Your HVAC Should Be Working For You, Here’s How

TIP! Inspect the temps in your home before you call a service to help you with any HVAC issues you’re having. Figure out which rooms are hot and cold.

The heating and cooling systems of your home is very important. This means that it is of utmost importance your HVAC system needs to be in top shape.If you do not properly care for it, then your repair costs can mount while your living conditions deteriorate. Here are some suggestions to help you keep your HVAC system running smoothly.

TIP! Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate without looking at your system.

Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass in a direction away from your unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.

TIP! Clean the debris from outside units often. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can ruin your system.

Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. You can easily find these ports covered with rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.

Put your outdoor unit in the shade.

Have your HVAC system checked twice a year at least yearly. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.

It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This same effect also keeps warm air during the winter months.

Fan Setting

TIP! Do not allow your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. An air conditioner can only cool your home by 20ºF quickly.

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this happen, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.

TIP! If you want to ensure you choose a trustworthy HVAC contractor, invest a little time in researching a few different companies, checking out their reputations. 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.

Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC contractor. People that have gotten great service are usually willing to tell of it. This will also help you to avoid scammers.

There are many sites that allow customers to share their service experiences. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work and ones that are poor.

TIP! It is always a wise move to obtain a few quotes from different contractors because prices can vary. You have the potential to save a great deal of money if you make several calls prior to reaching a final decision.

Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save tons of money by doing your homework. You want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.

TIP! Are you thinking about buying a new HVAC system? You need to think about a few important things. HVAC systems have a rating to determine how much space you should use it on.

Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You could even find that you can use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.

TIP! Test your duct work for leaks. Call your utility company if they are leaking to see about getting a test.

Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. The less amount of heat inside of your home, the less you’ll have to use your air conditioner to cool things off.

TIP! If you hear a clicking in the HVAC unit at home, see if there are any obstructions right away. Frequently the cause is some kind of debris that is making contact with the cooling system of the fan.

If you hear clicking inside your HVAC unit, check immediately for any debris that may have accumulated in it. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Check it out yourself first before calling a repairman.

Make certain they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can also hire a professional to test them.

TIP! When choosing the proper air conditioner size, measure the area that needs cooling. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the area to be cooled.

Pick HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule.A knowledgeable technician will also easily diagnose any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. After they figure out what is causing the problem, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.

Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to verify they have done the type of experience needed to work you require.

Always request references before hiring any contractor.

TIP! Only choose a contractor to repair or install your HVAC unit if they provide a 24 hour hotline in case of emergencies. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.

Any HVAC contractor you hire should have an emergency number available to customers around the clock.They should be able to get to your home whenever you need them there, no matter what.

There are dishonest contractors that will overcharge you. Having a written contract can help to avoid these types of issues.

TIP! Look for an HVAC system that is rated as Energy Star compliant, as that will save you the most amount of money. These are more efficient than other units.

Cover your condenser when the winter. This will ensure that your unit is sustained when you’re not using it. Use the fan instead to avoid putting strain on the unit.

Always check out any references that are given to you by a prospective HVAC contractor.

This tells you the number of BTUs your new system will need to keep the environment of your home comfortable.

TIP! Be sure to protect your condenser as the weather turns colder. Try putting a cover on it that will help it to stay warm.

You might be surprised to discover that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that leak. These can represent one fourth of the utility costs. Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, you can even do it yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.

Make sure that your condenser unit is protected once the weather begins to get colder.This may be accomplished by placing a thick cover on the condenser unit.

TIP!

Make sure you keep all owner’s and operator’s manuals about your HVAC system is running. The information contained within this manual will help you out if you’re dealing with problems.

TIP!

You can now see how important a properly maintained HVAC system is. Maintain your unit on a monthly basis. Use the information above to make sure it’s doing well, so that you don’t get home and find your home is too cold or too hot.