You may feel like it’s not possible to learn too much about HVAC. Still, you can learn and become more comfortable with it. This will be because you are about to be told some good advice on this.
Before calling for help, know the system you have. Get the brand, model name, and if you can you should get the maintenance history out. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor any information they might need.
Before choosing a HVAC company find out what the company offers. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate without looking at your system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.
Make sure your condenser fan is in good working order by wiping down the fan blades and the coils. Before you do so, shut off the power to ensure that none of the parts will move while you work on it. Remove the grill and the blades, and then you can give them all a gentle clean.
Make sure clippings don’t get on your outdoor units when your mowing your lawn. Have the grass shoot in the opposite direction. This same tip applies when you are blowing fallen leaves around the yard. Grass and leaves pose a serious problem for the internal functioning of your unit.
You must keep your HVAC systems oil ports lubricated annually. You’ll find these ports are covered with a metal or rubber cap. 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.
Try to choose a shady place to locate the outdoor compressor device. When it draws in air for cooling, it will be more efficient because it will not need to work as hard to cool down the air.
You can keep energy costs in your home lower by choosing to have professional maintenance done on your HVAC unit. During this service visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These repairs will keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Keep your air conditioner off when people aren’t home to save you money. With the system off, the house will only heat up to a certain temperature. 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.
Shop around before hiring an HVAC contractor. Check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), and look them up on review sites online to see what previous customers have to say about their experience. When done in advance you can be sure of making a sound decision.
Icing up is common in air conditioners. There are sometimes also freezes that happen in a drain line, and this can be confused for a plumbing leak. Try switching to fan-mode and disabling your compressor to test whether the water is a leak or melting ice. The fan setting can help melt some of the ice, but you should still call a professional to check your unit out.
Use online reviews to help you find a source for HVAC maintenance. Many websites allow consumers to share their experience with a service. This method provides you with all the information you need to make the best hiring decisions.
Try to get as many quotes from contractors that you can. You can save a lot of cash simply by doing your homework. Compare the rates of at least 5 or 6 contractors to help you decide on the most reasonable rate for the job you need done.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You might even be able to start living in your attic.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. This is a job your local utility provider may do for you inexpensively or even free of charge. When you repair the leaks, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.
Figure out which direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. If your home is surrounded by strategically planted trees, they can often block out the morning sunlight. When you do what you can to less how much heat comes into your home, your AC unit can work less, which will save money.
If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Often the problem will be some kind of debris hitting your fans in your cooling system. That is a simple solution; just take the debris out. Always check for yourself before getting someone out to repair the unit.
If you are purchasing an AC unit, take measurements. You need to know how big the area is that you want to have cooled off. Plan for 20 BTU of power in your air conditioner for each square foot that needs to be cooled. Add the square footage for multiple rooms together.
When deciding where to place your AC, condition the direction of air flow. If you’re stuck with putting it in a corner, buy one that lets the air flow to be redirected so that it is not flowing towards the wall.
The preceding information should have been easy to follow. Using the suggestions here should help you in keeping your unit working at optimum levels. Use it properly, and you could even earn money from it.