Good running HVACs are important to any house, which is why you must have the equipment properly maintained. A lot of people spend quite a bit to fix things when they don’t work right, but if they were able to figure out how to fix things on their own it would have been avoided. The following article discusses what you need to know about HVAC systems.
Each spring it’s time to clean the inside of your condenser unit, including the fan and the sensitive coil. Start by turning off the power to avoid having anything move when you work on it. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.
Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. This information will be helpful to any contractor you hire to repair it.
When you cut the grass, don’t cover the outdoor units with their clippings. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction away from your unit. This is the same if you are using a leaf blower.
Fan Blades
Your HVAC system could suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. During this time of year, check and clear off the fan grill on your unit on a regular basis. Otherwise, the unit will have to work unnecessarily hard.
To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Before you do clean the coils and fan blades, always take the precaution of turning off all power to the unit. Also, it is important to clear the outside condenser unit from any debris that maybe trapped inside.
Lubricate your condenser yearly if it has oil ports. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap. Pick a type of SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight. Place 10 or less drops into every port to avoid overfilling.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once a year. A rubber or metal cap is typically placed over such ports. Pick out a SAE 20 type of oil because it has no detergent, is lightweight, and you should put around 10 drops in the ports but make it to where they don’t get too full.
Make sure your HVAC unit is in the shade. As you get your air conditioner to suck in cool air it won’t have to do too much work to cool it which saves you some money.
Have the HVAC system serviced twice per year. The normally recommended time for HVAC system inspections is once before the peak cooling season when it gets hot and you’ll be using your AC, and once before the peak heating season, during the cold months when you’re likely to be using your heat. You should have it looked at even if no problems are occurring; there could still be a problem or potential problem.
Have your HVAC serviced at least yearly. Your system should be inspected in Spring and Fall. Even though it may seem as nothing is wrong with the unit, a simple inspection can prove otherwise.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. Once the temperature drops into the 50s, the unit should no longer be on. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.
When it gets cold outside, turn off the outdoor condensers. If temps go below 60 you run the risk of damaging a unit that remains on. This simple tip will help keep the system running efficiently for many years to come.
Double Pane
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. Double pane windows help minimize your air conditioning use in the summer by keeping the cooler air inside your home. As with other steps you take to improve your ability to keep your air conditioned air or heated air inside your home, double-paned windows can help you save on energy costs.
If the house is yours or you’re permitted to, replace the windows that are single pane with windows that are double pane. Windows that are double pane keep the cool air in and can greatly reduce the amount of time your air conditioner will need to run. Your home will also stay warmer in the winter.
If there isn’t anyone at home, then there’s no need for the AC unit to be running and wasting electricity. The house will only heat up to a certain point. 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.
Do not let your house get dangerously hot. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. If you have your home at above 100 degrees then you can only get it to about 80 or above. This won’t be a healthy environment to live in.
Don’t allow your home to become dangerously hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a reasonable time limit. So, if your home temp reaches 100 degrees, your air conditioning will only bring that temp down to about 80 degrees. Depending on the levels of humidity, that is not a safe temperature when it comes to sleeping or escaping from the heat of summer.
Look for sizing calculators based on the air conditioner you have to figure out how big of a unit you need in your home. Buying a unit that is too large for your home is a poor decision that wastes money. Check the manual to see what the manufacturer rates the unit to cool for accurate information.
Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. Find someone that has a lot of quality work under their belt. This can also help you to figure out some names of businesses that you should avoid at all costs.
Use online reviews to help you find a source for HVAC maintenance. Lots of sites exist where customers can leave feedback and reviews. This can help filter out the people you would like to work with.
Before you hire a contractor, make sure you get different quotes. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for price quotes. Get in touch with more than a few contractors to best understand the going rate.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. Call around to find out what the rates are.
Do you want to find a quality HVAC? You will need to take a few things into account. The systems are generally rated based on the area they cover. You are better off purchasing a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a bit too small.
A radiant barrier is something that you may want to consider. It can help keep heat out during the hot summer months, which means you will lower your power bills. You might even be able to start living in your attic.
Be sure to test for leaks in the ducts if your system seems inefficient. Call your utility company and ask if they test for free, as many do. Once you fix the leaks, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
Make sure that your ducts are not leaking. You can call in your local utility company to do the testing for you, often for free or at a lower cost than a contractor. Once leaks have been fixed, you will save substantial money on heating and cooling costs.
The windows and doors in your home must be efficient in order for your HVAC to perform as efficiently as possible. Make sure seals are tight to avoid exterior air seeping in and interior air seeping out. Talk to a professional to determine the best way to do this.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. Sometimes, debris will be the cause of the disturbance. Simple removal of the debris will solve the problem. Take a look for yourself before you call a technician out.
As you ponder where to install your new AC unit, think about how the air flows around the room. If you can only put it into a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.
To gain maximum HVAC efficiency, you need efficient windows and doors too. Your windows and doors should all be tightly sealed. Double pane windows are a great idea. A good professional can test this for you, and they might even do it for free.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor to perform work on your system, learn about their experience level. Have they done this type of job before? It’s best to find someone who knows what they’re doing.
The one thing you should always do on a monthly basis is change the air filter on your HVAC system. It is the easiest way to take care of it. Filters are inexpensive, so there is no excuse for not doing it.
Ideally, your contractor should have emergency services available. A good company will have repairman available in any weather situation.
Find a HVAC company that knows its stuff. A reliable company will arrive on time and have the job finished in a jiffy. Contractors ought to be able to find the problem quickly. Once the technician figures out what’s wrong, they can help resolve the problems in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Make sure you know about the cost of HVAC work when getting a contractor to work on it. Unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulous contractors that will tack un-discussed charges onto your bill. When you have a solid contract, these problems can be avoided.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor to perform work on your system, learn about their experience level. You need to ensure that they are experienced with the work that you need done. Although there’s no guarantee that a worker with less experience won’t do the work correctly, it’s better to avoid any problems.
Cover your condenser when the weather becomes less than optimal. This will help it to last longer. If the temperature outside is lower than sixty, do not use the compressor. Just use the fan so that you do not stress the unit.
Get references from anyone you are considering hiring. Did the homeowner get what they expected? Was it done on budget and on time? That is why it is vital that you check references, so you don’t run into those shady contractors!
Make certain that any potential contractor calculates potential heat loss. You need it to know how many BTUs are necessary. Windows and doors need to be inspected for drafts, insulation checked for efficiency and the interior dimensions of the house should also be considered.
The above article states the HVAC is an essential part of any home, so maintain it and keep it working well. The suggestions above should help you save money on expensive repairs to your HVAC system. Make certain the you pay attention to your unit and address small problems before they become large and costly repairs.
Purchase an Energy Star HVAC unit. These products are manufactured to the strict standards only qualified energy products meet. These also meet every guideline out there for efficiency. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Doing a little homework can save you a lot of money.
It might be confusing at first to learn about natural latex pillow
Hospital mattress protector
zippered mattress encasement, but this is just the beginning, you will be happy you did. Study everything written in this article until it all sticks. You can then move on to looking for more resources.
About Author
