A HVAC system is important for your home. If an HVAC system should fail, it can be very frustrating. Learning how to maintain your HVAC system begins with the tips will prove very useful.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Take a look at the system or the owner’s manual to find the name and model number. This will facilitate the process when your contractor asks for this information.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, do a tour of your house before you call in help. This information will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
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.
Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Before you do so, shut off the power to ensure that none of the parts will move while you work on it. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Your outdoor HVAC unit may suffer when your trees start to lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often during the fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it gets blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade.
Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice a year. The best time of year to have the system checked is right before the weather begins to change. Even if nothing seems wrong, checking it out can help you find and fix potential issues.
Turn off outdoor condensers you have when the weather turns cold. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can ensure your system working well throughout the years and save you a lot on repairs.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This also keeps warm in the winter.
If you need a HVAC contractor, try and get recommendations from family and friends. People who have been happy with work they have had done in the past are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. You are likely to also hear about negative experiences.
A programmable thermostat can help you out when it comes to your air conditioning bill. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check with the BBB and look for reviews posted by former customers. Doing this will make sure you make a better decision.
Get a handful of quotes before accepting any. You can save tons of money by asking for many quotes. To get the best picture and get an idea of what rates are reasonable, call five or six different contractors.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something that’s happening to you, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Do you need a new HVAC system? There are things you must consider first. Those systems get rated by the area amount they are able to cool and heat effectively. If you are debating the size of the unit, always get one that is just a little bigger rather than one that is a little too small.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. It is riskier to hire a contractor with little experience.
Ask for helpful information when you can find a reputable HVAC contractor. People will tell you who have used and if they are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This is also help you to figure out some names of companies that should be avoided.
You should know the facing direction of your home for the most effective placement of the HVAC system. It’s always a good idea to plant trees in areas that will help block the scorching sun that heats up your home and causes your AC unit to work harder. If there’s less heat inside your home, your AC will work less.
There are quite a few sites these days that allow customers to share their experiences with contractors. This is an excellent method of finding contractors that you are interested in dealing with and those that you want to avoid.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You may even use the attic as part of your living space more effectively.
When choosing the proper air conditioner size, measure the area that needs cooling. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of the room. Combine the square footage of all rooms, in the event that you will be cooling more than one.
Do you want to buy a new HVAC unit? You could keep a few important things. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool or heat an area well. You are wise to err on the side of a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a bit too small.
Measure the area that requires air conditioner shopping.You will need 20 BTU for each square foot of the room. If you are cooling more than one room, get their square footage added together.
Think about which direction air is going to flow from an air conditioner unit when you pick out where to put it. When it’s being put into a corner, you have to be able to direct the air out into free space.
These suggestions should benefit you in taking care of your heating and cooling issues. Only bad things happen when you fail to perform routine inspections. Hopefully, you’ll keep up the regular HVAC maintenance and won’t ever need to worry about this nightmare gripping you or your home.