This article will help you understand everything about the great tips you’ve been looking for.
When you start making calls to get someone to help with your HVAC system, it’s a good idea to know what system you have before that phone call. Write down the make, model, and any maintenance history. If you have to have someone come out to repair the unit, you will be able to help the contractor understand more about what is going on.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This information will facilitate the process when your contractor you hire to repair it.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, do a tour of your house before you call in help. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Prior to choosing an HVAC customer, try to have an idea of what you want done. Providing you with an accurate estimate over the telephone may be difficult to impossible is they can’t see the system you have. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Be sure to clean debris from external condenser units regularly. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause your unit.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outside unit. Direct the grass clippings in a direction away from the HVAC unit. Make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it while blowing your leaves.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass in a different direction away from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when your trees lose leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it becomes blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
If the fan condenser on your unit has ports for oil, make sure you lubricate it once a year. Most of these ports have some sort of protective cap covering them. Your oil should be an SAE 20. This particular oil is very lightweight and it only requires about 10 drops per port.
Put outdoor unit in the shade.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. This same effect also help you keep in during the winter months.
Install a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. It changes the temperature so the system isn’t in use when it’s cooler outside or no one is home. Also, you’ll find that you can program your thermostat from a computer or anything connected to the web.
When they visit to service the unit they’re going to inspect the motors, oil the parts that move, moving parts well oiled and the level of freon adjusted if necessary. These few simple things are going to allow your system to run its best.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Never allow your home to get dangerously hot inside. A simple AC unit will usually only cool the home around 20 degrees within a short period of time. Assuming the temperature in your home rises to a hundred degrees, you will only be able to reduce that by twenty degrees. Depending on what the humidity is, this may not be cool enough to be a safe temperature to sleep at when recovering from the harsh summer heat.
Ask around so you are looking for a reputable HVAC contractor. People that have had quality work done in the past generally love to share this information. This can also help you to figure out some names of those companies that you should avoid.
There are a few sites out there that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is a good way to locate contractors that you wish to work with and ones that you don’t.
Before hiring an HVAC company, you need to find out how long they have been in business. Companies that are well established have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a new contractor comes with an element of risk.
A radiant barrier is an awesome device which will help improve the efficiency of your HVAC. 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 more effectively.
Are you thinking of getting a new HVAC system? You need to know some things into account. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they can 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 smaller one.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. You should be able to hire the best contractor for the job if you take the time to do this. It is best to speak to several contractors so that you know which rates are reasonable.
Do you understand your HVAC system a little more intimately now? It’s something everyone can grasp with a little help. Be sure you pay close attention to everything as you learn. Use the guideline above to help you make those important decisions.