Before calling someone to repair your system, make sure you know what kind of HVAC system you actually have. It is important to understand what model it is and which brand it is. Also, if it has been serviced before, you should have that information handy. This will facilitate the process when your contractor asks for this information.
Clean your fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it's best. Turn off your power before doing any job like this. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.
Every spring you should clean the coils and fan blades on your condenser fan. Start by turning off the power to avoid having anything move when you work on it. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
When you cut the grass, don't cover the outdoor units with their clippings. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction. Make sure you move around the unit and blow the leaves away from it while blowing your leaves.
HVAC units may suffer when leaves are falling off the trees. Make certain you are cleaning the fan grill often if trees nearby have leaves that are falling. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
You need to lubricate parts of your fan condenser. They generally have a rubber or metal cap on them. You should select an SAE 20 oil since it is lightweight and does not contain detergent. Be sure to use just 10 drops or so, or your system may overfill.
If you can choose the place where your outdoor compressor goes, pick a spot with lots of shade. When your unit is bringing in cool air, it will not have to work as hard to cool the air as it moves it inside, boosting efficiency.
Some air conditioners can ice up. There can be occasional freezes in their drain lines, and these are usually confused with plumbing leaks. Switch the thermostat to the fan only. You should still call a professional to help regardless.
Before you go out there and hire an HVAC contractor, find out the length of time they've been in the industry. It is more likely that a contractor who has been in business for a longer time will give you better value for your ac installation money. Hiring a new contractor comes with an element of risk.
Before you hire a contractor, make sure you get different quotes. You can save tons of money by asking for many quotes. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to find out what price you can reasonably expect to pay.
You can usually have free duct testing performed if you are concerned about your HVAC system not running properly. Often, utility companies will test them free of charge. Having these repaired is worth the cost of testing if you had to hire a contractor to do the job.
Determining the direction in which your house faces can help make the HVAC system efficient. If you strategically place trees, it's possible to block some of the morning sunlight so your home won't become overheated. If there is less heat coming into your home, then your air conditioning unit won't have to work as hard.
If there's a clicking in your HVAC unit, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Most of the time such a noise is created by an object striking the blades of the fan in the system. Removing the debris will quickly fix the issue. Have a look at the fan prior to putting in a call for service.
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You should now have a better idea about why proper HVAC system maintenance is necessary. Only bad things happen when you fail to perform routine inspections. Hopefully, the tips above will help you remain happy with your HVAC system for years to come.
