The heating and heat your home are very important. This means that it is of utmost importance your HVAC system needs to be in top shape.If you don’t properly care for your unit, you will be costing yourself a lot of money. Here are some tips to help you started.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. Particularly after bad weather, you should inspect your unit. It can overheat, leading to disaster within your system.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will let you to give the contractor the information they might need.
Clean your fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
A big mistake that people make is cutting the grass next to the outdoor condenser unit and allowing all of the clippings to blow inside the fan and coil. Shoot the grass away from the unit. This is the same if you are using a leaf blower.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Lubricate your condenser at least once each year. These are often covered with rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, be sure to keep it in the shade. As it brings in cool air to cool, you will save a lot of money.
Put outdoor units in the shade.
Be sure to have the HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. Depending on how humid the environment is, that is not a healthy temperature for the human body when it rests during sleep.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This also helps keep it warm air in during the winter months.
During the visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system running at peak performance.
Before you hire someone from an HVAC place, figure out how long they’ve been doing this kind of work. You are more likely to get good service this way. Taking risks is not something that you want to do in this area.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. If the issue persists, call a professional.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Install a radiant barrier in your attic to boost HVAC efficiency. It blocks the heat from inside out, reducing the energy that’s needed for your home to get cooled during the summer. If done correctly, this also enables you to start using your attic as a living space.
There are a number of great sites out there that give people the opportunity to leave comments about the service they received. This is useful for finding contractors that you wish to work with as well as those that you want to avoid.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It ensures that your unit stays hot outside. You may even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
If you current HVAC doesn’t work that well, try testing ducts for leaks. This is a job your local utility provider may do for you inexpensively or even free of charge. Once leaks have been fixed, you will save substantial money on heating and cooling costs.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from the HVAC unit, look for an obstruction. Often it is being caused by debris hitting the fans in your cooling system. Check it out before calling a contractor.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. You can get a professional out to help you test them.
If there’s only one thing that you do in terms of HVAC maintenance monthly, it should be to replace your air filter. It’s a simple thing to do to keep it running properly. A few bucks is worth it!
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioner shopping. You can figure out the unit you need 20 BTU per square foot. If the unit will be cooling several rooms, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to verify they have done the sort of experience needed to work you require.
Which way does the air come out of the air conditioner? Make sure you have plenty of air flow control options if you are forced to install the unit in a corner.
Some contractors attempt to charge you later for things such as material fees and fuel charges. Having a signed contract can help to avoid any issues like that.
Cover your condenser unit for protection in the weather becomes less than optimal. This simple cover keeps the condenser operating longer when it is not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid straining the unit.
Know what’s included in any repair work you contract. They may tack on fees that are ridiculous, like a fuel surcharge. Solid written contracts can help you avoid these issues.
Always check out any references that are given to you receive for an HVAC contractor.
Now you know how to keep your HVAC running smoothly. Do not let neglect cause major issues. Use the tips from above to keep it going strong, so you don’t come home one day to find your place too hot or too cold.
When you get a contractor to come by to offer a quote to you, make sure they do include heat-loss calculation. This needs to be factored in when figuring out the best sized unit for your home. This number comes after examining the windows and doors where heat and escape.