Letting the HVAC system fall into ruin is an incredibly foolish decision for any homeowner.You are reading this article because you probably want to learn about getting your HVAC system to last. The article below has many solid tips just for you.
Don’t hire a contractor until you know a little about what you are facing. If you can’t describe the problem, you may not get an accurate quote. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. Having this information handy will make the process much smoother.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you give the new contractor the necessary information.
If you struggle with your HVAC, check out your home before calling a contractor. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is.
Each spring, clean the fan blades and coils on your condenser. Before you begin cleaning the unit, make sure that it is unplugged. Take the grill off and pull the blades out to clean them.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Clean your condenser’s fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best.Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
When you are choosing a location for the outdoor compressor unit, it’s preferable to use a shaded area. When the unit sucks in cooler air, then less work is required to cool it further which in turn boosts the units efficiency.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it becomes blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
If you can, use double-paned windows instead of single-paned ones. Double pane windows can help minimize how much you use your air conditioner in the summer, because they keep cool air inside the home. They help in the winter, too, keeping the heat in.
Put outdoor units in the shade.
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 can keep the system working for years to come.
Figure out how long the HVAC company you choose has been in business. The older they are, the more likely it will be for you to find out their history, which will help you gauge their quality. It is always risky to hire a contractor with little experience.
A programmable thermostat can really help save money on air conditioning costs. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.
Don’t ever let your home temperature get dangerously hot. Air conditioners can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Check the Internet for reviews on those who fix or install HVAC systems. There are many review sites you can check out. This will make it easier for you to find the right contractor.
Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and look for your situation. This can help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. You may want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Measuring the space you want to cool is the first step to figure how large of an air conditioner you need. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If multiple rooms need cooling, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your unit stays hot or cold as it should be. You could even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.
You should now have a good understanding of how important it is to maintain your HVAC system correctly. If your HVAC fails, it can be expensive to repair. Keep this from happening when you use these helpful tips.
Think about which way the air flows when installing a air conditioner. If you’re stuck with putting it in a corner, buy one that lets the air flow to be redirected so that it is not flowing towards the wall.