Letting your HVAC system break is not something you want to deal with. You are probably here because you want to learn about what you can do in order to help the HVAC system work well for years to come. The following article has great tips.
If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Know what you need before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be difficult for a contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.
Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
Have the HVAC system inspected twice a year. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This also keeps warm air in during the winter.
Fan Setting
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If this is something you notice, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.
Companies that are well established have a better record than those that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring a newer contractor means taking a considerable risk.
Ask friends and trust for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had a good experience are usually willing to tell of their contractor. This will also provide you with good information on which contractors you should avoid at all costs.
There are a lot of online websites that let customers talk about the service they received. This is useful for finding people you should work with and those that you don’t.
Contractors charge different rates, 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 may want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you repair the leaks, you’ll find that the testing paid for itself.
Square Footage
Measure the area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You generally need about 20 BTU for each square footage of room space. If you are cooling more than one room, be sure to add their square footage together.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This will help your unit remains in good operating condition.
Always make sure to get some references before hiring any contractor.
Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They should be there when you need them, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
There are dishonest contractors out there that try to charge you more later for such things like material fees and fuel charges. A contract will prevent this possible problem.
Cover your condenser unit for protection in the winter.This helps the condenser last longer if it is protected when it is not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid straining the condenser unit.
This information is used to determine the BTU your system requires to keep the environment of your home comfortable.
Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This lowers your energy bills as it constantly adjusts your lifestyle.
These are qualified energy efficient and meet strict efficiency guidelines. These guidelines are put in place by the U.S. They are called the environment and human health. Taking time to look into these units may help you save a significant amount of money.
You might be surprised that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that leak. These can represent one fourth of your utility costs. It is not difficult to seal your ducts, and it will save you on your bills every month.
Keep your system operating efficiently by cleaning the heating ducts from time to time. Check your ducts at least once per month. Damaged ducts can raise your electric bill.
Make sure your owner’s manual is anytime the system is running. The manual will be very useful.
Be sure to ask for written HVAC company. These estimates should be written out.There are quite a few jobs that you to get multiple estimates for to see what they take. This can help you make sure you get good deal on your service. Compare all of the estimates you are offered.
It should now be apparent that you can prevent HVAC disasters with proper maintenance. If you have your HVAC system go bad it can cost you a lot of money to get it fixed. You can easily prevent serious damage by performing simple maintenance techniques found above.