It is frustrating to need work done to your HVAC system when it is super hot or super cold. Learning about HVAC systems in advance will help you fix them or maintain them. Read on to find out more about the information that you need.
Before calling anyone to repair your system, know what system you have. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. Then, you’ll be ready to tell the contractor what they need to know.
Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Clean your fan blades and coils when the weather begins to warm. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit regularly.
Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Always shut off all power to your unit for any work beyond superficial cleaning. Remove leaves and debris from the condenser outside.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass cuttings in a different direction from the unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
The HVAC unit in your home can become damaged from falling leaves. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. When blockages restrict the flow of air to the fan, you could end up with serious issues on your hands.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees start to lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it is clogged, you will have to contend with problems.
Turn off outdoor condensers you have when weather turns cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This helps the system last much longer and save you a lot on repairs.
You want to put the outdoor compressor device in a shaded area. Your unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the inside air if the outside air it sucks from is cooler.
When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, the motor will be inspected, and see how much freon is in your system. These repairs will keep your HVAC system running at peak performance.
Don’t ever let your home to become dangerously high. Air conditioners can only cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Install a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. Turning down the thermostat around 10 percent for 8 hours per day can give you a 10 percent savings using the programmable thermostat. This will save you a lot of money during the year.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something that’s happening to you, disable the compressor by switching the thermostat to run the fan only. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. So if your home is 100ºF, you’ll only get the temperature down to about 80. This won’t be a healthy environment to live in.
Companies that have been around for longer have a proven track records typically provide better service. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Ask your friends and family for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. This will also help you with good information on which contractors you should avoid at all costs.
How long has the contractor been in business? Companies that are established have been proven, and you can use their track record to to determine if they provide good service. You will be taking a risk if you hire a newer contractor.
There are a few sites these days that allow customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This will be an excellent way to locate people that you should work with and those that you don’t.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save a lot of money by doing your homework. Call around to find the best rates.
Having a radiant barrier installed in your attic is an excellent way to make sure that your HVAC runs better. It ensures that your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. This can also help you make the attic useful again.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can hire a professional.
If you’re stuck with putting it in a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.
When deciding what size of an air conditioner is right for you, you will need to measure how much area it will have to cool. You can figure out the unit you need by calculating 20 BTU per square foot. When you are cooling more than one room, you must add together all of the square footage.
Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to verify they have the sort of experience needed to work on your particular system.
It can be intimidating when you find that you must hire someone to come fix your HVAC system. However, armed with information, the process doesn’t have to be difficult. You should be ready to run to the next HVAC service and get the job done now that you’ve read this article.
The estimate needs to state exactly what is included. Some contractors may try to charge you more for things you ought not be paying for. When you have a solid contract, these problems can be avoided.