The way your home has a lot to do with whether or not it is being heated or cooled properly. That means your HVAC system healthy. If you have a poor HVAC, you can expect costly repairs and miserable living conditions. Here are some tips to help you started.
Be sure to clean external condenser units regularly. You don’t know the amount of stuff that can pile up right after heavy winds or a storm. It can also cause it to overheat.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This makes sure your contractor will need.
If you struggle with your HVAC, look around your home before calling in people to help. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
If your condenser comes with oil ports, you should lubricate it yearly. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Clean the debris on your outdoor 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 it to overheat.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Make sure you have your HVAC system checked at least twice a year. This should happen in the fall and the spring. Check it out just to be safe even if there is nothing broken.
10 Drops
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser at least once each year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
A good way to save money with your air conditioning is by installing a programmable thermostat. If you adjust it to keep the house a little warmer or a little cooler during the time you are sleeping, you may see your energy bill go down by as much as ten percent. Take advantage of the convenience of the ability to control many programable thermostats from your favorite electronic device.
Have your HVAC system serviced at least yearly. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This simple tip will help keep your HVAC running and can save you money on repairs.
When everyone is gone, turn your AC off. You don’t need to keep the house cool if you aren’t there. 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.
Install a thermostat to save energy costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this, put your thermostat over to fan. You can call a HVAC professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Sometimes, air conditioning units ice up. There are also occasional freezes in the drain line, which are often confused for plumbing leaks. If this happens, put your thermostat over to fan. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Ask your friends and family for contractor recommendations. People that have gotten great work done are usually more than willing to share the information they know about it. This will also help you should avoid.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save a bit of cash simply by doing your homework. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to determine what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
How long has the contractor been in business? Someone that has been in the business for a while probably isn’t going to scam you. If you hire someone that’s new that this then you’ll be risking your money.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of 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 could even find that you can use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. The less your home is heated, the less work your AC will have to do.
If you aren’t sure who to call for HVAC maintenance, repairs, or installation, look online for reviews. In many cases you will find local review sites where previous customers will share the experience they had with companies they used. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with those you want to avoid.
This article has given you some excellent basics on keeping your HVAC system maintained correctly. Maintain your unit on a monthly basis. Apply these tips so that you can keep it functioning properly.