It is not easy for many homeowners to understand where to go when their heating or cooling system begins to fail. To avoid creating costly repairs, it is helpful to read up on the topic in advance. This article was written to help homeowners get the help they have to get.
Each spring, try cleaning the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan. Be sure to turn the power off first; you don’t want anything to move. Secondly, pop the grill off, take the blades off and clean them as well as the actual unit.
Know the name and type of system before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you to give the contractor any information that can help them.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to give you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Keep your outdoor units free of debris when your cutting grass. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction away from your 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.
Be sure to clean external condenser units. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, bringing potential damage with it. It can cause your unit.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
The operation of your HVAC system can be in danger when the tree leaves begin to fall. Whenever leaves are falling, consistently clean the fan grill. When the fan becomes obstructed, you will lose out on quality air.
Grass Clippings
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass clippings in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. This should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps the system last much longer and will have to be repaired less often.
Your HVAC system could suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned frequently when 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, it could cause your system to break down.
Lubricate your condenser at least once each year. You can find the ports as they have a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
In order to keep energy costs down, make sure heating and cooling systems are services at least once per year. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. This will help keep your system performing at maximum efficiency.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This will also keeps warm air in during the winter months.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on your air conditioning costs. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Turn your AC off if no one is at home. When it’s off the house will get hot, but only by a certain amount. If it is on all day, it is trying to maintain a cool temperature constantly, using a great deal of electricity to fight the heat.
During the service check, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These simple things are going to allow your system to run its best.
Don’t ever let your home temperature get too hot. An AC unit will reduce the temperature of your home approximately twenty degrees in a short time span. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
To help you pick a good HVAC contractor, carefully search for information that offers honest reviews about the companies that you might be looking to hire. It can be helpful to check out the online reviews of previous customers and it is always wise to check their reputation as listed on a Better Business Bureau website. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.
There are now different online websites that let customers share their service experiences. This is a good way to locate contractors to work with.
Do you need a quality HVAC? There are a number of things to consider. Systems have ratings according to how large an area they effectively cool and heat. You are wise to err on the side of a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a smaller one.
Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. Freezing drain lines are also possible and can be mistaken for leaks. If you see this, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you repair the leaks, the testing has paid for itself.
Square Footage
Look for sizing calculators based on the air conditioner you have to figure out how big of a unit you need in your home. If you buy something too large it won’t be efficient as it cools the same. Check the manufacturer’s handbook to see what amount of space the unit can effectively cool.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioning. You generally need 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. If you need to cool multiple rooms, be sure to add their square footage together.
It is common knowledge that having a home’s cooling or heating system fail in the middle of a heat wave or in the chilly grip of winter can cause a real headache for homeowners. However, by arming yourself with the right knowledge ahead of time, it doesn’t have to be a dire situation. The tips from this article can help the homeowner make the best decisions about HVAC and steer clear of the worse case scenario.
To improve the efficiency of your HVAC unit, put a radiant barrier up inside the attic of your home. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. If you do things right your attic can be used as a living space too.