You may think that anything dealing with HVAC is really complex. This is probably because you don’t have the fact that a lot will go into an HVAC system.
Don’t hire a contractor until you know a little about what you are facing. If you can’t describe the problem, you may not get an accurate quote. If you can’t explain anything to them, this will be even more difficult. So, figure out this information before anything else.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, tour your home before calling a technician. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean the debris from outside units often. Falling leaves and wind or rain may cause debris to reduce the efficiency of your unit. Overheating may be the result if you don’t.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim the grass cuttings in a different direction away from the unit. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
If you need to decide the best place to put your outdoor compressor unit, consider putting it in a location that is in the shade. The cooler the air which goes in, the less work the unit will have to do.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves.The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it gets blocked, it could cause your system to break down.
Lubricate your condenser at least once each year. You can easily find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
During cold weather , be sure to turn off outdoor condenser units. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. This will help keep it in good condition for many years.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep it in good condition for years and save you a lot on repairs.
Don’t let your home get way too hot to where it’s dangerous. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool down unreasonably high temps. If your home become 100F or more, it will only cool off to about 80F. Depending on the humidity level, this temperature isn’t considered a safe sleeping temperature for the human body to be able to recover from the summer heat.
During the service check, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These simple tasks will help your HVAC system running smoothly.
Don’t ever let your house get too hot. An air conditioning unit is really only cool your home by 20ºF quickly. If your house’s interior temperature hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
To choose an HVAC contractor that’s trustworthy, take time to research some companies you’re interested in, along with their reputations. The BBB is always great when you are looking for references or online reviews. This is what you have to do in order to make a smart decision.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check them out at the BBB and look for your situation. This can help you make the best choice.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you notice this, put the fan on to shut the compressor off. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
You can get ice in your air conditioner. Many times people think there is a plumbing leak, but instead the drain line has water that is frozen. Turn your unit to the fan setting to turn off the compressor. If this doesn’t work, call a professional.
Companies with proven track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a new contractor may be taking a considerable risk.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Check out how long the HVAV contractor you are considering has been in business. Companies that are established have been proven, and you can use their track record to to determine if they provide good service. If you choose to hire a new contractor, you may be risking things.
Square Footage
Measure the area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You generally need 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC unit. When people have had great service, they are generally pleased to pass on a good word. This can also help you learn the names of those companies that you should avoid.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is an easy thing to do and it will keep your system running well.
Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to know that they have done the type of experience needed to work on your particular system.
Check around and get a number of quotes prior to hiring a contractor. If you call people before you work on hiring one person, you can save some money overall. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
Always make sure to get references from a HVAC contractor.
Now you know all about the HVAC system. It can be difficult to learn this sort of thing without motivation, but if you want to learn, you can. You will be happy you found this article.
Do you want to buy a new cooling and heating system? You could keep a few points in mind. Systems have a rating based on how well the system is able to cool or heat an area well. You are better off purchasing a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a bit too small.