HVAC contracting isn’t something that you may know nothing about. This can pose a problem when it comes time to handle a household heating or cooling emergency.
Before you start calling to find someone to fix your unit, make sure you know the type of system that is installed. It is important to understand what model it is and which brand it is. Also, if it has been serviced before, you should have that information handy. This information will be helpful to any contractor you hire to repair it.
If your HVAC is running into problems, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Before contacting a repair service, do a short tour of the entire home. Determine which rooms feel cold and which feel hot. Figuring this out will the contractor to diagnose the issues and quickly get to work on fixing it.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often during the fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
10 Drops
Keeping the outside condenser clean of debris and leaves will improve the system’s efficiency. Before you clean the surface, be sure to turn off the power. The outside condenser unit should be kept free of leaves and other debris.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once a year. You can easily find these ports as they have a rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Put your outdoor units in places with shade.
If your condenser units are outisde, make sure any debris is cleaned from them regularly. Excess debris can really affect your system’s quality. It will damage the system by overheating.
Have your heating and cooling system checked twice a year. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.
Install a programmable thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
When you cut the grass, don’t cover the outdoor units with their clippings. Try shooting the clippings away from it. The same goes for when you blow leaves, so make sure your are careful when moving any debris in the vicinity of your HVAC devices.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners really can only cool down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a reasonable amount of time. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
As the leaves are falling off the trees, your HVAC system can really take a hit. At least twice a week, you need to clean the grill of your fan. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.
For maximum efficiency, place outdoor units in a shady spot. You save money this way because the air conditioner is now pulling in cooler air, which is easier to cool further.
Ask your friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who have used and if they are worth calling. This is also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid hiring.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for many quotes. You may want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors to determine what you should be paying.
When colder weather arrives, switch off all outdoor condenser units. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees. Your system will work longer for you this way.
Are you thinking about buying a cooling and heating system that’s new? You need to know some things into account. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively cool and heat. You are better off purchasing a bigger unit rather than a bit too small.
If you HVAC unit is making a clicking sound, see if there are any obstructions right away. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Look carefully at it before you call for help.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. You have greater control over the temperature settings with these. You can often control it from your mobile phone!
A failed HVAC system can be a problem that every homeowner fears. That said, a bit of knowledge goes a long way. Keep the information from this article handy so you can solve and issues that arise quickly and at a reasonable cost.