A great HVAC system is an important part of your home. A lot of homeowners spend money fixing them up when broken, but if they were able to figure out how to fix things on their own it would have been avoided.The following article below can help you learn about proper HVAC system maintenance so you will not experience this cost.
If your HVAC is running into problems, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. Figure out which rooms are hot and cold. Taking this step aids a contractor in figuring out what the problem is and how to repair it as quickly as possible.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This makes sure the contractor has the information they will be sufficiently prepared.
Clean the fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
A big mistake that people make is cutting the grass next to the outdoor condenser unit and allowing all of the clippings to blow inside the fan and coil. Make sure the grass does not get in your unit. This is the same if you are using a leaf blower.
Clean the debris off your outdoor condenser units. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.
10 Drops
Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. Make certain you are cleaning the fan grill often if trees nearby have leaves that are falling. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. You will see rubber or metal cap covering the ports. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Put your outdoor units in places with shade.
Check to determine if the fan condenser on your HVAC system is equipped with oil ports, and if it is, be sure to lubricate every year. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap. Choose an oil graded SAE 20, it is non-detergent and lightweight. Place about 10 drops into each of the ports, taking care that it does not overfill.
Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when it’s getting cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can keep the system running efficiently for many years to come.
During a maintenance visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These few simple tasks will help keep your system running smoothly.
Update the windows in your home to double-paned if you own it. Having a double pane window helps limit your need for air conditioning during the summer months. This will also help you keep in heat when it gets cold.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews posted by former customers. This can help you to choose a contractor that is of high quality.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your home. Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
Regularly having your HVAC system serviced can help keep your heating and cooling bills down. During this service visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. This will help your system run better.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor may be taking a bigger risk.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. You want to call at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, there are calculators on the Internet that can help you figure out the right size. Proper sizing will increase efficiency. Read over the owner’s manual to see the manufacturers suggestions as to the cooling capacity of the unit for the most accurate information.
Are you thinking of getting a new HVAC system that’s new? There are some things you should consider. Systems get rated according to the total area they effectively heat or cool. You are better off purchasing a unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your unit seems to not up to snuff. When these leaks are fixed, the tests will pay for themselves.
Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. If a person had a good experience with a company, they are likely to share it. This will prevent you from getting scammed.
Square Footage
Measure the area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of room space. If multiple rooms need cooling, be sure to add their square footage together.
If you don’t know who you should call to repair, install and maintain your HVAC systems, check out reviews online. There are many sites that other customers can place their reviews. This is an awesome way to find contractors to work with.
Pick out an HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians will always be on schedule. A knowledgeable technician should also have no problem diagnosing any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. Once they are able to locate a problem, they should also know how to get them resolved efficiently and quickly.
Your HVAC is what keeps your family comfortable and happy. Fortunately, these tips can produce real savings. You have to be sure you follow these things so you don’t end up having to be someone that pays a bunch of money getting things fixed you may have prevented.
Each contractor establishes his own fees, so before you hire one, obtain a few estimates. If you call people before you work on hiring one person, you can save some money overall. Never settle for a price until you’ve called at least five contractors to gain a realistic idea of a fair price.