Coming home to a hot or cold house due to a broken HVAC unit is no fun at all. The tips are great for helping you do just that.
Before calling anyone to repair your system, know what system you have. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. This will give contractor’s a better idea of what to expect before they show up, which will help things go more smoothly on arrival.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This helps make sure your contractor has the information they will be sufficiently prepared.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is.
Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Prior to working on or cleaning the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Also, be sure to clear leaves and debris from your condenser unit.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
Turn it off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when it becomes cold out. Once the temperature drops into the 50s, the unit should no longer be on. This will help keep your HVAC system in good health for years, which means you will save on repair bills.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when trees lose their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan needs to have an unobstructed path for air to enter the unit, and if debris is blocking this air flow, it could cause your system to break down.
10 Drops
Keep energy costs from rising by having your system serviced annually. When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, oil the parts that move, and see how much freon is in your system. These repairs will keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Lubricate your condenser once each year. These are often covered with rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
Do your homework on a number of HVAC companies before selecting the one that has the best reputation and service record. It can be helpful to check out the online reviews of previous customers and it is always wise to check their reputation as listed on a Better Business Bureau website. Take these steps to ensure you make wise choices.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units when it’s getting cold. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will help keep the life of your unit.
During your service visit, the contractor will oil parts, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These few simple tasks will help your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
Checkout online reviews if you do not know which contractor to call for installation, maintenance or repair of your HVAC system. There are many review sites you can check out. You will be able to make a more informed choice if you do this.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up. If this is something you notice, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Ask around so you are looking for a HVAC contractor. People who have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share the name of their contractor. This can also a great way to get names of companies that should avoid at all costs.
If you are a having trouble with your existing system, check for leaks in the ducts. Call your utility company and ask if they test for free, as many do. When you repair the leaks, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.
There are a number of great sites out there that give people the opportunity to leave comments about the service they received. This will be an excellent way to locate people you to find the right contractor.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You have the potential to save some money when you call different companies for price quotes. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
To run your HVAC at full efficiency, you must have efficient doors and windows in place as well. Make sure seals are tight to avoid exterior air seeping in and interior air seeping out. Ask a contractor to test them for you.
These suggestions will assist you in maintaining your system. It’s frustrating to come home after a long day to find out your system doesn’t work. Then thinking about repair costs makes it even worse. You can prevent such an unpleasant surprise with the information you have read about in the above article. Use these tips to make sure your HVAC system stays maintained for a long time.