Make Better Choices Thanks To This HVAC Advice
8 min read
If you’re planning on working with your HVAC system, then it’s best to arm yourself with these helpful tips first. Here is some great information that you need to know. Refer back to the article as needed to refresh your memory.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
Always make sure you are up-to-date about your HVAC unit. Write down what brand your system is along with the model number and, if they’re available, maintenance records. If you have to have someone come out to repair the unit, you will be able to help the contractor understand more about what is going on.
Keep outside condenser fans running smoothly by cleaning fan blades and coils before the summer begins. Always shut off all power to your unit for any work beyond superficial cleaning. In addition, always remove all debris such as leaves from the outside condenser unit.
Inspect the temps in your home before you call a service to help you with any HVAC issues you’re having. Note which rooms are hot and which are cold. You can then relay this information to the technician so that they can more easily figure out what the problem is.
Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. Make certain the debris goes away from it. This includes grass clippings and leaves.
Look for shade when placing a compressor outdoors. This will limit the work that it has to do.
When choosing the area for placing an outdoor compressor device, place it in a shady area. If your unit is sucking in cooler air, it will have less work to do to cool that air as it sends it inside which boosts efficiency.
Be sure to place your outdoor unit in a shady spot to maximize efficiency. The unit will have to do less work cooling this air.
Condenser units for the outdoors should be shut off when it starts to get cold outside. If temps go below 60 you run the risk of damaging a unit that remains on. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.
Outdoor condenser units need to be turned off when the weather turns cold. When the temperature drops beneath 60 degrees, it’s time to cut off the unit to prevent damage. This can keep your HVAC running and can save you money on repairs.
One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.
Do not let your house get dangerously hot. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool down unreasonably high temps. This limits their overall benefit. While it depends on the humidity, this is not safe for a human to sleep in to recover from the heat of the summer.
Don’t let your house get too hot. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. This limits their overall benefit. Depending on the levels of humidity, that is not a safe temperature when it comes to sleeping or escaping from the heat of summer.
Research multiple contractors before choosing one. Check with the BBB and online reviews as well. When done in advance you can be sure of making a sound decision.
Research the companies that you consider using. Check out the online reviews, and run a quick search on the BBB website to make sure they have been good to past customers. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.
Before you hire any HVAC company, ask them how long they’ve been open for business. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your money. Taking risks is not something that you want to do in this area.
Sometimes, air conditioning units ice up. Freezes also occur in your drain line. These freezes are easily confused as leaks to the untrained eye. If this happens, put your thermostat over to fan. You should leave the repair to a professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Ask your friends and relations for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People will tell you who they have used and if they are worth calling. This can also help you learn the names of those companies that you should avoid.
Use online reviews to help you find a source for HVAC maintenance. There are many sites that other customers can place their reviews. This is an awesome way to find contractors to work with.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. Getting several quotes will ultimately help you save lots of money. Contact a minimum of five contractors so you can determine realistically what the price will be.
To improve the efficiency of your HVAC unit, put a radiant barrier up inside the attic of your home. This blocks heat from entering your home, which lowers how much energy is needed to keep it cool in the warm months. If you do it right, you may be able to expand your living space into your attic.
To help your heating and cooling system run efficiently, install a radiant barrier in your attic. It keeps heat blocked from inside to the outside, and that lowers how much energy it takes to keep your home cool. You could even use your attic as part of your living space if it is done right.
When you hear an odd clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, you should immediately begin to look for any obstructions. This may be because debris is restricting the movement of the fan blades. Get rid of the debris and this will no longer be an issue. Do this before calling for assistance.
If you current HVAC doesn’t work that well, try testing ducts for leaks. You can call a utility company in your area to help you with testing, and that doesn’t cost much or nothing at all usually. When you get leaks repaired, you may see that the testing pays for itself.
Take a measuring tape and get the square footage of the area where the unit will be cooling. In general, you need 20 BTU for each square foot. Just measure your rooms and tally up the total square footage.
For top efficiency, figure out what direction your home faces. Strategically placed trees outside your home can block out the morning sun which can cause your home to overheat. If there’s less heat inside your home, your AC will work less.
Find a HVAC company that knows its stuff. Good firms ensure they are always on schedule. The technicians will be able to help you and offer the best possible options. They should offer you answers which can be implemented right away.
If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, there may be something obstructing it. Many times you will find debris hitting that knock up against the fans inside the cooling unit. Get rid of the debris and this will no longer be an issue. Look at the system before you call for help.
Understand where the air flows in your home and use that information to determine where to put your AC unit. If you must position it in a corner, be sure you can change the direction of air flow to avoid having it hit the wall.
Find a HVAC company that knows its stuff. This will ensure that the job is done efficiently. These techs that come out should be quickly able to figure out the issue and remedy the problem right away. Once the technician figures out what’s wrong, they can help resolve the problems in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Always find out how much experience a contractor has in the business. Make sure they are experienced doing the kind of work that you need. While someone with less experience might be able to do a great job too, you do not want to take that chance.
Which way does the air come out of the air conditioner? Make sure you have plenty of air flow control options if you are forced to install the unit in a corner.
Always request references when you are considering a HVAC contractor. Previous customers can provide information about timeliness of job completion and if the contractor stayed within their budget. That is why it is vital that you check references, so you don’t run into those shady contractors!
When hiring a contractor, choose one that offers 24-hour emergency hours. Particularly if you have a family, you may need service at odd hours or on weekends.
The best HVAC contractors will also provide a number for emergency services that is available to call 24 hours of the day. They should be able to get to your home whenever you need them there, be it in the middle of a heatwave or in the worst snowstorm of the year.
Understand the costs beforehand with your HVAC unit. There are dishonest contractors out there that will overcharge you. Avoid issues such as these by procuring a written contract.
Be certain you know what the HVAC work costs include. Do not get scammed with material fees and fuel charges. Having a written contract will let you avoid these types of issues.
Check all references given to you from an HVAC contractor. Many people make the mistake of assuming references are legitimate just because they were give up freely, but this is not always the case. It only takes a short amount of time to contact someone, so it is important that you do that right away.
In the winter, keep your condenser unit properly covered. Doing this extends the life of your condenser when it is not in use. The unit’s compressor should never be on when the temperature is 60 degrees or below. Just use the fan so that you do not stress the unit.
You can learn how to maintain your system and keep it running right. It’s just a thing that needs to be what you take time on so things don’t get broken or anything like that. Hopefully, the suggestions above will better enable you to approach HVAC with an eye towards understanding before doing in order to achieve great system results.
Always check any references that you receive for an HVAC contractor. Don’t assume that references given are automatically legitimate. It does not require much of your time.
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