Lots of folks want HVAC systems placed in their houses. An HVAC unit is designed to keep your home maintain a comfortable temperature. You will likely need a contractor to install and maintain your unit. The following tips will give any homeowner the info they need to know about HVAC as well.
If you struggle with your HVAC, try touring your home before calling a professional. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. This can help the contractor determine the problem areas quickly and fix the problem easily.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, try touring your home before calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean the debris that accumulates on an external condenser unit. 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 cause your unit.
Clean the condenser coils and fan at the beginning of the year to help the unit run efficiently. Always turn the unit off before you do anything to it, including leaning. In addition, be sure to get rid of any leaves or other debris that may have accumulated on the outside condenser.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser at least once each year. You can easily find the ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. As it brings in cool air to cool, you will save a lot of money.
Turn off any outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This simple tip will maximize the life of your unit.
Install a thermostat to save energy costs. Some can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Installing a programmable digital thermostat can help save money. Programmable thermostats can automatically dial back settings, saving you money. There are also some programmable thermostats that can be controlled with a computer or other web-connected advice.
During your service visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These few simple things are going to allow your system to run at its best.
Don’t let your house get overly hot. Air conditioners really can only cool down a home by 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Shop around before hiring an HVAC contractor. 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. These simple steps will help make a better decision.
Research the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews as well. These steps are going to help to ensure you make the smartest and most informed choice.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this happens, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Ask people that you know and trust for contractor recommendations. People who have had a good experience are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This can also be used to see who you should avoid.
Companies that are well established have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a contractor comes with an element of risk.
There are a few sites these days that allow customers talk about their experiences with different services. This is a good way to locate contractors that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.
Check around and get a number of quotes prior to hiring a contractor. You have the potential to save a great deal of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home and the outside. You could even use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When you repair the leaks, the testing has paid for itself.
When deciding what size of an air conditioner is right for you, you will need to measure how much area it will have to cool. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If multiple rooms need cooling, just add their total square footage.
This article has shown that assistance is available as far as HVAC is concerned. Correct installation is key, along with regular maintenance. Keep the suggestions you just read handy for your HVAC maintenance.