Many people have HVAC systems, even though it is a critical component of their home. Learning the ins and outs of choosing an HVAC professional to maintain or repair services is a wise move for any smart homeowner. This article will help you with that.
Before calling for help, know the system you have. Write down what brand your system is along with the model number and, if they’re available, maintenance records. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor all the information they need.
Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor.It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to give you a price estimate on the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Regularly remove debris from outside condenser units. Falling leaves and wind or rain may cause debris to reduce the efficiency of your unit. It could get too hot, leading to even more problems.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser.Aim your grass cuttings in a direction from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Sae 20 Oil
When choosing the area for placing an outdoor compressor device, place it in a shady area. When your unit takes in cool air, it takes less energy to tool the air, thus boosting efficiency.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser at least once each year. You will notice these ports covered with rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Put outdoor unit in the shade.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. A thermostat that’s programmable is going to save you around ten percent on the heating and cooling costs you have to pay when you turn it back about fifteen percent for a part of the day. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Have the HVAC serviced at the least. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Turn off any outdoor condenser units when the weather turns cold.This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep your system working for years and will have to be repaired less often.
Do not let your house get dangerously hot. Expect an air conditioning unit to drop the temperature down 20 degrees within a short amount of time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. Depending on how humid it is, this isn’t really that safe for a person to sleep in when it’s really hot.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This same effect also helps retain heated air in during the winter months.
During the visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These simple things will boost the performance of your system.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, there are calculators on the Internet that can help you figure out the right size. If you purchase something too large, you will be throwing away money. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Research and check the companies that you consider using.Check with different references to determine the BBB and look for reviews posted by former customers. These steps are going to help make a wise one.
Speak with family and friends to get a recommendation for a reputable HVAC unit.People who’ve had great service are usually more than willing to share this information. This will prevent you avoid bad companies.
Contractor set their own prices; this is why you should get many quotes. You should save some money this way. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
There are many sites that let customers to share their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding contractors that you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you don’t.
A working HVAC system is important to keep your home comfy. If your system breaks down, it can be rather frustrating. Luckily, any homeowner can know just how to proceed when they are aware of the information contained in this article.
Do you need a new HVAC unit? You will need to take a few things into account. Those systems get rated by the area amount they are able to cool and heat effectively. It is probably wiser to purchase a system that is slightly larger than what you think you need rather than one that is smaller.