HVAC service and contracting is something too many people know nothing about. This fact can be problematic when it comes time to handle a household heating or cooling emergency.
Before calling anyone to repair your system, know what system you have. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. That way you can provide the contractor with all the necessary information.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor any information they need.
If your HVAC system us giving you issues, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. This information will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
When spring rolls around, give the condenser fan blades and coils a good clean. Start by turning off the power to avoid having anything move when you work on it. Then, take off the grill and get the blades out. Clean everything with care.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Clean the debris off your condenser units. 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 the unit to overheat and break down.
If the current location of your HVAC unit outside isn’t working, try having it moved to an area with more shade. This will help ensure that the AC is pulling in cooler air, reducing the amount of work it has to do and saving you money.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Your HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
To help keep your energy costs down, have your heating and cooling system serviced at least once a year. When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, oil the parts that move, and see how much freon is in your system. These simple things will keep your system running at peak performance.
Sae 20 Oil
Lubricate your condenser once a year. You can find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Sometimes air conditioners get iced up. You may even mistake the frozen drains as an issue for a plumber. If you see this, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. It’s a good idea to call up professionals to help with this even though you can get the ice to melt when you switch everything to the fan.
Have your heating and cooling system checked twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
A programmable thermostat can help you out when it comes to your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Find out how many years an HVAC company has been in business before you hire them. Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor comes with an element of risk.
Never allow your home to rise to a dangerously high level. An air conditioning unit is really only able to reduce the temperature of your home approximately twenty degrees in a fair time. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, 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.
Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check them out at the best one for reviews posted by former customers. These steps are going to help to ensure you make the smartest and most informed choice.
Do you need a new HVAC unit? There are several things you should consider. An HVAC system gets its rating by how effective it will heat and cool an area. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than a smaller one.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you notice this, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Ask for helpful information when you can find a HVAC contractor. People that have had great service are usually more than willing to share this information. This will also help you to figure out some names of businesses that you should avoid at all costs.
If you HVAC unit is clicking, immediately check for any type of obstruction. Many times it could be debris hitting the cooling system fans. Removal of the debris should solve the issue. Take a look for yourself before you call a technician out.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even use your attic space if it is done right.
Figure out which direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system can work better. The less heat in your home, the less work your AC will have to do.
You need to measure the space of your home so you can purchase the proper size unit. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the area to be cooled. If multiple rooms need cooling, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Hvac System
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. It helps to find out whether prior customers were satisfied with their overall experience. This will reduce your chances of hiring a scam artist.
Dealing with an HVAC system that’s not working right can be a nightmare for most people. However, taking the time to research the topic of HVAC systems, any homeowner can avoid the nightmare of dealing with a last minute fix. Keep the tips and tricks listed above handy, and you will have what you need to work on your HVAC system.