Although most people are thinking of their heating systems during the winter months, air conditioning is also important. When installing a new furnace or heating system, make sure the air ducts are also set up to http://www.homedepot.com/b/Heating-Venting-Cooling-Air-Filters/N-5yc1vZc4kw work with your air condition system. Using the ducts for both heating and cooling is the most economical choice.
When seeking a new contractor, ask loved ones for referrals. They'll often have already had someone in for similar work and will know who to trust and who to avoid. If your family hasn't used anyone, ask co-workers or other people you trust in your community for some references.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose leaves. Be sure to clean your fan grill frequently when trees nearby are shedding. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it is clogged, you'll have a lot of headaches eventually.
In the winter, wearing layers can save you a ton of money on your utility bill. If you can install a digital thermostat that makes the house cooler when you're asleep and warmer just before you get up, you can see significant savings on your next bill when it arrives.
Look to your neighbors and family to get recommendations of good HVAC specialists. Likely there's someone you know who's already done a ton of research. Use this knowledge to help get you the best specialist you can. This can save you many hours of research time and money too.
Clean your filters! If you have a window unit air conditioner, there will be a filter right under the grill you can vacuum. If you have a furnace or outdoor units, they will also have filters to be cleaned or replace. A dirty filter can make your unit inefficient or even let it overheat.
Keep your condensers free of nearby obstructions. Keep plants, fencing, even bushes back and away from the unit. Two feet is a good minimum distance it should have from anything, including walls, but the more space you give it to breathe, the better it will work and the less likely it will be to fail.
When dealing with HVAC contractors, make sure that you get everything in writing. While verbal contracts are legal in many places, it is usually very difficult to prove them. Having everything on paper is a great way to make sure that no ons is confused about any aspect of the process.
Consider window air conditioners for your home if you are thinking about installing a central unit. Do you really need to cool your kitchen overnight? Do you have multiple floors with only one housing bedrooms? To efficiently and cheaply cool only where people are actually staying, window units are a great choice.
You can always search the Internet when you aren't entirely sure who you should call for proper HVAC repair or maintenance. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. This is a good way to find decent people to hire.
To run your HVAC at full efficiency, you must have efficient doors and windows http://youtu.be/UD3oNWiTFkM in place as well. Make sure they are tightly sealed so air can't seep in. You can get a professional out to help you test things and a lot of the time the testing costs nothing.
Always ask for references before you allow anyone to start doing work on your HVAC system. Call several of them to make sure that they are legitimate. Many people take the word of the contractor when it comes to customer satisfaction and that can prove to be a mistake in the end.
Make certain the contractor you hire has the appropriate experience. You need to be sure that they're able to do the work and have done it before. While a worker with less experience may be capable of doing a good job, you will be taking a risk.
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.
Make sure you wipe up any water that is close to the air intake of the vents of your HVAC system. Clean up any water that is standing around because water can cause mold to easily expand. Some water buildup is normal but if you're picking up water more than once every six months you might have a problem, so contact a HVAC technician.
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When you hire a contractor to do a job, be sure to listen to what they tell you. For example, they can give you advice on how to keep your HVAC in working order. Ask about maintenance tips and how often you should be cleaning or servicing the unit.
If you hear clicking noises from your condenser fan, make sure that it is not striking something inside the unit. If it is not hitting something, it may be bent. Do not try to straighten the blades. This could cause it to become unbalanced. Simply replace the blade to ensure proper rotation.
Ask your neighbors who they have fixing their HVAC systems. Neighborhoods are often built at the same time and will have the same set-ups for heating and cooling. That means if someone did a good job on their unit, they should offer you the same high quality service as well.
Get bids from several companies before deciding who you are going to hire to install or repair your HVAC system. Most people know to avoid the company that has the highest quote, but you should also stay away from the one with the lowest. The price may be lower due to shoddy workmanship an/or using low-quality equipment.
Now that you have read this article, you should be much better informed about what to look for in a new HVAC system. This is an important decision, so it is not one that you should make in a hurry. Take your time so that you can find the right system for your needs.
