It is not easy 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 best for any homeowner to get acquainted with this topic. This article was written to help homeowners learn how to hire the help they have to get.
When you start making calls to get someone to help with your HVAC system, it’s a good idea to know what system you have before that phone call. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. This will facilitate the process when your contractor asks for this information.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you give your chosen contractor the necessary information.
Clean your fan blades and coils when the weather begins to warm. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Make sure clippings don’t get on your outdoor units when your mowing your lawn. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Clean the debris off your outdoor condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can cause your system by overheating.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Check to determine if the fan condenser on your HVAC system is equipped with oil ports, and if it is, be sure to lubricate every year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is lightweight and detergent free, and put ten drops or fewer into each one. Make sure not to overfill them.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often during the fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it gets blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
Have your HVAC system checked twice a year at least yearly. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
Your HVAC unit requires regular maintenance at least two times per each year. The best time of year to have the system checked is right before the weather begins to change. It doesn’t matter if your unit seems to be properly working, it is still advisable that you perform maintenance and resolve any potential problems.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. This will also helps keep it warm in the winter.
Install a thermostat to save energy costs. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. Air conditioners really can only cool a home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a reasonable amount of time. So if your home is 100ºF, you’ll only get the temperature down to about 80. With high humidity, this is an unsafe temperature even for sleeping.
During this service visit, the contractor will oil parts, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These things will boost the performance of your system to run its best.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Check the Internet for reviews on those who fix or install HVAC systems. Many online sites permit customers to let others know about their experiences with various services and contractors. This is an awesome way to find contractors to work with.
There are a lot of sites that let customers talk about their service experiences. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work with and ones that are poor.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save a lot of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Put a radiant barrier in your attic and what your HVAC performance improve. It keeps heat blocked from inside to the outside, and that lowers how much energy it takes to keep your home cool. You could even use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your unit stays hot outside.You may even find that you can use your attic space more effectively.
Are you thinking about having a new HVAC system that’s new? There are things to consider. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively heat or cool. You are better off purchasing a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a smaller one.
If your HVAC system is clicking, look for blockages right away. There may be particles of debris that are touching the fans. Just pull it out and clean the blade off. Check it out yourself first before you call in the professionals.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not up to snuff. Once leaks have been fixed, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
There is absolutely no question, that poor HVAC performance during the hot seasons or frigid winter months can pose a serious threat to a homeowners finances and comfort. But, if they have armed themselves with knowledge in advance, the situation need not be so dire. The suggestions in the above article should lead homeowners to making smart decisions when it comes to their HVAC system.
If you do only one thing for HVAC maintenance, it ought to be replacing the air filter. It will improve the efficiency of your unit. Filters only cost a couple of dollars, which is not that much.