An HVAC system is a crucial part of your home. A HVAC system that does no function properly can cost a ton of money. The following tips will help you care for your HVAC and learn what to do if you eventually need to replace it.
Check out the system that you have before you call a professional. Know the model and brand and find it’s maintenance history, if possible. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor all the information they need.
Always make sure you are up-to-date about your HVAC unit. Get information on the make and model, plus if you have information on the history of maintenance, that will help, too. That way you can provide the contractor with all the necessary information.
Before choosing an HVAC contractor, think of what you wish to have done. It is going to be hard to get a price estimate on the phone if the current system isn’t something they’ve seen. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. It’s important to know this beforehand.
Before you choose someone to do HVAC work, figure out what they need to do for you. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. Know the right information ahead of time.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. Leaves, twigs and other troublesome objects can accumulate, particularly after very windy weather, and this will wreak havoc on your system. If you do not, the unit may get too hot and cause additional problems.
Outside Condenser
When you’re trying to cut your grass, don’t cover a unit outside with the clippings. Make sure the grass does not get in your unit. When blowing leaves, do the same. Always take care when passing your HVAC units while moving leaves, grass or other debris.
Your outside condenser fan can be helped to run better by you cleaning the fan blades and coils prior to summer starting up. Always shut off all power to your unit for any work beyond superficial cleaning. Additionally, remove leaves and any other debris from the outside condenser unit.
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 must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
Every spring you need to make sure your condenser fan’s coils and blades on the fan part are clean. Before you begin cleaning the unit, make sure that it is unplugged. Then remove the grill, remove the blades and clean it from top to bottom gently.
A shady spot is always a good choice for the placement of your outdoor compressor. When your unit is bringing in cool air, it will not have to work as hard to cool the air as it moves it inside, boosting efficiency.
If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. These ports have a metal covering. Sometimes it is rubber. Your oil should be an SAE 20. This particular oil is very lightweight and it only requires about 10 drops per port.
It is very important that your HVAC system is serviced two times a year. Your system should be inspected in Spring and Fall. Even if everything seems fine, check things out to find potential problems.
When selecting the spot to put the outdoor compressor for your unit, choose somewhere that gets plenty of shade. Your unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the inside air if the outside air it sucks from is cooler.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. If it’s lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
As the temperature outside drops, remember to turn off your outdoor condenser unit. If temps go below 60 you run the risk of damaging a unit that remains on. This helps the system last much longer and will have to be repaired less often.
If possible, your single pane windows should be replaced with double-paned ones. Having a double pane window helps limit your need for air conditioning during the summer months. Your home will also stay warmer in the winter.
Update the windows in your home to double-paned if you own it. Double-pane windows keep inside air cooler, allowing you to reduce AC usage in the summertime. Your home will also stay warmer in the winter.
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. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. With high humidity, this is an unsafe temperature even for sleeping.
Research the companies that you consider using. It can be helpful to check out the online reviews of previous customers and it is always wise to check their reputation as listed on a Better Business Bureau website. It would be wise of you to take these steps.
Occasionally, air conditioners ice up. You may even mistake the frozen drains as an issue for a plumber. When you see ice, turn the unit to fan. Once you know the problem, contact a local HVAC professional and let them know what’s going on in your system.
Problems with an air conditioning unit happen when it ices up. In addition, the drain line sometimes freezes, and people often think that there is a plumbing leak. Try switching to fan-mode and disabling your compressor to test whether the water is a leak or melting ice. It’s a good idea to call up professionals to help with this even though you can get the ice to melt when you switch everything to the fan.
Ask those you know for the name of a great HVAC technician, should you need one. Find someone that has a lot of quality work under their belt. You can also get company names that you should stay away from.
Before you hire any HVAC companies, find out how the amount of time they’ve been in business. This will ensure that you find someone who knows their stuff. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can be risky.
Make an HVAC system run more efficiently by determining what direction your house faces. Trees placed in the right places can keep the sun from heating your home too much. A cooler home means less work for your air conditioner.
Speak with family and friends to get a recommendation for a reputable HVAC contractor. People will tell you who they have used and if they are worth calling. You will also find out who NOT to use!
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. The problem may be debris getting into the fans of the cooling system. Get rid of this obstruction and that should take care of the problem. Do this before calling for assistance.
If you need recommendations for an HVAC contractor, check online. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. This will be an excellent way to locate people you should work with and people that may not work well with you.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. Just measure your rooms and tally up the total square footage.
For greater efficiency, put a radiant barrier in your attic. It ensures that your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. You may suddenly find that the attic even looks like a great option for another bedroom!
Hire an HVAC contractor that is efficient and quick. Companies who understand their customers are important often require their workers to follow a schedule and show up to all appointments. These techs that come out should be quickly able to figure out the issue and remedy the problem right away. When they know the issue, they ought to have it fixed quickly and efficiently.
Get a more efficient HVAC system by looking at the way your home faces. It’s always a good idea to plant trees in areas that will help block the scorching sun that heats up your home and causes your AC unit to work harder. The cooler your home already is, the less work your AC will have to do.
As you are thinking about where to put your AC unit, consider how the air moves out of it. Make sure you have plenty of air flow control options if you are forced to install the unit in a corner.
Before you hire a HVAC contractor, you should find out what their experience is. They should have a good history of working with HVAC units. Don’t risk the success of your job by taking a chance on someone who may not be able to do it right.
To keep your HVAC unit from having trouble, make sure to give proper protection to the condenser with the help of a cover. This will help it to last longer. Don’t turn it on if the temperature is below 60 either. Only use the fan during those times.
Ask for references from any contractor you’re considering. Ask these references if the job was what they expected, if it was done in a timely manner and on budget. If you check references carefully, you can avoid being scammed.
When you have a contractor come to give you an estimate, make sure they perform a heat-loss calculation. This will help you to figure out how many BTUs the new system needs to have to keep a home comfortable. From knowing how many doors and windows there are to how much insulation there is, it’s a must.
Now that you know a thing or two regarding HVAC systems, you understand how important it is to properly care for them. A faulty HVAC unit is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. It can cost a lot of money to repair and eat up a lot of time. Go back over these tips to make yourself sure that your HVAC system will last for a long time.
Look into the installation of a programmable thermostat if you are repairing your existing HVAC system or having a new one installed. This can save you a great deal on your energy bills because your system rests while you are comfortably warm asleep in bed.
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