrees. So, if your home temp reaches 100 degrees, your air conditioning will only bring that temp down to about 80 degrees. While it depends on the humidity, this is not safe for a human to sleep in to recover from the heat of the summer.

TIP! Don’t let your home get too hot. It is only possible for an air conditioner to lower the temperature in a home by 20 degrees F in a short time.

Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency hotline. They should be able to get to your home whenever you need them there, no matter what.

Some contractors attempt to charge you after the work is complete for fuel or extra material. A written contract will prevent this possible problem.

You can usually have free duct testing performed if you are concerned about your HVAC system not running properly. Call your utility company if they are leaking to see about getting a test. Paying for the test is fine as repairing the leaks will pay for itself quickly.

TIP! If you current HVAC doesn’t work that well, try testing ducts for leaks. Your local energy company may do such testing at a reduced cost or maybe even for free.

Always follow up on any references that you receive for an HVAC contractor.

This tells you how many BTUs your system requires to keep the environment of your home comfortable.

Which way does your home face? If you strategically place trees, it’s possible to block some of the morning sunlight so your home won’t become overheated. When there is less heat inside your home, the air conditioner will not have to work as hard.

TIP! Make your HVAC work efficiently when you consider what way your home faces. If trees are placed strategically, you can block morning sunlight that can overheat the house.

These units are energy efficient than other units. These guidelines have been set up by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking time to look into these units may help you save a significant amount of money.

You might be surprised to discover that as many as two-thirds of households have ducts that leak. These can lead to as much as a quarter of the utility costs you have. Sealing up your ducts is cheap and easy, and it is something you can do yourself, saving you money on your utility bills every year from then on.

Look for leaves or other debris if you notice a thumping sound in your unit. Sometimes, debris will be the cause of the disturbance. Remove the debris and you have solved the problem. Always check for yourself before getting someone out to repair the unit.

TIP! Check for debris if you hear clicking in the HVAC unit. It could be that debris has made its way into the system.

Look for HVAC contractors that use Energy Star equipment and equipment. This rating means that is required by the product is more efficient than those without it. This means that they can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills year round.

Keep your condenser unit protected when it’s getting colder. This can easily be done by placing a thick cover on the condenser unit.

Measure the area that needs cooling before buying a unit. Normally, you need 20 BTU for each square foot that you wish to cool. If you have multiple rooms to cool, be sure to add their square footage together.

TIP! Measure the area that requires air conditioning. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the area to be cooled.

Hvac Systems

Now that you know a thing or two regarding HVAC systems, you understand how important it is to properly care for them. Faulty HVAC systems can cost you quite a bit of money in maintenance and bills. Use these handy tips to keep your HVAC system running for as long as possible.

Replace the air filter in your HVAC system every month. This is such a simple thing that takes little time, and it can save you money by helping to keep your system running longer. Filters are inexpensive, so there is no excuse for not doing it.

TIP! You should replace the filter on your HVAC system once every month. This will maximize the production of your HVAC.