Lots of people have HVAC units in their homes. An HVAC is a unit that helps keep a house at a comfortable for you throughout the year. You will likely need a contractor to install it and maintain it. Keep reading and you’ll get the tips on keeping an HVAC system running well.
If your HVAC system is acting up, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. That way, the contractor will have an easier time diagnosing the problem and repairing it fast.
Know what work you need before you select an HVAC contractor.It will be hard for a contractor to give you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass in a different direction away from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Make sure that you do not cover your outdoor components with grass clippings when you are trimming the grass. Try shooting the clippings away from it. When blowing leaves, do the same. Always take care when passing your HVAC units while moving leaves, grass or other debris.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, it could cause your system to break down.
10 Drops
When it gets cold outside, turn off the outdoor condensers. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. This helps the system last much longer and will have to be repaired less often.
Lubricate your condenser if it has oil ports. You can easily find the 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.
Be sure you have twice annual HVAC system checks. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Installing a programmable digital thermostat can help save money. It will help save on your heating and cooling costs by turning itself down at certain times. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your power bills. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
During the visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These repairs will help your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
If you’re away from home during the day, raise the temperature setting on your air conditioner to save money. The house will only heat up to a certain point. Leaving it on for the entire day means that it is struggling to keep things cool, something that takes lots of energy.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews posted by former customers. This is what you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for this information.
To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. Buying a unit that is too large for your home is a poor decision that wastes money. Read over the owner’s manual to see the manufacturers suggestions as to the cooling capacity of the unit for the most accurate information.
Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a bigger risk.
Ask your friends and relations for contractor recommendations. People that have had quality work done are often happy to share this information. This can also help you should avoid hiring.
All contractors charge differently for their services, so get at least four or five quotes before hiring a particular person. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. To figure out what a good rate is, speak with about five or six contractors.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home and the outside. You could even find that you can use the attic space if it is done right.
Figure out the direction your home is facing so your HVAC system more efficient. The less your home is heated, the less work your AC will have to do.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from the HVAC unit, see if there is any debris in it. Many times it could be debris hitting the cooling system fans. Just pull it out and clean the blade off. Take a look before calling a service technician.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, see if there is any debris in it. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in your cooling system. Look carefully at this prior to calling a service technician.
Square Footage
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You generally need about 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. If multiple rooms need cooling, be sure to add their square footage together.
Clearly, some ways exist to aid you in dealing with contractors and HVAC units. You need to make sure you get a unit correctly installed, then maintain it so it works well. When you put this advice to good use, you will know more about what your options are when it comes to dealing with your HVAC.
Be certain you know what the HVAC work costs include. Sometimes, contractors will not include everything in order to secure the job. Having a signed contract can help to avoid issues like that.