The comfort of comfort experienced within a home has a lot to do with whether or not it is being heated or cooled properly. That means your HVAC system healthy. If you don’t care for your HVAC, things will cost a lot to fix and it will be hard to live with it all. Here are some suggestions to help you started.
Prior to putting in a service call on your HVAC, be able to identify it. Write down the make, model, and any maintenance history. This will help you give the new contractor the necessary information.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This helps make sure your contractor has the information they will need.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to give you with an 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.
It is important to have some knowledge of your present system and needs before calling a contractor. This will make the quote process much easier. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. You need to know this before you begin.
Clean your fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose leaves. Clean outdoor units often to remove leaves. When the fan becomes obstructed, you will lose out on quality air.
Have your HVAC system checked twice a year at least yearly. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
A programmable thermostat can help save money on your air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
Installing double paned windows can save a lot of money over single panes, so upgrade if you are able. Windows that are double pane keep the cool air in and can greatly reduce the amount of time your air conditioner will need to run. This also helps keep it warm in the winter.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check with the best one for reviews of potential companies online. Doing all of this will make sure you make a better decision.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times.The drain line might also freeze up. If you see this, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Look online for a/c sizing calculators so you can really understand the unit size needed for your home or room. If you buy a unit that’s too large, it won’t be energy efficient for your needs. Check your manual to figure out what the rating is from the manufacturer to be sure you’re getting the right information.
Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look at the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a bigger risk.
If you don’t know who you should call to repair, install and maintain your HVAC systems, check out reviews online. In many cases you will find local review sites where previous customers will share the experience they had with companies they used. This will tell you who is great and who isn’t.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You will be likely to save some cash simply by doing your homework. Call at least four or five different HVAC specialist to find out what the rates are.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Are you thinking about having a new HVAC system installed? You may want to consider the following. Those systems get rated by the area amount they are able to cool and heat effectively. It is probably wiser to purchase a system that is slightly larger than what you think you need rather than one that is smaller.
Now you know what is involved when it comes to maintaining your HVAC system. Don’t ignore it or it could fail on you because you didn’t give it regular maintenance. Apply the above advice to keep it in good shape, avoiding unpleasant surprises.