http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYk8r8_bMpM
A great way to reduce the stress on your HVAC unit is to install ceiling fans in your home. During the summer, you can have them blow downward to cool the air and make your home feel more comfortable. In the winter you can reverse the direction and circulate warm air trapped at the ceiling.
If you want to ensure your air conditioner offers you great performance, keep it dry. If it is located in a dry, cool area, you'll find that the efficiency goes up and the unit lasts a long time. You can even buy a water vapor cooler to cool it as it is running.
Change your filter on a regular basis. This is one of the easiest HVAC tips that you can do yourself. It is also one of the least expensive things that you can do to ensure that your system is running efficiently. Clogged and dirty filters can make your unit work 5-10% harder.
Call in a contractor to find out if you can install an air conditioner on your current forced-air system without having to install new duct work. This can save you a ton of time and money, plus it takes up less space in your walls and rooms to boot.
Be careful of sounds in your HVAC. If the condenser fan begins to make a grating or clicking sound, the blades could be hitting an obstruction. If blades get bent, don't try straightening them. You could unbalance them and cause them to hit the condenser coil. This could loosen the motor in the fan. Try replacing the bent blades with new ones. Make sure the new blades can freely rotate without wobbling.
Choose an efficient and knowledgeable HVAC company. A reliable company will arrive on time and have the job finished in a jiffy. The tech will also know how to find the problem quickly. When they know what the problem is, they should know how to fix it quickly so that it works properly.
If there's only one thing that you do in terms of HVAC maintenance monthly, it should be to replace your air filter. This is such a simple thing that takes little time, and it can save you money by helping to keep your system running longer. It is a small cost each month to do this.
When placing your unit, think about the direction the air will flow from the unit. If you have to place it in a corner of your home, be sure you're getting a unit that has air flow coming from a direction that's not facing the wall.
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.
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!
