A HVAC system can make one’s home really enjoyable. If your system breaks, it will become a nightmare for those without experience. Learning how to maintain your unit minimizes the chances of a breakdown; these tips below.
Clean the condenser coils and fan at the beginning of the year to help the unit run efficiently. Before you clean the surface, be sure to turn off the power. Also, it is important to clear the outside condenser unit from any debris that maybe trapped inside.
Know the name and type of system before looking for a repair person. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor all the information they need.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
Get your HVAC unit serviced two times per year. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. Even if everything seems fine, check things out to find potential problems.
Clean the debris that accumulates on your condenser units. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can ruin your system. It can cause it to overheat.
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.
If everyone is out, turn the air conditioner off. By raising the temperature from, for example 78 to 80, your house will be warmer, but only up to 80 before your AC kicks in. If you decide to set the temperature to 82 or 83 or so on, your AC won’t go on until it reaches that temperature. When you keep it on, you will be using electricity.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may 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 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.
Lubricate your condenser if it has oil ports. These are often covered by a rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Use an online sizing calculator to help you calculate the proper size of the air conditioning unit you should purchase. If you buy a unit that’s too large, it won’t be energy efficient for your needs. Check the manufacturer’s handbook to see what amount of space the unit can effectively cool.
Be sure you have the HVAC system checks. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC unit. People that have gotten great work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. You are likely to also hear about negative experiences.
During this service visit, the contractor will oil parts, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple tasks will help your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Do you need a new cooling system? You need to know some things first. Systems get rated according to how large an area they can effectively cool and heat. It is always better to buy a unit that is a little bit bigger rather than one that might be slightly smaller.
Companies that are well established have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a contractor comes with an element of risk.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You have the potential to save tons of money by asking for many quotes. You want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
When determining which size of air conditioner to buy, first measure the area which needs to be cooled. You will need approximately 20 BTU per square foot, so calculate the necessary size based on that formula. When you are cooling more than one room, you must add together all of the square footage.
You now likely see how essential HVAC maintenance is. Nothing good will come out of you ignoring all of the issues that occur. Luckily, this article should have given you tips to keep your HVAC working properly.