Not everyone knows a lot about working on HVAC units. This fact can become a problem when it comes time to handle a household heating or cooling problem in a home.
Before making that repair phone call, make sure you know the specifics about your particular system. Look for the maintenance history and brand and model. This will let you know that you’re able to give the contractor the information that can help them.
If you have some problems with the HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Know what work you need before you select an HVAC contractor.It will be difficult for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be way more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
If your HVAC system us giving you issues, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. Determine which rooms feel cold and which feel hot. The contractor can probably figure out and fix the problem easier.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Turn off your power before doing any job like this. Also, it is important to clear the outside condenser unit from any debris that maybe trapped inside.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
Have the HVAC serviced at least yearly. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
Be sure to clean the fan blades and coils of the condenser fan. First, make sure the power is off to ensure nothing moves while you are working. Take the grill off and pull the blades out to clean them.
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 keep your system working for many years.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm air in heat when it gets cold.
Do not allow grass clippings to cover the outdoor unit of your HVAC system. Make sure you shoot the clippings in the other direction from the unit. The same goes for when you blow leaves, so make sure your are careful when moving any debris in the vicinity of your HVAC devices.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on your air conditioning costs. Some can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Don’t let your home to become dangerously hot. An air conditioning unit will reduce the temperature by twenty degrees in a short time span. If the temperature in your home reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
If the condenser fan has oil parts, then you need to lubricate it at least once per year. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap. Your oil should be an SAE 20. This particular oil is very lightweight and it only requires about 10 drops per port.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews posted by former customers. Doing these things beforehand will allow you make a smart decision.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Boost energy efficiency by putting your condenser unit in the shade. If your air conditioner is able to constantly suck in cool air, it won’t have to work overtime to cool your space, which can in turn save you money on your electricity bills.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even find that you can use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Do you need a quality HVAC? You will need to think about a few important things. Systems get rated according to the total area they effectively heat or cool. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
Equipping your home with a programmable thermostat can be an excellent way to cut utility costs. It changes the temperature so the system isn’t in use when it’s cooler outside or no one is home. Additionally, some models of programmable thermostats actually allow you to control them remotely from your office computer or cell phone.
Nobody like dealing with HVAC issues. However, as long as they take the time to study up on the topic before something calamitous occurs, the process need not be so terrible. Keep these tips handy so that you can refer to them as needed.