How do you know what kind of system is right for your home. What size should you need?What sort of features do you need? It can overwhelming to shop since so many new features are coming out what you need.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor, have some sort of idea of the work that needs to be done. A contractor will not be able to give you an accurate price without accurate information about your system. In addition, you need to be able to tell the contractor what you have already tried. Know the right information ahead of time.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This information will help make sure that the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
Clean the debris on your condenser units. Wind can pile up all sorts of debris against its grill. If you do not, the unit may get too hot and cause additional problems.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim the grass in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Lubricate your condenser at least once each year. You will notice these ports as they have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Make sure your condenser fan is in good working order by wiping down the fan blades and the coils. Before you begin cleaning the unit, make sure that it is unplugged. Take the grill off and pull the blades out to clean them.
Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously hot inside. Air conditioners only cool your home down unreasonably high temps. If your home become 100F or more, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Don’t let your outdoor HVAC units get smothered with clippings anytime you mow the yard. Get the grass shot away from your unit. If you’re blowing leaves, this same problem can occur, so make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it.
Fan Setting
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this happens, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
When you are choosing a location for the outdoor compressor unit, it’s preferable to use a shaded area. The cooler the air that the unit is able to access, the less work it has to perform.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Ask for helpful information when you can find a reputable HVAC contractor. People that have had great service are usually more than willing to tell of it. This is also a great way to get names of those companies that should be avoided.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. These can save you around 10 percent on your heating and cooling costs by just turning it back 10 percent to 15 percent for around eight hours each day. Some can even be controlled from a computer.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. It ensures that your unit stays hot outside. You may even use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Determine the direction that your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. The less heat inside the house, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
Don’t allow your home to become dangerously hot. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. Taking into consideration the humidity level, this may not even be adequate for the human body to recover from excessive heat while sleeping.
If you HVAC unit is clicking, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Often the issue is some sort of debris hitting the fans in the cooling system. Look before you call up a technician.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. A professional can sometimes test the windows and many times the testing is free.
Air conditioners tend to ice up at times. You may even encounter a freeze in your drain line which is often confused with a plumbing leak. If you see this, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You generally need about 20 BTU for each square foot of the room. If the unit will be cooling several rooms, combine all the square footage.
Purchasing an HVAC unit isn’t easy. Thankfully, these tips will help. Check out these tips as often as necessary to help you through the process.
There are plenty of online tools, such as sizing calculators, which can help you find the best unit to cool your home. If you get a unit that is too large, it will cost a lot in energy costs. Check the manual to see what the manufacturer rates the unit to cool for accurate information.