It is not easy for homeowners to understand where to go when their heating or cooling system begins to fail. To stop such a situation from becoming a real disaster, it is helpful to read up on the topic in advance. This article was put together to help conscientious homeowners learn how to hire the proper help they need for their HVAC unit.
Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Learn the brand and the model. In this way, you can be sure your repair person has all vital information.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you to give your contractor any information they might need.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Don’t let your outdoor HVAC units get smothered with clippings anytime you mow the yard. Turn your lawnmower in the opposite direction. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
Hvac Contractor
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you a price estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
The HVAC unit in your home can become damaged from falling leaves. When the leaves fall from nearby trees, clean the grill of your fan often. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
Clean your fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once each year. These ports are typically covered with caps made of metal or rubber. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don’t overfill it.
Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim your grass clippings in a direction away from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
10 Drops
You need to have a contractor review your unit twice a year. Ideally, you should have it looked at in the spring and fall so you know everything is set for the hot and cold months. Even if you don’t think anything’s wrong, it’s still worth an inspection.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once each year. You can find these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Put outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
When colder weather arrives, switch off all outdoor condenser units. If the temperature drops to under 60 degrees, you risk damage to the unit if you leave it on. This will ensure your system stays in good working order every year, saving you money on costly repairs.
Turn off outdoor condenser 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 simple tip will help keep your system working for many years and save you a lot on repairs.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Have a smart thermostat installed. These can save you around 10 percent on your heating and cooling costs by just turning it back 10 percent to 15 percent for around eight hours each day. Also, you’ll find that you can program your thermostat from a computer or anything connected to the web.
Ask people that you know and relations for contractor recommendations. People who have had great service are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This is also a great way to find which companies to stay away from.
There are a few sites out there that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is useful for finding people you should work with and people that may not work well with you.
Save some cash by shutting down the air-conditioning system when there is no one in the house. When you turn it off, the house heats up, but only to a certain threshold. If you leave it on all day, it’s fighting the heat constantly, meaning it’s using a lot of electricity to do its job.
Have you ever lost your HVAC system during the bitter winter or blistering summer months? If you have, then you know what a terrible nightmare this can be. However, homeowners who are educated in basic heating and cooling maintenance can overcome many of the issues that may arise during trying times. These tips have armed you with all you need to know.