Anyone that has a HVAC system in their home knows the importance of properly maintained. An improperly or inefficiently functioning HVAC system that doesn’t work right is something that costs quite a lot of homeowner money. The following tips concerning HVAC maintenance and repairs.
Before making that repair phone call, make sure you know the specifics about your particular system. Look for the maintenance history and brand and model. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
Know what type of system before calling someone to fix it. This will help make sure that the contractor you hire to repair it.
Clean your fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Shut the power off before you do anything. Take the grill off and pull the blades out to clean them.
Clean the debris that accumulates on an external condenser unit. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can also cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it gets blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. These ports are typically covered with caps made of metal or rubber. Pick out a SAE 20 type of oil because it has no detergent, is lightweight, and you should put around 10 drops in the ports but make it to where they don’t get too full.
Sae 20 Oil
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser at least once a year. You can easily find the ports covered with rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. The unit will become damaged if you do not take care of it. This will ensure your system works well each year, which could save you quite a bit in repair costs.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather turns cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will help keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This will also help you keep the warm air inside.
Your home should never reach a dangerous temperature. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This isn’t a very safe condition for a homeowner to sleep in, especially when the humidity levels are considered.
Don’t let your home get too hot to where it’s dangerous. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool a home down a home by 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, it will only cool off to about 80F. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for this information.
Before hiring an HVAC company, you need to find out how long they have been in business. Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that haven’t been. Working with someone that does not yet have a reputation in the business is a bit riskier.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a considerable risk.
There are a lot of sites that let customers talk about their reviews. This is useful for finding contractors that you wish to work with and those that you want to avoid.
If you don’t know who to call to maintenance, repair, or install your HVAC, search for reviews online. Many Internet sites let customers discuss experiences with certain companies. This will help you to sort out the good from the bad.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You can save some cash simply by doing your homework. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what you should be paying.
Are you considering purchasing a new heating/cooling system? There are a number of things you must consider first. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they can effectively heat or cool. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. Often, utility companies will test them free of charge. If a leak is found, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your existing system is not up to snuff. When the leaks are repaired, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Measure the area that requires air conditioning. Normally, you need 20 BTU for each square foot that you wish to cool. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
Hopefully, you now feel a little more confident in your HVAC knowledge. Faulty HVAC systems can cost you quite a bit of money in maintenance and bills. Go back over these tips to make yourself sure that your HVAC system will last for a long time.