Before you contact people to assist you in getting your system fixed, know what kind of system you're working with in the first place. Know the brand name and model number. It is also helpful to have the maintenance history. Your contractor will appreciate this information.
If you've been having trouble with an HVAC system, look around your home before calling in people to help. Find out which rooms are hot and which are cold. That knowledge can help the technician figure out what is going on.
Keeping the outside condenser clean of debris and leaves will improve the system's efficiency. Prior to working on or cleaning the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Clean the outdoor condenser as well.
When you're trying to cut your grass, don't cover a unit outside with the clippings. Direct the clippings away from the equipment. Make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it while blowing your leaves.
Leaves and debris can damage your system. Make sure you clean out your fan grill often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. When blockages restrict the flow of air to the fan, you could end up with serious issues on your hands.
You want to put the outdoor compressor device in a shaded area. When the unit sucks in cooler air, then less work is required to cool it further which in turn boosts the units efficiency.
If the current location of your HVAC unit outside isn't working, try having it moved to an area with more shade. If your air conditioner is able to constantly suck in cool air, it won't have to work overtime to cool your space, which can in turn save you money on your electricity bills.
Service your HVAC yearly. During your service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit's motor, oil the unit's moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. This will save you money on your energy bills. However, leaving it on increases your electric bill and wear and tear on the system.
Your home should never reach a dangerous temperature. Air conditioners only cool down a home by 20 degrees. So if your home is 100ºF, you'll only get the temperature down to about 80. Depending on humidity levels, this isn't even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
Problems with an air conditioning unit happen when it ices up. Drain lines can also suffer an occasional freeze, and these are sometimes mistaken for plumbing leak issues. Change your thermostat in situations like this. Talk to a professional if you are unsure of how to do this.
How long has the contractor been in business? This will ensure that you find someone who knows their stuff. Hiring a new company will be riskier.
Contractor set their own prices; this is why you should get many quotes. By calling around and asking a few different contractors, you can save a ton of money. Call at least four or five different HVAC specialist to find the best rates.
Have you been thinking about buying a new HVAC system? You probably have many options available to you. The rating given to a system tells how much are it can cover. Be sure to choose a slightly too large system over a too small of one.
If your current system isn't working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. Your local energy company may do such testing at a reduced cost or maybe even for free. You'll see the test pays for itself once all leaks are fixed.
To run your HVAC at full efficiency, you must have efficient doors and windows in place as well. All should be tightly sealed with no air getting inside or out. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
You can't know what sized air conditioner to purchase unless you measure the area you need cooled. You can figure out the unit you need by calculating 20 BTU per square foot. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
Replace the air filter monthly. This is an easy way to help you keep things running well for you overall. Filters are inexpensive, so there is no excuse for not doing it.
Be sure to get a written agreement from your HVAC repair person. Sometimes, contractors will not include everything in order to secure the job. Having a signed contract can help to avoid issues like that.
When you get a contractor to come by to offer a quote to you, make sure they do include heat-loss calculation. You need it to know how many BTUs are necessary. Windows and doors need to be inspected for drafts, insulation checked for efficiency and the interior dimensions of the house should also be considered.
Now you can see that an HVAC system is something anyone can deal with when they have the right information. Read it as many times as necessary, until you have it down pat. Use all the guidelines that have been provided as you get to work.
