Follow these helpful tips to put yourself in the best position.
Always make sure you are up-to-date about your HVAC unit. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. The contractor will likely need all of this information.
Know the name and type of system before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you can give your new contractor all the information they might need.
Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
If your HVAC system is acting up, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. Figure out which rooms are hot and cold. This can help contractors quickly figure out the issue and how to fix it easily and quickly.
Clean your fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit regularly.
Clean the debris that accumulates on an external condenser units. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It will damage the system to malfunction by overheating.
What do you need done? Know this before calling a contractor. You might not be able to get a price quote unless you let the contractor see your current system first. If you don’t have any idea, they will have trouble giving you any sort of quote. It’s important to know this beforehand.
Turn it 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.
Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass in a different direction from your unit. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.
If you have condenser units outside your home, be sure to clean out the debris from them often. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can get overheated, which will cause problems with the whole system.
Sae 20 Oil
Lubricate your condenser once a year. These are usually covered with rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coil in the spring. First, the power should be turned off so things don’t move as you work. Remove the grill and the blades, and then you can give them all a gentle clean.
Have your HVAC system serviced at least yearly. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double pane ones. This also keeps warm air in the winter months.
When you are cutting the grass, be sure not to cover your outdoor units with clippings. When you work with your lawn mower, make sure it spits the grass to the side opposite of your unit. 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.
A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your power bills. Some can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Never allow your home to get dangerously high level. Air conditioners really can only cool down unreasonably high temps. If your house’s interior temperature hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
You need to lubricate parts of your fan condenser. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don’t want to put in too much.
Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with the best one for your situation. These steps can help make a better decision.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something you notice, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, be sure to keep it in the shade. Your air conditioner won’t have to work so hard if the air is sucks in is already cool.
Companies that have been around for longer have a proven track records typically provide better service. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a considerable risk.
There are a number of great sites now that allow customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is a great way to find decent people to hire.
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. Once the temperature drops into the 50s, the unit should no longer be on. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save quite a bit of cash simply by doing your homework. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even use your attic space more effectively.
To save money and be more comfortable in your home, install double-paned windows instead of single pane. Double pane windows help minimize your air conditioning use in the summer by keeping the cooler air inside your home. Likewise, in the winter more hot air stays inside during the cold season.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not up to snuff. When the leaks are repaired, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
Hvac System
If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. This will save you money on your energy bills. If you leave it on all day, it’s fighting the heat constantly, meaning it’s using a lot of electricity to do its job.
A working HVAC system contributes greatly to the comfort of your home. If you don’t properly maintain it, then your home is not a good place to be. Do not let this happen; keep these tips in mind, and keep your HVAC system running smoothly.