Letting the HVAC system fall into ruin is an incredibly foolish decision for any homeowner.You are probably here because you wish to learn all you can do in order to help the HVAC system last a long time. This article will provide you exactly what you need to know.
It is important to have some knowledge of your present system and needs before calling a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current setup is. If you can’t explain changes you’ve made, the process will be even more difficult. Thus, it is worthwhile to have this knowledge ahead of time.
Know the name and type of system before looking for a repair person. This will enable you to give the new contractor the necessary information.
Know what you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. Overheating may be the result if you don’t.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
You need to lubricate parts of your fan condenser. A rubber or metal cap is typically placed over such ports. Put about ten drops or less of a good non-detergent SAE 20 oil into each port.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass cuttings in a direction from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Put outdoor unit in the shade.
If you want things to be more efficient, get new units outside or have your current one moved into the shade. If the air your machine draws in is already cooler, it will require less energy to regulate before it’s filtered into your home.
Be sure you have twice annual HVAC system checks. This should be done in the fall and the spring.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when the weather turns cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can keep the system running efficiently for many years to come.
To keep your system running smoothly have your system serviced once a year. During service the technician will check the motor and refill the system fluids. These few simple things will help your system to run at its peak performance.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This also keeps warm air in during the winter months.
During the visit, the contractor will oil parts, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These easy to do things will help your system to run at its best.
Don’t allow your home to overheat. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. If your house’s interior temperature hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. Depending on what the humidity is, this may not be cool enough to be a safe temperature to sleep at when recovering from the harsh summer heat.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Companies with proven track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a new contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Air conditioners tend to ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze up. If you see this, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. It’s a good idea to call up professionals to help with this even though you can get the ice to melt when you switch everything to the fan.
There are a number of online websites that give people the opportunity to leave comments about how they were treated by services. This is useful for finding people that you want to hire and also with all the information you don’t want to work with.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save some money by asking for many quotes. You may want to call at least five contractors to determine what you should be paying.
If you don’t know who you should call to repair, install and maintain your HVAC systems, check out reviews online. You have a choice of review sites to use. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Are you thinking about having a cooling and heating system that’s new? There are several things you need to keep in mind. Systems are given ratings by how well the system is able to cool or heat an area. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
Doing yearly maintenance on your HVAC is vital to preventing expensive repairs. When this unit fails, you will be in a lot of trouble. Keep this from happening when you use these helpful tips.
Are you looking at purchasing a HVAC system? If so, you must consider a number of things. System ratings are based on the area that can be cooled and heated effectively by the system. Therefore, you may want to opt for a larger unit.