When your HVAC goes bad, you may end up in chaos. In addition to the discomfort of living in a home where the heating and/or air conditioning don’t work, you’ll likely be worried about the expense of fixing your HVAC system. The best thing anyone can do is follow good tips on proper HVAC maintenance, which you can find in the following article.
Before you call someone to help you fix your system, be sure to know what sort of system you have in place. Know the model and brand and find it’s maintenance history, if possible. Then, you’ll be ready to tell the contractor what they need to know.
Regularly remove debris from outside condenser units. Things pile up after storms and damage your system. It will damage the system by overheating.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. Determine which rooms are hotter or colder than they should be. That will help your repairman figure out where the problem is, and how he can fix it easily and quickly.
When you are cutting the grass, be sure not to cover your outdoor units with clippings. Get the grass shot away from your unit. Do the same when blowing snow or leaves.
Before the summer you should clean out your condenser fan’s blades and coils. Make sure your power is off before doing more than cleaning, such as working on the unit. In addition, always remove all debris such as leaves from the outside condenser unit.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose leaves. Make certain you are cleaning the fan grill often if trees nearby have leaves that are falling. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
Cover your unit when you are mowing the lawn. Get the grass shot away from your unit. Do the same when blowing snow or leaves.
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. It will reduce the temperature of the air going into the unit, meaning that it will not have to work as hard to cool it.
Leaves falling from trees can wreak havoc with your HVAC unit. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
Get your HVAC unit serviced two times per year. Check into it twice a year before you head into the hot and cold months. Whether you know of problems or not, good maintenance will help you to avoid future issues.
If you want to know where you should put an outdoor compressor, you should place it somewhere where there is a lot of shade. The cooler the air which goes in, the less work the unit will have to do.
When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. When the temperature drops beneath 60 degrees, it’s time to cut off the unit to prevent damage. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. 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.
Turn off your air conditioner when no one is home to help save money. Turning it off does allow the temperature to rise, but only so far. When you keep it on, you will be using electricity.
Check your unit at least twice each year. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. Regular inspection will help you avoid unexpected repairs.
Make certain you properly investigate any company prior to hiring them. Checking with the BBB is a good idea, and so is checking online reviews to see the experiences that other customers have had with a company. This will help you make the best choice.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when it becomes cold out. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees. This will help keep it in good condition for many years.
Air conditioners tend to ice up at times. The drain line also occasionally freezes, which can be misdiagnosed as a plumbing leak. If you see this, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. If the issue persists, call in help.
Equipping your home with a programmable thermostat can be an excellent way to cut utility costs. These can save you around 10 percent on your heating and cooling costs by just turning it back 10 percent to 15 percent for around eight hours each day. Also, you can find a thermostat that is controllable from a computer or smart phone.
To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. If you make the mistake of purchasing a unit that is too large, it will not cool efficiently. Always look through the manual as well.
You should have your HVAC system inspected at least once, but preferably twice, per year. During this service visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These things will boost the performance of your system.
When you need the services of an HVAC professional, ask your friends and family if they can recommend someone to you. People that have gotten great work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. This can also be used to see who you should avoid.
Keep your air conditioner off when people aren’t home to save you money. The house will heat up, but not too much. If it is on all day, it is trying to maintain a cool temperature constantly, using a great deal of electricity to fight the heat.
If you need help locating someone to help take of your HVAC system, a great place to seek advice is online at a review site. There are a lot of sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is an excellent method of finding contractors that you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you want to avoid.
Don’t let your home get overly hot. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. Depending on how humid the environment is, that is not a healthy temperature for the human body when it rests during sleep.
If the system you’re using now isn’t working great, then check the ducts for some leakage. Call your utility company and ask if they test for free, as many do. When you repair the leaks, the tests will pay for themselves.
Research multiple contractors before choosing one. A good start would be the BBB to see if there are any complaints, then search online for review sites where you can see what actual customers had to say about their experience. Take these steps to ensure you make wise choices.
Your HVAC system will run more efficiently if your windows and doors are energy efficient. Your windows and doors should be able to stay tightly sealed so air doesn’t get in or out. Ask a contractor to test them for you.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, there are calculators on the Internet that can help you figure out the right size. Buying a unit that is too large for your home is a poor decision that wastes money. Any unit’s manual will be able to give you an accurate idea for the size of the unit versus your home.
Measuring the space you want to cool is the first step to figure how large of an air conditioner you need. Typically, 20 BTUs are required per square foot. If multiple rooms need cooling, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. Your utility company can test this for you, oftentimes at no charge. If not, it should be less expensive than a HVAC contractor. This testing can have large financial benefits.
Hvac System
Check for debris if you hear clicking in the HVAC unit. Often it is being caused by debris hitting fans in your cooling system. Simple removal of the debris will solve the problem. Look at this prior to calling a technician.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system every month. This is an easy thing to do and it will keep your HVAC system running well. Many chain stores sell filters for under $5.00, and that low price is worth it.
When thinking of what kind of air conditioner you should get, you should measure the area that you need to cool. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the area to be cooled. Add the square footage for multiple rooms together.
Before you decide on the location of your air conditioning unit, take a look at the air flow direction. Make sure you have plenty of air flow control options if you are forced to install the unit in a corner.
In terms of regular maintenance, you should be able to replace your HVAC air filter every month . This will help your unit run properly. A few bucks is worth it!
Seek references when hiring an HVAC contractor. You want to make sure that the contractor has satisfied previous customers. This will allow you to stay away from people that will scam you, but only if you’re calling references.
Pick out an HVAC business that is fast and knows what to do. A sign of a great company is one that arrives on time for their appointment. Techs must be knowledgeable about diagnosing and repairing your system quickly. They should offer you answers which can be implemented right away.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.
Before you decide on the location of your air conditioning unit, take a look at the air flow direction. For a corner location, check for a unit that has the ability to direct the air flow in a different direction from the wall.
During the winter months, you will want to cover your condenser unit to protect it. This simple tip will extend the life of your condenser considerably. In addition, you should never run the compressor when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees. Turn the fan on instead, to avoid putting undue stress on the system.
Only hire a contractor to install or repair your HVAC system if they offer a 24-hour hotline for emergencies. Whether a hurricane just blew through or it’s the hottest day of the year, they need to be able to come and fix your system.
To make your home liveable and comfortable, your HVAC system is an important part of that. If it isn’t, you will often be too hot or too cold in your living space. Do not let this happen; keep these tips in mind, and keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
In the winter, keep your condenser unit properly covered. Doing this extends the life of your condenser when it is not in use. Don’t turn it on if the temperature is below 60 either. Put the fan on in this case.
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