You may think anything to do with HVAC is really complex. This is because there is a lot that so much goes into these things.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Get information on the make and model, plus if you have information on the history of maintenance, that will help, too. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor any information they might need.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, check out your home before calling a contractor. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor.It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It can be harder if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
You should clean your condenser fan’s blades and coils every spring. Start by turning off the power to avoid having anything move when you work on it. Next, remove the grill, take the blades and clean them gently, then clean the actual unit.
Clean the fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
Clean the condenser on your debris on your condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can also cause the unit to overheat and break down.
Place your HVAC unit in the shade to boost efficiency. This will ensure cool air is sucked in, meaning less cooling must be done by the unit.
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.
Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass cuttings in the other direction. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Install a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. If you adjust it to keep the house a little warmer or a little cooler during the time you are sleeping, you may see your energy bill go down by as much as ten percent. Additionally, these items can be controlled remotely through your computer.
Have your HVAC system serviced twice per year. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when weather turns cold. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps the system last much longer and save you a lot on repairs.
Don’t allow your home to become dangerously hot. An air conditioner can only cool your home by 20ºF quickly. Assuming the temperature in your home rises to a hundred degrees, you will only be able to reduce that by twenty degrees. While it depends on the humidity, this is not safe for a human to sleep in to recover from the heat of the summer.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This same effect also keeps warm air in the winter.
Don’t allow your home temperature get dangerously hot. Air conditioners can cool down unreasonably high temps. So, if you house heats up to about 95, your air conditioning will only bring that temp down to about 80 degrees.This is not a healthy environment to live in.
It is possible for air conditioners to ice over. You may even encounter a freeze in your drain line which is often confused with a plumbing leak. If this happens, turn the thermostat so it is on fan only mode, which will disable the compressor. While switching the system to the fan setting should begin the ice melting process, the best thing to do is to hire a professional to deal with the problem.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Ask around so you are looking for a reputable HVAC contractor. People that have had quality work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. This will also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid.
It is always a wise move to obtain a few quotes from different contractors because prices can vary. If you make a few calls before you decide, it can result in great savings. To figure out what a good rate is, speak with about five or six contractors.
This article was written to help make you comfortable and familiar with the average HVAC system. Take all that you’ve just read into account when working on any system. You will be happy you found this article.