Your home can be made much more comfortable with a good HVAC system. Many homes already have this type of system in place, but they do need to be replaced from time to time. Understanding how to properly maintain your system will help you to buy a great product when the time is right.
Clean the debris from outside units often. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Know what type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person.This will enable you to give your chosen contractor any information they need.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, try touring your home before calling a professional. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
A shady spot is always a good choice for the placement of your outdoor compressor. The unit will operate more efficiently to cool your home if the intake air is cooler to begin with.
Clean the debris off your condenser unit. 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 your unit.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
You can keep energy costs in your home lower by choosing to have professional maintenance done on your HVAC unit. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. Those things are going to help your system at peak performance.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass in a different direction away from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once each year. These are usually covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
If you want to ensure you choose a trustworthy HVAC contractor, invest a little time in researching a few different companies, checking out their reputations. Inquire with the BBB and look elsewhere for other reviews from customers. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.
Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This will help keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Make certain the HVAC company you choose has a proven track record. Companies that are well established have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. It is always risky to hire a contractor with little experience.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This also keeps warm air in during the colder months.
During this service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These things will boost the performance of your system to run at its peak performance.
An online search will give you further information about any contractor you are considering. There are plenty of online websites that give people the opportunity to leave comments about the service they received. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with those you want to avoid.
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 recommended size for air conditioners.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. It is riskier to hire a long history.
In order for your HVAC system to run more efficiently, think about putting a radiant barrier in your attic. It will block the heat and lower the energy necessary to keep your home cool in the summertime. It it’s installed properly, you might even be able to use your attic as an extra room.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save quite a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even use your attic space if it is done right.
Figure out the direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. Trees placed in the right places can keep the sun from heating your home too much. The less heat in your home, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. Once leaks have been fixed, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
Square Footage
Take a measuring tape and get the square footage of the area where the unit will be cooling. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
Measure the area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You will need about 20 BTU for each square footage of the room. When you are cooling more than one room, determine the square footage of each room and then add the numbers together.
An HVAC system is a great investment, and it really helps your home to stay comfortable year round. The suggestions above should provide you with a good starting point for your consideration if you’re in the market to buy an HVAC system. They can assist you in making a smart decision that will make you happy for years to come.
As you ponder where to install your new AC unit, think about how the air flows around the room. If you can only put the unit in the corner, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.