Prior to choosing an HVAC customer, try to have an idea of what you want done. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. If you don't have any idea, they will have trouble giving you any sort of quote. So, know this information in advance.
Lubricate the oil ports on your condenser once each year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Buy an SAE 20 product that is lightweight, and then put no more than ten drops into the ports.
Make sure you ask for an estimate in writing before choosing a specific HVAC vendor. There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to purchasing these big items. You'll want to compare not only the cost of the equipment, but also the set up and the overall energy costs.
An HVAC system is a really expensive investment. This is why you should do some browsing before purchasing your system. Try to find a good sale so you can get your system at a discount. Check out a couple of sites before making a decision. A great site to begin is www.energystar.gov.
If you are looking to save money with your HVAC system, consider turning down the air conditioner in the summer and turning the heat down in the winter. Putting on a sweater on a cold day can save you a ton of money on your utility bill, as can enjoying a cold drink http://www.grainger.com/category/air-filters/hvac-and-refrigeration/ecatalog/N-lvw instead of heavy air conditioning use.
Outer coils can be cleaned with a regular outdoor hose before you turn the unit on for the season. That said, interior coils should be best air furnace filters taken care of by a professional so that you don't do any damage as you attempt to clean them. Bring someone in to complete a check up.
Air conditioners tend to ice up at times. Freezes also occur in your drain line. These freezes are easily confused as leaks to the untrained eye. If this happens, turn the thermostat so it is on fan only mode, which will disable the compressor. While switching the system to the fan setting should begin the ice melting process, the best thing to do is to hire a professional to deal with the problem.
Try to stay away from HVAC contractors that ask for upfront payments before they are willing to get started on the work they were hired to do. In many cases, this means that they are more concerned about getting paid than they are about making sure the job is done well.
Outer coils can be cleaned with a regular outdoor hose before you turn the unit on for the season. That said, interior coils should be taken care of by a professional so that you don't do any damage as you attempt to clean them. Bring someone in to complete a check up.
Before you get into the hot summer months, make sure to schedule a tune up for your current HVAC system. This is very important to keep issues from popping up with your system. It's a small cost to pay compared to the large bills to fix issues that could arise.
Never hire an HVAC contractor that does not hold a valid license from your state. There are people out there that will offer to do less expensive work since they have no license. While it may seem like a bargain, you will have lots of issues in the event that something goes wrong.
If you live in a hot climate, don't use duct tape on your HVAC. It just dries out and falls off, leaving you with leaks all over the place. Instead, use mastic sealant to cover any holes or gaps in duct work and you'll keep your home comfortable all year long.
Do not close your vents. Keep air vents open and unblocked at all times. Many people believe that closing off a vent will save them money on cooling costs. This is not true. It can actually damage your HVAC system. Closing vents can cause your cooling coil to freeze and damage the compressor.
When you are looking to buy a new air conditioner, consider your climate. If you live in a hot, dry area, then an evaporative cooler will be your best bet. If you live in a humid area, opt for a compressor-style unit as it's the only one which will work.
When you engage a contractor, request references. You need to have the ability to speak with homeowners to see if the services they got were any good and if they cost a lot of money. That is why it is vital that you check references, so you don't run into those shady contractors!
When you hire a contractor, always ask for references. You must know whether or not their customers have had an issues, and this includes trouble with the quote they were given or workers not showing up on time. Checking references helps you avoid scammers.
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An HVAC system is expensive. Therefore, you want to make sure that you work with a reputable contractor or company to ensure that you get the most from your investment. Always get references from anyone that you are considering working with, and make sure to follow up on each of those references.
You should do your research before hiring anyone to come to your home to complete any HVAC projects. Watching home improvements shows can be deceiving since things rarely go as smoothly as they do on television. It is very important that you know what to expect before things get started.
Whatever you buy should be energy efficient. That means you need to purchase something with an Energy Star label. In particular, you should take a look at the SEER rating. The larger the number, the less you should have to pay in energy costs each month. Even if the unit is a little more expensive initially, you should get that investment back over time.
HVAC isn't too difficult to teach yourself about once you have some great advice in mind about it. Generally this is something you should take some time with so you know that you're going to get great results. Good luck with this and hopefully you come out on top with it all!
