Many people forget about their HVAC systems until they all the sudden quit working. However, when your unit does not work properly, you cannot get your HVAC problems off of your mind. It isn’t easy finding a repair man that you can rely on. You will get help with the process here.
What system do you have? You need this information to tell your contractor. Write down the brand and the model and have all maintenance records on hand. Your contractor will appreciate this information.
Go through your home before you call HVAC professional. Make a list of the rooms which are comfortable and which just aren’t. This can help the contractor determine the problem areas quickly and fix the problem easily.
Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available. Having this information handy will make the process much smoother.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.
Make certain that you clean your condenser when the weather begins to warm. Make sure to turn off the fan’s power first to be safe. Remove the grill and the blades, and then you can give them all a gentle clean.
When you are cutting the grass, be sure not to cover your outdoor units with clippings. Make sure the grass does not get in your unit. This also applies to blowing leaves or moving debris. Just be careful with that exterior HVAC unit.
Find a place that is shaded for your compressor. If it sucks in cool air, it will need to work less to coll the air inside, which can make it last longer.
Make use of a thermostat when you are installing an HVAC. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you’re not around. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
System Running
To keep your system running smoothly have your system serviced once a year. During service the technician will check the motor and refill the system fluids. These simple things will keep your system running at peak performance.
Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Air conditioners only cool down a home by 20 degrees. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. While it depends on the humidity, this is not safe for a human to sleep in to recover from the heat of the summer.
Sometimes, air conditioning units ice up. The drain line can freeze, making you think it’s a plumbing leak. Change your thermostat in situations like this. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Research what size air conditioner you should purchase for the size of your home by using online calculators they have for this purpose. If you buy a unit that is too big, it won’t do an efficient job. Look at the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.
Make certain that you get written estimates before you hire a contractor. By calling around and asking a few different contractors, you can save a ton of money. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Do you need a new HVAC system? There are a number of things to think about first. For example, the ratings on most systems describe how much space they can work to cool or heat. It’s a good idea to buy something that’s larger than you’d need instead of getting something that’s not big enough.
If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. You can have your utility company test for you, sometimes for free or less than an HVAC contractor would charge. Having these repaired is worth the cost of testing if you had to hire a contractor to do the job.
The windows and doors in your home must be efficient in order for your HVAC to perform as efficiently as possible. Each of these should have an airtight seal on them. Talk to a professional to determine the best way to do this.
Make certain the contractor you hire has the appropriate experience. You need to verify they have the type of experience needed to work on your particular system. Though it is possible that a newer contractor will be just fine, you may not want to take the risk.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. This will show you their overall experience. This will allow you to stay away from people that will scam you, but only if you’re calling references.
The best HVAC contractors will also provide a number for emergency services that is available to call 24 hours of the day. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, whether during a heatwave or a terrible snowstorm.
Check in on the contractor’s references. Many people assume that they are legitimate simply because they were offered freely, but that can turn out very badly. Never hesitate to spend a few moments making calls to check out someone.
Now you know a lot about HVAC care. You now know where to look, what you are looking for, and what they should be doing when you hire them. These tips will help you through it all.