HVAC contracting is something that you may know nothing about. This is something you must educate yourself on for emergencies. Fortunately, the information that follows can help any homeowner find the information they need.
If your HVAC system is acting up, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool. This can help contractors quickly figure out the issue and how to fix it easily and quickly.
Before you choose an HVAC contractor, have an idea in your mind of what needs to be done. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. It will be way more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do. So, know this information in advance.
The coils and blades on the fans should be cleaned once a year. Before you get started, cut the power. Then you need to get the grill popped off and get the blades out so you can clean them and your unit gently.
If there are oil ports on your fan condenser, lubricate it annually. You will see rubber or metal caps covering the ports. Put 10 drops of lightweight, non-detergent SAE oil in each port. Be careful not to use too much.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. This will help you save on your energy bill.
If you can, use double-paned windows instead of single-paned ones. Double pane windows can help minimize how much you use your air conditioner in the summer, because they keep cool air inside the home. This also works during the cold months to keep the warm air inside.
Turn off your air conditioner when no one is home to help save money. The house will only heat to certain level and a decent HVAC system can quickly cool this down once you are home. When the AC is left running, your power bill will go up quite a bit.
To help you pick a good HVAC contractor, carefully search for information that offers honest reviews about the companies that you might be looking to hire. Check with the BBB and look for reviews of potential companies online. You will make a more informed choice if you use these resources.
Some air conditioners can ice up. The drain line can freeze, making you think it’s a plumbing leak. When you see ice, turn the unit to fan. Talk to a professional if you are unsure of how to do this.
Find an air conditioner calculator online to determine what models are best for you. If you get a unit that is too large, it will cost a lot in energy costs. To get the right information, look in the manual to find out the rating the manufacturer gives the unit for cooling.
When you need an HVAC contractor, obtain recommendations from friends and family members. Someone who has used a contractor in the past is generally willing to let you know what they thought about it. You can also get company names that you should stay away from.
Before you hire a contractor, make sure you get different quotes. By calling around and asking a few different contractors, you can save a ton of money. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. If you install the unit properly, you can even begin to use the attic as a bedroom as it will be so comfortable!
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. Call the utility company to test for you, it will usually be cheaper than a contractor. Once you fix the leaks, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
Make an HVAC system run more efficiently by determining what direction your house faces. Strategically placed trees can block sunlight and help keep the home cooler without the use of an AC unit. The less heat, the easier time the air conditioner in your home will have.
If your HVAC system is clicking, look for blockages right away. Sometimes there is debris that gets in the fan’s way. All you have to do is get this debris out of there to fix the problem. Take a look before calling a service technician.
Dealing with broken HVAC systems can be a nightmare that many homeowners do not want to deal with. But, by studying in advance, things can go much more smoothly. Use these tips to help ease the process when you run into an issue.
