A quality HVAC system can make one’s home really enjoyable. But if you experience a failure of your HVAC system, the situation can become frustrating very quickly. Learning about your unit minimizes the tips below.
If your HVAC is running into problems, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. Find out which rooms are hot and which are cold. That will help your repairman figure out where the problem is, and how he can fix it easily and quickly.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to give you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean your fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
You should clean your condenser fan’s blades and coils every spring. First, the power should be turned off so things don’t move as you work. Then remove the grill, remove the blades and clean it from top to bottom gently.
Turn it 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 the grass in the other direction. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Your HVAC system could suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. Clean outdoor units often to remove leaves. If your fan is obstructed, it can keep your system from working properly.
Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Have the HVAC system checked twice a year. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
When you are choosing a location for the outdoor compressor unit, it’s preferable to use a shaded area. If you have a unit taking in air that’s cooler, it won’t have to work so hard to cool air that it sends to your home.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This same effect also keeps warm air in during the winter.
Install a thermostat you can program to save energy costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
There are plenty of online tools, such as sizing calculators, which can help you find the best unit to cool your home. Buying one that’s too large will not cool that well. Check your manual to figure out what the rating is from the manufacturer to be sure you’re getting the right information.
Don’t let your house get dangerously high. Air conditioners can only cool a home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a short time. So, if your home temp reaches 100 degrees, you won’t see the temperature go below 75 for a while.This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check with the BBB and look for your situation. These steps will help to ensure your decision is a better decision.
If you aren’t sure who to call for HVAC maintenance, repairs, or installation, look online for reviews. You have a choice of review sites to use. This will be an excellent way to locate people you should work with and people that may not work well with you.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that haven’t been. It is riskier to hire a contractor with little experience.
There are quite a few sites now that allow customers talk about their experiences with different services. This is a good way to locate contractors that you wish to work with and those that are poor.
To improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, think about placing a radiant barrier in your attic. It blocks heat from the inside out, lowering the amount of energy needed to cool your home in the summer. You may suddenly find that the attic even looks like a great option for another bedroom!
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You should save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. Call around 5 contractors so that you can get the best rates.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, there may be something obstructing it. Often it is being caused by debris hitting the fans in your cooling system. Check this out before spending on a repairman.
You need to check your windows and outside doors to make certain your HVAC runs well. Be sure their seal is tight so no exterior air gets in or interior air gets out. You could have a professional run a test for you, and sometimes this testing is done at no charge.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTU for each square foot of space. If you have multiple rooms to cool, just add their total square footage.
Think about the air flow direction of your A/C when figuring out where to put it. If you’re stuck with putting it in a corner, buy one that lets the air flow to be redirected so that it is not flowing towards the wall.
Hvac System
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is an easy thing that you can do to keep your HVAC system running well.
Get references from anyone you are considering hiring. Previous customers can provide information about timeliness of job completion and if the contractor stayed within their budget. The references will help you avoid wasting your money on someone that is not professional.
Pick an HVAC business that is fast and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies keep the technicians will always be on time. A licensed technician will also easily diagnose any potential faults with your HVAC. After a quick diagnosis, they should then know how to deal with the problem.
Now you understand why it’s important to keep the HVAC system working properly. Only bad things happen when you fail to perform routine inspections. Hopefully, you’ll keep up the regular HVAC maintenance and won’t ever need to worry about this nightmare gripping you or your home.
Cover your condenser unit for protection in the winter time. It prolongs the lifespan. If the temperature outside is lower than sixty, do not use the compressor. Use the fan instead to avoid putting strain on the condenser unit.