You can keep your home comfortable all year round with an HVAC system. Many houses come with them, but they do need to be replaced from time to time. Knowing what an HVAC system ought to have makes purchasing one easier. These tips will help a lot!
Before calling someone to repair your system, make sure you know what kind of HVAC system you actually have. Get the brand, model name, and if you can you should get the maintenance history out. This will help make sure that the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Before the summer you should clean out your condenser fan’s blades and coils. The power to the unit should be removed before you begin any maintenance, even cleaning. Clean the outdoor condenser as well.
Clean the debris off your outdoor condenser unit. You don’t know the amount of stuff that can pile up right after heavy winds or a storm. The whole thing can overheat, causing major problems and possibly an enormous expense for you.
You must keep your HVAC systems oil ports lubricated annually. The port usually has either a rubber or metal cap on top of it. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don’t overfill it.
A good place to place your compressor unit outside is in a shady spot. When the unit sucks in cooler air, then less work is required to cool it further which in turn boosts the units efficiency.
Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. When the air conditioner pulls in cooler air, it won’t have to do much more to cool it and that will save you a lot of money on energy bills.
Double pane your windows to prevent drafts. During the summer, the use of double-pane windows will help keep the cool air locked inside of the home. This will help you save a lot of money.
Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. In fact, you can save as much as 10 percent on both heating and cooling when you turn your thermostat by by 10-15 percent for at least 8 hours daily. Some newer programmable thermostats have computerized controls you can access from your personal computer, laptop or mobile media device.
If you’re away from home during the day, raise the temperature setting on your air conditioner to save money. The house will only heat up to a certain point. Obviously, if you leave your air conditioning set at a low temperature all day long even if you’re not home, you’ll be paying to maintain that low temperature.
Don’t let your house get too hot. Air conditioners cannot sufficiently cool down unreasonably high temps. This limits their overall benefit. Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.
To choose a HVAC contractor, it is important to check their reputations. Check with different references to determine the best one for your situation. It would be wise of you to take these steps.
Look for sizing calculators based on the air conditioner you have to figure out how big of a unit you need in your home. If you purchase a unit that’s too large, it will not be efficient since it’ll cool the same. You can also check the owner’s manual to find specific numbers provided for the manufacturer. These numbers indicate the particular unit to cool a particular area.
Check out how long the HVAV contractor you are considering has been in business. The older they are, the more likely it will be for you to find out their history, which will help you gauge their quality. It is always risky to hire a contractor with little experience.
Checkout online reviews if you do not know which contractor to call for installation, maintenance or repair of your HVAC system. There are a lot of sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with those you want to avoid.
You can’t get the most out of your HVAC unit, unless you have efficient windows and doors installed. Be sure their seal is tight so no exterior air gets in or interior air gets out. You can get these tested at little to no charge by a professional.
The one thing you should always do on a monthly basis is change the air filter on your HVAC system. This is such a simple thing that takes little time, and it can save you money by helping to keep your system running longer. A new air filter is only a couple of bucks at your local hardware store.
Not only is an HVAC unit a fantastic investment, it can ensure your home is comfortable inside regardless of the weather. This advice will help you when your HVAC system needs fixing or replacing. This will assist you in making an educated purchase.