A lot of homeowners like having HVAC units in their homes. An HVAC unit that helps keep a house at a comfortable for you throughout the year. You will need to hire a contractor to install and maintain your unit. Keep reading for some useful HVAC ideas you can use.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Get information on the make and model, plus if you have information on the history of maintenance, that will help, too. The contractor will likely need all of this information.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. It’s hard for these contractors to give phone estimates without seeing the current system you have. They need to come look at the unit. Be sure to find this out ahead of time.
10 Drops
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once each year. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. First, the power should be turned off so things don’t move as you work. Then take off the grill, take the blades out, and gently clean them.
Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.
Your HVAC system should be checked a few times per each year. This should be done in the fall and the spring.
Keep your outdoor units free of debris when you are mowing the lawn. Aim the grass in a different direction from the unit. Be just as mindful when you blow leaves to not blow them toward your HVAC equipment.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units when it’s getting cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can keep your system working order.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This will also keeps warm air in heat when it gets cold.
If you can choose the place where your outdoor compressor goes, pick a spot with lots of shade. When your unit is bringing in cool air, it will not have to work as hard to cool the air as it moves it inside, boosting efficiency.
Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check with the BBB and look for your situation. These steps will help ensure you make a better decision.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If you notice this, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when it becomes cold out. If it’s less than 60 degrees outside, turn the unit off. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.
Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
There are quite a few sites these days that let customers talk about 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.
If you can, install double-paned windows throughout your home. Having double pane windows allows your air conditioning unit to be run much less during the summer, because the cool air is kept inside the home. They help in the winter, too, keeping the heat in.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It ensures that your unit stays hot outside. You could even use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not up to snuff. If a leak is found, you’ll find that fixed leaks are worth the money.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Turning down the thermostat around 10 percent for 8 hours per day can give you a 10 percent savings using the programmable thermostat. Take advantage of the convenience of the ability to control many programable thermostats from your favorite electronic device.
Determine the direction that your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. The less heat, the less time that the AC has to work.
Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can also hire someone to test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
If nobody is home, turn off the AC. You may want to turn your unit off if your house will not become extremely hot or cold. Obviously, if you leave your air conditioning set at a low temperature all day long even if you’re not home, you’ll be paying to maintain that low temperature.
Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the easiest step to take to ensure that your unit running in good operating condition.
As you can see, there are some things that can help you when you are dealing with HVAC units and contractors. You need to make sure you get a unit correctly installed, then maintain it so it works well. Use these tips to choose the right contractor to work on or install your HVAC system.
When you want a HVAC contractor who is reliable, you need to spend some time in researching the background and reputation of several potential companies. You may also want to check with the BBB for information. It would be wise of you to take these steps.