If you want to increase your understanding of HVAC maintenance, then it’s best to arm yourself with these helpful tips first. This article can help you get more acquainted with the right direction. Take some time to read carefully and you will do well.
Before making that repair phone call, make sure you know the specifics about your particular system. Write down the make, model, and any maintenance history. This will help make sure that the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Know what type of system before calling someone to fix it. This information will help make sure that the contractor you hire to repair it.
Know what you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Before you choose an HVAC contractor, have an idea in your mind of what needs to be done. A contractor will be hard pressed to provide you with an over-the-phone estimate if unfamiliar with your system. If you don’t have any idea, they will have trouble giving you any sort of quote. Be sure to find this out ahead of time.
Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
Clean the condenser on your debris on your condenser units. 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 will damage the system to malfunction by overheating.
If the condenser for your HVAC system is located outside, make sure you clear away any debris that might settle in or around it. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system. Left unchecked, your unit is more likely to break down.
Turn it off so nothing moves.Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass cuttings in a direction from your unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coil in the spring. Start by turning off the power to avoid having anything move when you work on it. Pull out each of the blades and clean them one by one.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when trees lose their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. When blockages restrict the flow of air to the fan, you will lose out on quality air.
Turn off your outdoor condensers you have when it’s getting cold. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will help keep it in good working order.
If you want to know where you should put an outdoor compressor, you should place it somewhere where there is a lot of shade. This will limit the work that it has to do.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm air in the winter.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your power bills. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or computer.
To boost the efficiency of your HVAC system, you should put your unit in a shady place. It will reduce the temperature of the air going into the unit, meaning that it will not have to work as hard to cool it.
Don’t let your house get way too hot to where it’s dangerous. Air conditioners can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. If your home become 100F or more, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Get your HVAC unit serviced two times per year. The ideal thing to do would be to have it checked out in the fall and spring so you’re able to figure out if everything is ready for the cold and hot months. Although there might not be any noticeable issues, it is important to provide regular upkeep to prevent bad things from happening.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor may be taking a bigger risk.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC contractor. People who have had a good experience are often happy to share the name of it. This can also a great way to get names of companies that should avoid.
As the temperature outside drops, remember to turn off your outdoor condenser unit. If the temperature drops to under 60 degrees, you risk damage to the unit if you leave it on. Your system will work longer for you this way.
There are quite a few sites that let customers talk about their service experiences. This is an excellent method provides you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you want to avoid.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Make sure to have your unit serviced once a year. During a maintenance visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. This ensures your system runs smoothly.
This information should have helped you understand your HVAC better. Be sure to work carefully to avoid breaking the system. Good luck with your HVAC and feeling comfortable in your home.