Coming home to a hot or cold house due to a broken HVAC unit that is not working is no fun. The following tips that follow will assist you do just that.
Before calling for help, know the system you have. Look for the maintenance history and brand and model. This information will be helpful to any contractor you hire to repair it.
If your HVAC is running into problems, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is.
Be sure to regularly clean external condenser units regularly. 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 cause your unit.
If your condenser units are outisde, make sure any debris is cleaned from them regularly. You don’t know the amount of stuff that can pile up right after heavy winds or a storm. It will damage the system by overheating.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass cuttings in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
If the fan on your condenser includes oil ports, they must be lubricated annually. The port usually has either a rubber or metal cap on top of it. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don’t want to put in too much.
Sae 20 Oil
Lubricate your condenser if it has oil ports. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. Ideally, you should have it looked at in the spring and fall so you know everything is set for the hot and cold months. Even if everything seems fine, check things out to find potential problems.
Put outdoor units in places with shade.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units when it’s getting cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This will help keep it in good condition for many years to come.
If you own your own home or have permission from your landlord, replace your single pane windows with double paned versions. Double pane windows can help minimize how much you use your air conditioner in the summer, because they keep cool air inside the home. As with other steps you take to improve your ability to keep your air conditioned air or heated air inside your home, double-paned windows can help you save on energy costs.
A programmable thermostat can really help you out when it comes to your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Make sure that your AC is turned off when you are not using it. Sure, the temp will rise, but no one is home anyway. Obviously, if you leave your air conditioning set at a low temperature all day long even if you’re not home, you’ll be paying to maintain that low temperature.
Companies that are well established have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor may be taking a bigger risk.
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 home and the outside. You could even use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Before you hire someone from an HVAC place, figure out how long they’ve been doing this kind of work. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money. It’s a risk to hire a new one.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not up to snuff. When the leaks are repaired, the tests will pay for themselves.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can also hire someone to test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
Do you want to find a quality HVAC? You will need to take a few things into account. Learn about the size systems need to be for optimal efficiency. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than a smaller one.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioner shopping. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If more than one room needs AC service, get their square footage added together.
Use the tips you’ve just read to keep your HVAC system up and running. It’s not great to arrive home and realize you do not have any air. Your stress will only be compounded when you find out how much it will cost to fix. Use these tips to help avoid costly problems. Remember these tips, and keep your system in tip-top shape.
Think about the air flow direction of your A/C when figuring out where to put it. If it must be in a corner, make certain that the air does not point towards a wall.