Simple HVAC Strategies You Can’t Go On Without

By Jei Kei  On  In HVAC Tagged , ,  

A properly running HVAC system can make one’s home life more pleasant. But if you experience a failure of your HVAC system, the situation can become frustrating very quickly. Learning how to maintain your HVAC system begins with the chances of a breakdown; these tips will prove very useful.

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. The contractor will likely need all of this information.

TIP! Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. If you can’t describe the problem, you may not get an accurate quote.

If your HVAC system us giving you issues, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.

Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to give you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.

Clean the coils of your condenser fan each month. Before you clean the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.

Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.

Turn the power off first 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.

Do not allow grass clippings to cover the outdoor unit of your HVAC system. Shoot grass the other way. The same should happen if you are blowing leaves, so be especially careful when you are going by your exterior HVAC devices whenever you are moving debris.

TIP! Consumers are usually advised to have their HVAC systems inspected twice a year. This should be done in the fall and again in the spring.

Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass in a different direction away from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.

Sae 20 Oil

It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. They help cool air remain inside your home, effectively cutting back on how much you have to run your air conditioner. Likewise, heat is better retained during the winter.

TIP! A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help save money on air conditioning costs. You have greater control over the temperature settings with these.

Lubricate your fan condenser yearly if it has oil ports. These ports are usually covered by a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.

Make sure your HVAC systems is checked at least twice a year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.

To cut energy costs, you should service your cooling and heating system once a year at least. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. This maintenance means that your system will operate optimally.

TIP! To choose an HVAC contractor that’s trustworthy, take time to research some companies you’re interested in, along with their reputations. A good start would be the BBB to see if there are any complaints, then search online for review sites where you can see what actual customers had to say about their experience.

During the service check, they will inspect the motor of the system, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These few simple things will help keep your system to run at its peak performance.

Fan Setting

Look for sizing calculators based on the air conditioner you have to figure out how big of a unit you need in your home. If you get a unit that is too large, it will cost a lot in energy costs. Look at the manual for more information.

TIP! Figure out how long the HVAC company you choose has been in business. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money.

Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you notice this, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.

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.

Make certain that you get written estimates before you hire a contractor. You should be able to hire the best contractor for the job if you take the time to do this. To figure out what a good rate is, speak with about five or six contractors.

Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.

Speak with family and friends to get a recommendation for a reputable HVAC unit.People that have used and if they are worth calling. This will also a great way to get names of companies to stay away from.

Do you want to find a quality HVAC? You need to know some things first. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool or heat an area well. You should buy a little bigger than necessary unit over a little smaller than necessary unit.

TIP! If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. Call local utility companies to test it for you since many do it for a small fee or even free, which is lower than HVAC contractors.

Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save some cash simply by doing your homework. You want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.

Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system. It will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even find that you can use your attic space if it is done right.

Take a measuring tape and get the square footage of the area where the unit will be cooling. In general, you need 20 BTU for each square foot. If you need to cool multiple rooms, make sure to add the square footage together.

Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When you get leaks repaired, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.

Hvac System

Find out how much experience a given contractor has before you hire him or her. They should have a good history of working with HVAC units. While someone with less experience might be able to do a great job too, you do not want to take that chance.

TIP! When choosing someone to work on your HVAC system, make sure they provide you with references. Call and ask if their service was everything they expected, timely, and that it stayed on budget.

Now that you’re done reading this article, you understand how important it is to have a properly maintained HVAC system. If you neglect to care for it, you will increase the risk of it ceasing to work when you most need it to. That could bring about a very expensive repair bill. Thankfully you found this article, giving you some great tips that can help keep your HVAC system working well in your home.

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