Many people struggle with the basic concepts of maintaining their HVAC system, but it is something they should know how to do. Learning the best HVAC professional replacement or repair your system is a wise move for any smart homeowner. The tips that follow will get you in a great position.
Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Know the brand name and model number. It is also helpful to have the maintenance history. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor all the information they need.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor.It will be difficult for a contractor to give you with an estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available.
Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Always turn the unit off before you do anything to it, including leaning. Additionally, remove leaves and any other debris from the outside condenser unit.
Be sure to have twice annual HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Install a thermostat you can program to save energy costs. Some can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Keep your outdoor units free of debris when you are mowing the lawn. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction. The same should happen if you are blowing leaves, so be especially careful when you are going by your exterior HVAC devices whenever you are moving debris.
During the service check, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple things will help your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.
Fan Setting
You must keep your HVAC systems oil ports lubricated annually. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Buy an SAE 20 product that is lightweight, and then put no more than ten drops into the ports.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times.The drain line might also freeze up. If you notice this, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. Look in the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
Equipping your home with a programmable thermostat can be an excellent way to cut utility costs. It will help save on your heating and cooling costs by turning itself down at certain times. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Companies that are around awhile have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Ask around so you are looking for a HVAC contractor. People will tell you who have had a good experience are worth calling. This can also help you to avoid undesirable companies.
Sometimes, air conditioners collect ice. The drain line can freeze, making you think it’s a plumbing leak. If this is something you notice, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. It’s a good idea to call up professionals to help with this even though you can get the ice to melt when you switch everything to the fan.
There are now different online sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding contractors that you wish to work with as well as those that you don’t.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save some cash simply by doing your homework. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to determine what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
Be sure to test for leaks in the ducts if your system seems inefficient. Your local energy company may do such testing at a reduced cost or maybe even for free. This testing can have large financial benefits.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not up to snuff. When these leaks are fixed, the testing has paid for itself.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from the HVAC unit, immediately check for any type of obstruction. Often the issue is some sort of debris hitting fans in the cooling system. Look at the system before you call up a service technician.
Take a measuring tape and get the square footage of the area where the unit will be cooling. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. Account for all of the rooms in the house.
One of the most important things to for the comfort of a home is the HVAC unit. But, if you aren’t sure who to call, it can be quite frustrating. The tips you just read should be of benefit to anyone with an HVAC.