Anyone that has a HVAC system in their house knows the importance of properly maintained. A HVAC system that does no function properly can end up costing the homeowner a ton of money. The following tips concerning HVAC and learn what to do if you eventually need to replace it.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you to give the contractor any information they might need.
Don’t get grass clippings on your outdoor condenser. Direct the grass clippings away from the HVAC unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees lose leaves. Make sure you clean out your fan grill is cleaned often during the fall. The fan needs unobstructed air flow, and if it is clogged, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
Lubricate your condenser once a year. You can find the ports as they have a rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a computer.
Don’t allow your home get too hot. Air conditioners really can cool a home down about 20 degrees in a reasonable amount of time. If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, it will only cool off to about 80F. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check with the BBB and look for your situation. These simple steps are going to help make a better decision.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up. If this is something you notice, switch your thermostat to fan only to disable the compressor. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that haven’t been.It is riskier to hire a long history.
There are a number of great sites that other customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work with and ones that are poor.
Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save quite a bit of money this way. You want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your existing system is not up to snuff. When you repair the leaks, you may see that the testing pays for itself.
Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system can work better. The less heat inside the house, the easier time the air conditioner in your home will have.
Make sure they are tightly sealed so air inside. You can get these tested at little to no charge by a professional to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need 20 BTU per square foot of the room. If you have multiple rooms to cool, sum their areas.
Pick HVAC companies that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies make sure their technicians will always be on schedule.A licensed technician will also easily diagnose any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. After a quick diagnosis, it should be taken care of right away.
If it has to be placed in a corner, buy one that lets the air flow to be redirected so that it is not flowing towards the wall.
Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them.You need to verify they have done the type of experience needed to work on your particular system.
Now you should be better prepared to make sure your HVAC system runs well for a long time. A faulty HVAC can cost you a plethora of money and time. Keep these tips in mind as you strive to keep your HVAC unit in the best shape possible.
