Many homeowners have no idea what to do when the HVAC system starts to fail. To ward off disaster, knowledge is power. This piece is meant to provide solid instruction on hiring proper help they need for their HVAC unit.
Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Look for the model and brand number. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor all the information they need.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
When you call an HVAC system for help, you need to be aware of what you need them to do before calling. This will make the quote process much easier. If you can’t explain changes you’ve made, the process will be even more difficult. Know this stuff ahead of time.
Clean any debris on an external condenser units. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can ruin your system. It can cause your system by overheating.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim the grass in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
As you notice the tress begin to lose their leaves, keep an eye on your outdoor condenser unit. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if debris is blocking this air flow, then your system could suffer.
Put your outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them.
Make sure your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
As the temperature outside drops, remember to turn off your outdoor condenser unit. This should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will ensure your system works well each year, which could save you quite a bit in repair costs.
Turn off your outdoor condensers you have when it’s getting cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your system working for years to come.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also helps retain heated air in during the winter months.
Do not let your house get dangerously hot. Expect an air conditioning unit to drop the temperature down 20 degrees within a short amount of time. So if your home is 100ºF, you’ll only get the temperature down to about 80. While it depends on the humidity, this is not safe for a human to sleep in to recover from the heat of the summer.
During the visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These repairs will help keep your system.
Don’t allow your home get overly hot. Air conditioners can only really cool a home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. People usually love to boast about the wonderful work they have had done, so you should be given great leads to follow. This will prevent you from getting scammed.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews posted by former customers. This can help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring an inexperienced contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Before you hire a contractor, make sure you get different quotes. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. Ideally, five or six contractors should be called so you can get a good ball park figure of a reasonable rate.
There are a few sites these days that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is an awesome way to locate contractors to work and ones that are poor.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save a great deal of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. Call around 5 contractors so that you can get the best rates.
If you hear clicking inside your HVAC unit, look for an obstruction. This may be because debris is restricting the movement of the fan blades. All you need to do is remove the debris to solve the problem. Look at the system before you call for help.
Nobody ever wants their heating and/or cooling systems to go out when it is really hot or really cold. However, homeowners who are educated in basic heating and cooling maintenance can overcome many of the issues that may arise during trying times. Use these suggestions to increase the performance of your unit.