Anyone that uses HVAC systems in their home knows how it important it is to have it running right. A HVAC system can end up costing the homeowner a ton of money. This article has tips to help you keep your HVAC unit in tip top shape.
Before making that repair phone call, make sure you know the specifics about your particular system. Take a look at the system or the owner’s manual to find the name and model number. This will give contractor’s a better idea of what to expect before they show up, which will help things go more smoothly on arrival.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will be helpful to any contractor you hire to repair it.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This will help the contractor determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. You can never tell when things will pile up, especially following rain or wind storms. These can wreak havoc on your units. It can get overheated, which will cause problems with the whole system.
Hvac Contractor
Know what you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Your HVAC unit may suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. The grill on the fan can become cluttered with debris, which will cause a serious operating deficiency. The fan should have a clear path for air to come in. If it is blocked, your system will suffer.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outdoor condenser unit regularly.
Turn it off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Be sure to place your outdoor unit in a shady spot to maximize efficiency. It will reduce the temperature of the air going into the unit, meaning that it will not have to work as hard to cool it.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser.Aim the grass in the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
Sae 20 Oil
Condenser units for the outdoors should be shut off when it starts to get cold outside. Once the temperature drops into the 50s, the unit should no longer be on. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.
Lubricate your condenser at least once each year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps covering the ports. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This also keeps warm air in during the colder months.
Regularly having your HVAC system serviced can help keep your heating and cooling bills down. During your service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. This will help your system run better.
A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
When they come out for a service visit, the motor will be inspected, and see how much freon is in your system. These things will boost the performance of your HVAC system running smoothly.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. An AC unit will reduce the internal temperature of your home approximately twenty degrees in a fair time. Assuming the temperature in your home rises to a hundred degrees, you will only be able to reduce that by twenty degrees. With high humidity, this is an unsafe temperature even for sleeping.
Degrees Fahrenheit
Don’t let your home temperature get dangerously high. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool your home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a reasonable amount of time. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
If you don’t know who you should contact to do your HVAC maintenance or any installations, look online to see if you can find reviews. Many websites allow consumers to share their experience with a service. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work and ones that are poor.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save a bit of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You want to call at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
If you are a having trouble with your existing system, check for leaks in the ducts. You can call in your local utility company to do the testing for you, often for free or at a lower cost than a contractor. When these leaks are fixed, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of 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 home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You may even use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Now you know a lot about HVAC, so you can ensure yours stays running for many years. A malfunctioning HVAC system is not something you want, since that can run up your stress and budget. By choosing to implement these great tips, you are ensuring that your HVAC will function for quite some time.
Always make sure to get references from a contractor. It’s important to know if the contractor does as he says. References ensure you don’t end up with a scammer.