It might seem overwhelming to learn all about HVAC. But this is not necessarily the way it has to be, and the information here is easy to digest. This advice should help even the issues that you encounter.
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. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. This will help make sure that the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Put outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils come spring. Before you clean the surface, be sure to turn off the power. Take away all of the debris as well.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This will also helps keep it warm in the winter.
Install a thermostat you can program to save energy costs. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often during the fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it is clogged, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
During your service visit, the system motor will be inspected, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These simple things are going to allow your system to run its best.
Never allow your home reach a dangerously hot inside. An AC unit is really only able to reduce the temperature of your home approximately twenty degrees in a short time span.So, if you house heats up to about 95, your air conditioning will only bring that temp down to about 80 degrees. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Having a programmable thermostat installed is a money saving idea. A programmable thermostat can save you up to ten percent on your cooling and heating costs by simply turning the thermostat back ten to fifteen percent for eight hours a day. Some can even be controlled from a computer.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something that’s happening to you, put your thermostat over to fan. If the issue persists, call a professional.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
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. Investing the time to check out potential contractors can save you money and headaches.
Ask friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People that have gotten great work done are usually more than willing to share the information they know about it. This is also a great way to get names of companies that should avoid.
There are a lot of online websites that let customers talk about the service they received. This is useful for finding people that you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you want to avoid.
Find an air conditioner calculator online to determine what models are best for you. Buying one that’s too large will not cool that well. Check your manual to figure out what the rating is from the manufacturer to be sure you’re getting the right information.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money this way. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to determine what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even find that you can use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
All contractors charge differently for their services, so get at least four or five quotes before hiring a particular person. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. Call around to find out what the rates are.
Are you looking at purchasing a new HVAC system? There are many things you must consider first. Systems have ratings according to the total area they can effectively heat or cool. You are wise to err on the side of a unit rather than a bit too small.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When you have leaks repaired, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.
Determine which way your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. You can help keep your home cool with the strategic placement of trees. The cooler your home already is, the less work your AC will have to do.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system can work better. If there’s less heat inside your home, then the HVAC will require less work to actually cool the home.
Make sure they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can get these tested at little to no charge by a professional to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. Normally, you need 20 BTU for each square foot that you wish to cool. If you are cooling more than one room, sum their areas.
Square Footage
Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of room space. If you are cooling more than one room, just add their total square footage.
Choose an HVAC contractor who know what he is doing and works quickly. This will ensure that the job is done efficiently. The technicians will be able to help you and offer the best possible options. Once, they find the problem, they will fix it fast.
Now you know all about HVAC. With this advice, and you will be ahead of the game. You can save a lot of money if you do so.