HVAC: What You Should Know Before You Begin

Letting your HVAC system break is not something you want to deal with. You are probably here because you want to learn about getting your HVAC system to last. The article below has some helpful tips just for you.

Don’t hire a contractor until you know a little about what you are facing. It’s hard to get an estimate since they haven’t look at your system. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. Thus, it is worthwhile to have this knowledge ahead of time.

TIP! It is important to have some knowledge of your present system and needs before calling a contractor. Providing you with an accurate estimate over the telephone may be difficult to impossible is they can’t see the system you have.

Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will help you give the new contractor you hire has all the necessary information.

If your HVAC system is acting up, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.

Clean the debris on your condenser units. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.

TIP! If your condenser units are outisde, make sure any debris is cleaned from them regularly. You don’t know the amount of stuff that can pile up right after heavy winds or a storm.

Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to give you with an 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.

Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.

When you cut the grass, don’t cover the outdoor units with their clippings. Aim the grass in a different direction from the unit. The same thing should go on when you blow leaves, so take your time when you’re working around HVAC units that are around when you’re blowing debris around.

TIP! Keep your outdoor units free of debris when your cutting grass. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction.

Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it is clogged, you will have to contend with problems.

Put your outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.

During the fall, leaves can gather around your HVAC. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. When the fan becomes obstructed, you will lose out on quality air.

It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double panes. This same effect also keeps warm in during the winter.

A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on your air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.

If your condenser comes with oil ports, you should lubricate it yearly. Most of these ports have some sort of protective cap covering them. Buy an SAE 20 product that is lightweight, and then put no more than ten drops into the ports.

TIP! If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them.

When they come out for a service visit, the motor will be inspected, moving parts well oiled and the level of freon adjusted if necessary.These few simple tasks will help your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.

Don’t let your house get overly hot. Air conditioners can only cool a home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a reasonable amount of time. So, if your home temp reaches 100 degrees, you won’t see the temperature go below 75 for a while.This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.

Make sure your HVAC unit is in the shade. As you get your air conditioner to suck in cool air it won’t have to do too much work to cool it which saves you some money.

TIP! Place your HVAC unit in the shade to boost efficiency. If the air your machine draws in is already cooler, it will require less energy to regulate before it’s filtered into your home.

Research the reputation of companies before hiring them.Check them out at the BBB and look for reviews as well. These simple steps can help ensure you make a better decision.

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you notice this, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. If this doesn’t work, call in help.

You need to have a contractor review your unit twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and malfunctions. Check it out just to be safe even if there is nothing broken.

TIP! Be sure you have the HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. The best time of year to have the system checked is right before the weather begins to change.

Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.

Hvac System

It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. Good double pane windows keep cool air in during the summer and minimize your utility expenses. Likewise, in the winter more hot air stays inside during the cold season.

TIP! To save money and be more comfortable in your home, install double-paned windows instead of single pane. Double pane windows can minimize the use of your air conditioner in hot weather since they keep the indoor air cooler.

Clearly, taking proper care of the HVAC system is essential. If your HVAC system fails on you it can cost a tremendous amount of money to fix. The purpose of the suggestions above is to help you prevent expensive repairs to your HVAC system.