Many people have HVAC systems, even though it is a critical component of their home. Learning about selecting the best HVAC professional to maintain or repair your system is a wise move for any smart thing homeowners can do. This article will help you with that.
Know what you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will help you to give the new contractor any information they might need.
Clean any debris on an external 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 could overheat and cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.
If the fan condenser on your unit has ports for oil, make sure you lubricate it once a year. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap. Pick a type of SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight. Place 10 or less drops into every port to avoid overfilling.
Turn the power off first 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 let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass in a direction from the unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked at least twice a 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. This type if preventative maintenance is highly necessary to ward off any expensive troubles from coming your way.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned frequently when the fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it becomes blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
Sae 20 Oil
Equipping your home with a programmable thermostat can be an excellent way to cut utility costs. With this device installed, it can help you save money on your energy bills by you having the power to regulate the temperature throughout the day. Furthermore, there are a few programmable thermostats that you can control from your computer or any other web-connected device.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser at least once a year. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when it becomes cold out. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep the system running efficiently for years and save you a lot on repairs.
You should always review the experience and history of an HVAC specialist before hiring them. This gives you some history so that you can be sure the company is reliable. Hiring a newer contractor may be taking a considerable risk.
During a maintenance visit, the system motor will be inspected, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with the best one for your situation. This will help you have to do in order to make the right choice.
You can always search the Internet when you aren’t entirely sure who you should call for proper HVAC repair or maintenance. There are a number of great sites out there that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is a great way to find people you want to work with and those you don’t want to work with.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC contractor. People who’ve had great service are usually more than willing to share this information. This is also a great way to get names of those companies that should be avoided.
Having a radiant barrier installed in your attic is an excellent way to make sure that your HVAC runs better. It blocks the heat from inside out, reducing the energy that’s needed for your home to get cooled during the summer. This can also help you make the attic useful again.
There are plenty of online websites that give people the opportunity to leave comments about how they received. This will help you to find the right contractor.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, take measurements. You need to know how big the area is that you want to have cooled off. The calculation to determine the size of the unit is typically 20 BTU for every square foot of area. Account for all of the rooms in the house.
Are you considering purchasing a new heating/cooling system? You will need to think about a few important things. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are better off purchasing a unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
A working HVAC system is crucial for a comfortable home. But, without the right knowledge, breakdowns of this type of equipment can lead to major frustration. The tips you just read should be of benefit to anyone with an HVAC.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience. You need to verify they have the type of experience needed to work on your particular system. Don’t risk the success of your job by taking a chance on someone who may not be able to do it right.