Having a great HVAC system in good working order can make a home run better. But when your system suddenly stops working, it can be a nightmare. Learning how to maintain your unit minimizes the chances of a breakdown; these tips below.
Prior to putting in a service call on your HVAC, be able to identify it. Get the brand, model name, and if you can you should get the maintenance history out. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something.Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Keeping the outside condenser clean of debris and leaves will improve the system’s efficiency. Except when you do superficial cleaning, you need to always make sure the power is off on the unit. Additionally, it’s important to clear out leaves and other debris from the outside condenser unit.
Sae 20 Oil
Lubricate your fan condenser yearly if it has oil ports. You will see rubber or metal cap covering the ports. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Many homeowners forget to oil their condenser at least once per year, but it is required. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap. Put about ten drops or less of a good non-detergent SAE 20 oil into each port.
Have your HVAC system serviced twice per year. This should be done in the fall and the spring.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This also helps retain heated air in during the winter months.
Your HVAC unit requires regular maintenance at least two times per each year. Checks in the spring as well as in autumn are the best. This will help you to avoid problems.
When it’s checked out, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, moving parts well oiled and the level of freon adjusted if necessary. These easy to do things are going to allow your system running smoothly.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the BBB and look for your situation. Doing all of this makes it more likely that you hire the best company for your HVAC needs.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. Depending on how humid it is, this isn’t really that safe for a person to sleep in when it’s really hot.
Air conditioners tend to ice up. The drain line may also freeze over.If this is something you notice, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor.You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.
Ask your friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share the information they know about it. This is also be used to see who you should avoid.
Ask your friends and relations for their HVAC contractor recommendations. If a person had a good experience with a company, they are likely to share it. This can also be used to see who you should avoid.
There are now different online sites that let customers share their experiences with different services. This is a great way to find people you wish to work with all the information you don’t.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates.You should save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, determine the direction that your home faces. If trees are placed strategically, you can block morning sunlight that can overheat the house. When you do what you can to less how much heat comes into your home, your AC unit can work less, which will save money.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so your HVAC system can run better. 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 could even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When you repair the leaks, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
If you want your HVAC to run well, you need to have doors and windows that work well with things too. Your windows and doors should all be tightly sealed. Double pane windows are a great idea. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can also hire a professional to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
You now likely see how essential HVAC maintenance is. When you decide to postpone mandatory maintenance, small problems will quickly become big nightmares. Use the tips in this article to ensure this does not happen.
Think about which direction air is going to flow from an air conditioner unit when you pick out where to put it. If you can only put the unit in the corner, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.