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

TIP! Before choosing an HVAC contractor, think of what you wish to have done. You might not be able to get a price quote unless you let the contractor see your current system first.

Lots of people have HVAC systems placed in their houses. An HVAC unit that helps keep your home’s temperature comfortable temperature. You will likely need a professional to install it and maintain your unit. Keep reading for great tips you need to know when working with HVAC.

TIP! Outdoor condenser units need to be cleaned regularly. You can never tell when things will pile up, especially following rain or wind storms.

Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This helps make sure your contractor has the information they will be sufficiently prepared.

TIP! Keep your outdoor units free of debris when your cutting grass. Try shooting the clippings away from it.

If you are having issues with your HVAC, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.

Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your external condenser unit regularly.

TIP! Condenser units for the outdoors should be shut off when it starts to get cold outside. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees.

Clean any debris on an external condenser unit. Debris can pile up after a storm, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system.It can also cause your system to malfunction by overheating.

Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.

TIP! Don’t allow your home to overheat. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool down unreasonably high temps.

Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass cuttings in a direction from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.

TIP! To choose a HVAC contractor, it is important to check their reputations. Check with different references to determine the best one for your situation.

Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it gets blocked, it could cause your system to break down.

A programmable thermostat can really help you save money on your power bills. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.

TIP! Look online for a/c sizing calculators so you can really understand the unit size needed for your home or room. Buying a unit that is too large for your home is a poor decision that wastes money.

Do not let your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. Air conditioners really can only cool a home down a home by 20 degrees. If your house’s interior temperature hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.

TIP! Ask your friends, relatives, and coworkers about their experiences with HVAC contractors in your area. When people have had great service, they are generally pleased to pass on a good word.

Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.

TIP! If you need help locating someone to help take of your HVAC system, a great place to seek advice is online at a review site. Many websites allow consumers to share their experience with a service.

There are plenty of websites online that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work with and ones that are poor.

TIP! You shouldn’t rely on a single quote from one contractor to gauge the cost, because different specialists set their own price. This will reduce your overall spending.

If you hear a clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Sometimes debris interferes with the fan’s way. Check the fan and coil before calling a repairman.

Square Footage

TIP! Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not up to snuff. Your local energy company may do such testing at a reduced cost or maybe even for free.

Measure the living area that requires air conditioner shopping. You will need about 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. If you have multiple rooms to cool, add together their square footage to reach this calculation.

Replace the air filter in your HVAC system working well.This will maximize the simplest thing that you can do to keep your unit running in tip top shape.

If it must be in a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.

Always request references from a contractor.

TIP! When your install or repair an HVAC system, find out about installing a thermostat that you can program. This device can save you a great deal of money on your heating and cooling bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your lifestyle.

Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, be it in the middle of a heatwave or in the worst snowstorm of the year.

Some contractors overcharge you on material fees for additional materials. Having a signed contract will help to avoid any issues like that.

TIP! Do you know that 66 percent of homes have ducts that are leaky? They can raise your utility bill by as much as 25 percent. It’s not difficult or expensive to seal the ducts around your home by yourself.

Cover your condenser unit for protection in the winter.This simple cover keeps the life of your condenser considerably. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the unit.

Always follow up on any references that are given to you by an HVAC contractor.

Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This lowers your heating and cooling bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your settings to ensure optimal performance.

TIP! Be sure that your HVAC system’s manual is easy to find. It will provide you with specific and vital information regarding the functioning of your system.

You may be surprised that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that leak. These leaky ducts can add up to a quarter of your total utility costs. It is easy and cheap to fix the ducts yourself, and you will see a noticeable change in the amount you pay for electricity.

TIP! Make sure the HVAC company you contact gives you a written estimate. Estimates must be committed to paper.

Look for HVAC contractor that uses Energy Star equipment and products. This ensures efficiency that is required by the product is more efficient than those without it. This means that in the end you save a bit of money on the bills when it comes to your cooling and heating costs.

TIP!

After reading the above article, you should be aware of the important things that pertain to helping you with your HVAC system, and dealing with contractors. It is important that installation and maintenance is done properly. Put this advice to good use so that you have minimal issues in the future.