It can be difficult for homeowners to know where to turn when their heating or cooling system isn’t working properly. To stop such a situation from becoming a real disaster, knowledge is power. This article is intended to help homeowners get the help they have to get.
Before calling anyone to repair your system, know what system you have. Write down what brand your system is along with the model number and, if they’re available, maintenance records. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor any information they might need.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, do a tour of your house before you call in help. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. A contractor will be hard pressed to provide you with an over-the-phone estimate without looking at your system. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Don’t hire a contractor until you know a little about what you are facing. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. Being unable to explain what has been already done will make it even harder. So be aware of this information ahead of time.
Clean the debris off your condenser unit. Debris can pile up after a storm, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system.It can also cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Turn it off so nothing moves.Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Clean the debris on your condenser units. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It could get too hot, leading to even more problems.
Your HVAC system could suffer when your trees lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often during the fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap on them. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
If the fan condenser on your unit has ports for oil, make sure you lubricate it once a year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Pick a type of SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight. Place 10 or less drops into every port to avoid overfilling.
Put outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Have the HVAC system inspected twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Have a smart thermostat installed. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you’re not around. This will save you a lot of money during the year.
Turn off any outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can ensure your system working well throughout the years and save you a lot on repairs.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This same effect also helps retain heated air in during the winter months.
Shut off the air conditioning if nobody is home. The house will only heat to certain level and a decent HVAC system can quickly cool this down once you are home. Leaving your heating or cooling running full blast while you are away is a waste of money and energy.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your power bills. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
Never let your home reach a dangerously high level. An AC unit will reduce the internal temperature of your home by 20ºF quickly. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Spend some time on researching for reliable HVAC companies to ensure that they have a good reputation. Inquiring with the Better Business Bureau is always a good idea, as is looking for online review sites where previous customers can post their experiences. These simple steps will help make a better decision.
Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with the BBB and look for reviews posted by former customers. Doing all of this will make sure you make a better decision.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Your friends or family likely have recommendations for a local HVAC specialist. Anyone that has previously needed work done on their HVAC unit are more than happy to tell you their experiences. This can also be used to see who you should avoid.
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 this information.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioner shopping. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square foot of space. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, be sure to add their square footage together.
Make sure your windows and doors are efficient. Make sure seals are tight to avoid exterior air seeping in and interior air seeping out. You could have a professional run a test for you, and sometimes this testing is done at no charge.
Nobody ever wants their heating and/or cooling systems to go out when it is really hot or really cold. But if they know what’s going on, they can quickly fix the situation. The tips from this article can help the homeowner make the best decisions about HVAC and steer clear of the worse case scenario.