A well-maintained HVAC system is an important for your home. A lot of people spend quite a bit to fix things when they don’t work right, but could have avoided such issues if they had maintained them properly.The tips in this article will help you need to know about HVAC systems.
If problems arise with the HVAC system, tour your home before calling a technician. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is.
Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available.
Clean your fan and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.
Clean the debris on an external condenser units. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It can also cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Sae 20 Oil
Lubricate your condenser once a year. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap on them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.
Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Turn off outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This can keep your system remain in good working order.
It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This same effect also helps retain heated air in during the colder months.
During a maintenance visit, the system motor will be inspected, oil the moving parts and check the freon levels in the system. These few simple things will keep your system.
Never allow your home to rise to a dangerously hot inside. Air conditioners can only really cool down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, it will only cool off to about 80F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look at the manual or on the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that haven’t been. Hiring a new contractor who is just starting out can be risky.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC contractor. People who’ve had great service are usually more than willing to share this information. This is also help you learn the names of companies that you should be avoided.
Are you going to buy a cooling and heating system that’s new? You should first think about a few important things. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively cool and heat. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit that is slightly too large for your needs than purchasing one that is a smaller one.
Check for duct leaks if you you feel your existing system is not up to snuff.When you get leaks repaired, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in. You can also hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.
Pick an HVAC business that is fast and knows what to do. The best companies make sure their technicians stay on schedule. The technicians should also know what to do to figure out what’s going wrong with an HVAC in no time. After a quick diagnosis, they should then know how to deal with the problem.
Always request references before hiring any contractor.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency hotline. They should be there when you need them, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
Some contractors attempt to charge you later for things such as material fees and fuel charges. A written contract that covers the basics will really help you if something like this possible problem.
Maintaining your unit is something you need to do as a home owner. These suggestions will reduce your repair costs in the long run. There is no need to spend thousands of dollars when you can prevent the issue from happening.
