It can be difficult for many homeowners to understand where to go when their heating or cooling system isn’t working properly. To keep yourself from having a problem with this, it is helpful to read up on the topic in advance. This article was written to help homeowners learn how to hire the proper help they need.
Prior to putting in a service call on your HVAC, be able to identify it. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
If you are having issues with your HVAC, tour your home before calling a technician. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Each spring it’s time to clean the inside of your condenser unit, including the fan and the sensitive coil. Shut the power off before you do anything. Next, remove the grill, take the blades and clean them gently, then clean the actual unit.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Grass Clippings
If possible, put your HVAC in a shaded area if it is outside. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass clippings in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Your outdoor HVAC system could suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves.The fan needs to have an unobstructed path for air to enter the unit, and if debris is blocking this air flow, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Additionally, some programmable thermostats can be controlled remotely using a web-connected device.
Put outdoor units in places with shade.
When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, oil the parts that move, and they will oil all the moving parts. These things will help your system.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool down unreasonably high temps. Assuming the temperature in your home rises to a hundred degrees, you will only be able to reduce that by twenty 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.
Don’t let your home temperature get way too hot to where it’s dangerous. An AC unit is really only able to reduce the temperature by twenty degrees in a short time span. If your house’s interior temperature hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You can call a HVAC professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Use online AC sizing calculators to figure out what size unit you need. If you buy something too large it won’t be efficient as it cools the same. Look at the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
Companies that have been around for longer have a proven track records typically provide better service. It is riskier to hire a contractor with little experience.
Ask your friends and family for contractor recommendations. People that have gotten great work done are usually more than willing to share the information they know about it. This can also help you to avoid undesirable companies.
Talk to others that you have in your life to see if they can recommend an HVAC contractor to you. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. This will also help you avoid bad companies.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for many quotes. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
Are you thinking about buying a cooling and heating system that’s new? There are some things you must consider first. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they can effectively cool and heat. You are wise to err on the side of a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
Be sure to test for leaks in the ducts if your system seems inefficient. Often, utility companies will test them free of charge. When these leaks are fixed, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently.When these leaks are fixed, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Often it is being caused by debris hitting the fans in your cooling system. Look at it before you call up a service technician.
To run your HVAC at full efficiency, you must have efficient doors and windows in place as well. Make sure the seal is impenetrable from outdoor drafts, and that none of the air you’re paying to heat or cool escapes either. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
Nobody ever wants their heating and/or cooling systems to go out when it is really hot or really cold. However, with the right information, such disasters can be avoided. The suggestions listed will certainly lead you down a path towards positive heating and cooling function throughout the year.