Many people don’t even think about their HVAC until they all the sudden quit working. It can be hard to find the right individual to fix a failing system. The article helps you go through the process.
Prior to putting in a service call on your HVAC, be able to identify it. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. That way you can provide the contractor with all the necessary information.
Be sure to clean debris from external condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.
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.
When you call an HVAC system for help, you need to be aware of what you need them to do before calling. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. If you are unable to explain the work that needs to be taken care of, the conversation will be even less fruitful. So, know this information in advance.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if debris is blocking this air flow, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. You can easily find the 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.
Be sure to regularly clean debris from external condenser units. Debris can pile up after a storm, bringing potential damage with it. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Have the HVAC system inspected twice a year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
If the condenser fan has oil parts, then you need to lubricate it at least once per year. These ports are typically covered with caps made of metal or rubber. Chose SAE 20 oil, which has been proven to be the most effective.
Turn off any outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps your unit is working order.
It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This same effect also helps retain heated air during the winter months.
Get your HVAC unit serviced two times per year. Check into it twice a year before you head into the hot and cold months. Whether you know of problems or not, good maintenance will help you to avoid future issues.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
During a maintenance visit, the system motor will be inspected, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These easy to do things are going to allow your system to run its peak performance.
In order to keep energy costs down, make sure heating and cooling systems are services at least once per year. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. All of these little jobs will add up to big savings in energy use, with the improved efficiency.
Companies that are well established have track records that haven’t been. It is riskier to hire a contractor with little experience.
Ask people that you know and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People that have had quality work done are often happy to share this information. This will also be used to see who you should avoid hiring.
Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. Drain lines can also suffer an occasional freeze, and these are sometimes mistaken for plumbing leak issues. If you see this happen, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. The fan setting can help melt some of the ice, but you should still call a professional to check your unit out.
There are a number of online websites that let customers talk about how they received. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with and those that you don’t want to work with.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You will be likely to save a lot of cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
If you current HVAC doesn’t work that well, try testing ducts for leaks. This is a job your local utility provider may do for you inexpensively or even free of charge. When you repair the leaks, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. Once you fix the leaks, you will save substantial money on heating and cooling costs.
Figure out which direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system can work better. If there is less heat in the home from sunlight, your AC will work less.
To keep your HVAC unit running at full capacity, you should have quality doors and windows installed that are efficient. Seal them tightly to prevent air from coming in. Call a professional to come over to check how good you home is sealed up.
If you hear a clicking in the HVAC unit at home, look for blockages right away. The issue may be debris getting into the fans of the cooling system. Check this out before spending on a professional.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in. You can hire a professional.
The very least you should be doing to care for your HVAC system is making sure to change out the old filter, and replacing it with a new one every single month. This is an easy thing to do and it will keep your HVAC system running well. Filters are relatively cheap, so it does not cost much to do this.
From reading the above article, you should now be more comfortable in your knowledge about HVAC systems. If you need to have your existing system repaired or replaced, you will know what to look for and what to avoid. Keep this advice in mind to find the right system.