
It can be difficult for many homeowners to know where to go when the HVAC system isn’t working properly. To keep yourself from having a problem with this, it pays to spend some time getting familiar with the topic. This article is intended to help homeowners to find the proper help they need for their HVAC unit.
Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you to give the contractor the information that can help them.
Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean your fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit regularly.
Clean your outdoor condenser unit. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can cause your system by overheating.
Turn it off so nothing moves.Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and gently clean them as well as the unit itself.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Aim your grass cuttings in a different direction away from the unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if debris is blocking this air flow, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
Put your outdoor unit in the shade if you are installing them.
Have the HVAC serviced twice per year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.
Turn off any outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This helps your system remain in good working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. This also help you keep in the winter.
Install a programmable thermostat to save money on cooling your home. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
During a maintenance visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These repairs will help your system running smoothly.
Research the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the BBB and online reviews as well. Doing these things beforehand will allow you make a better decision.
Fan Setting
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this happen, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your room or home. Look at the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Ask your friends and family for contractor recommendations. People that have had quality work done are worth calling. This will also let you avoid scammers.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of cash simply by doing your homework. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.
If your HVAC system is clicking, there may be something obstructing it. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Look carefully at this prior to calling a technician.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can get a professional out to help you test them.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before buying a unit. You can figure out the unit you need by calculating 20 BTU for each square foot. If more than one room needs AC service, be sure to add their square footage together.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have an emergency hotline. They must be able to reach your home at any time, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
When your HVAC system fails during extreme hot or cold seasons, that can spell a disaster for anyone. However, had you known what you know now, you could have likely avoided the problem all together. The tips in this article will help you make smart decisions about your HVAC system.