If you want to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently, make sure you replace or clean the air filter once a month. Check the owner's manual on the a/c for instructions on how to clean the filter. Never run the unit when the filter is removed and let the filter dry before reinstallling it.
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Before you hire anyone to do any work on your HVAC, be sure http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=176026 to get a written estimate which has itemized costs listed on it. This will ensure that comparing one contractor to another will be simple as you can see what one offers that another doesn't, or what price they're charging for the same items.
A shady spot is always a good choice for the placement of your outdoor compressor. The cooler air entering the unit will require less work to get to the proper temperature.
If you want to pay for less power use, consider installing an HVAC-specific solar panel system. Such an installation harnesses the power of the sun directly for your heating and air conditioning. Don't worry though; you can have a switch put in that automatically connects to the power grid the days there isn't enough sun.
In order to avoid having any problems with your air conditioning unit, keep all vegetation at least http://www.camfil.us/ two feet away from the outdoor unit. The unit should be clear of any vegetation on all sides and above. When you mow the lawn, aim the grass clippings away from the a/c unit. This will prevent grass getting inside the a/c and making it malfunction.
Get your HVAC unit serviced two times per year. This should be checked often for debris and malfunctions. This type if preventative maintenance is highly necessary to ward off any expensive troubles from coming your way.
When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. The unit will become damaged if you do not take care of it. This will help keep your HVAC system in good health for years, which means you will save on repair bills.
Do you want to make sure your HVAC unit works for you like it should? It is important to have your unit maintained on a regular basis. Any reputable technician will know exactly what you mean if you call them and ask for a maintenance service on your system.
Make sure things don't get too hot or cold where your thermostat is. Any electronics or heat sources like lamps or televisions nearby can trick the thermostat into thinking the home is warmer than it actually is. This just means it runs your air conditioning longer than necessary, wasting energy and money.
When you buy a new air conditioning unit, don't let the salesperson talk you into too large of a unit. This will be a waste of money and won't efficiently cool your home. The longer a system runs, the more efficient it will be when it's running, so look for one which runs 15 to 30 minutes.
Installing a whole-house fan can either cool your home without the use of air conditioning or make your air conditioner more efficient. It blows out all of the hot air which collects in your attic, and this air flow draws in cool air from your basement and up into your home.
If you are thinking of installing a new roof and want it to also boost the efficiency of your HVAC, choose white materials. They reflect the sun's heat so that your attic doesn't get hot, and that means your air conditioner doesn't have to labor as hard to cool your home.
In order for your HVAC system to run more efficiently, think about putting a radiant barrier in your attic. This type of barrier will help to block heat, which in turn will help your system work less at cooling your home. If it is done correctly, it is even possible to convert the attic as a living space.
If you can, find a way to create shade over your outdoor HVAC unit. This can actually save you money as shaded air being pulled in by the HVAC unit is typically 5 to 6 degrees cooler than air that's heated by direct sunlight. It's a smart solution to lowering those energy bills.
Look for leaks in the ducts if your system isn't working right. Your utility company will usually test the unit for free or for a small fee. This testing can have large financial benefits.
Follow through on the references provided by the contractor. Sometimes people assume the legitimacy of references because the contractor offered them, but this can be a mistake. It will just take minutes to check out a contractor, so you shouldn't hesitate.
Consider how long a contractor has been in business before you hire them. The longer they've been in your community, the more likely they are to do a good job. Fly by night operations pop up wherever people haven't heard of them before, and they're just the firms you want to avoid.
Think about installing a digital programmable thermostat to keep your heating and cooling bills low. These digital thermostats have timers that allow you to completely control your HVAC use. You can set the heat and cooling to only turn on when you are home and to turn off when you are at work.
During extreme temperatures of the summer and winter, it can be incredibly frustrating to have your unit go out. However, if they were prepared for something like that happening, it won't be so bad. Using the solid advice in the article above can be the best decision any homemaker can make.
