Everyone with a home HVAC knows that maintenance is key. A poorly functioning HVAC system that does no function properly can end up costing the homeowner a lot of money. The following tips concerning HVAC maintenance and learn what to do if you eventually need to replace it.
Always make sure you are up-to-date about your HVAC unit. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Sae 20 Oil
To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Except when you do superficial cleaning, you need to always make sure the power is off on the unit. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.
Lubricate your condenser once each year. You will see rubber or metal cap covering them.Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.
As the leaves are falling off the trees, your HVAC system can really take a hit. Whenever leaves are falling, consistently clean the fan grill. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice a year at the least. This should be checked often for debris and again in the spring.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can keep your system working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. The unit will have to do less work cooling this air.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
When they come out for a service visit, oil the parts that move, and they will oil all the moving parts. These easy to do things will help your system to run at its peak performance.
Don’t let your home get too hot. Even the best air conditioners can only realistically cool your home approximately 20 degrees Farenheit. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. When you factor in humidity, this can still be dangerously hot for the human body at rest.
Never let your home to rise to a dangerously high level. An AC unit is really only able to reduce the internal temperature by twenty degrees in a short time span. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with the best one for reviews of potential companies online.These steps will help ensure you make a better decision.
Always check to see how long a company or contractor has been working for. Companies that are well established have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. You will be taking a risk if you hire a newer contractor.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. If this doesn’t work, call in help.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
An online search will give you further information about any contractor you are considering. There are quite a few sites now that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work and ones that are poor.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save some money by asking for many quotes. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home and the outside. You may even use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
When you hear an odd clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, you should immediately begin to look for any obstructions. The issue may be debris hitting the fans of the cooling system. Removing the debris will quickly fix the issue. Take a look for yourself before you call a technician out.
Now that you’ve read the advice above, you should know more about how to keep an HVAC running for a long time. Faulty HVAC systems can cost you quite a bit of money in maintenance and bills. Bookmark these suggestions and refer back to them as needed.