Read About How To Get The HVAC Assistance You Need

One of the many tasks of a homeowner is keeping the HVAC unit up and functioning properly. Unfortunately, not all homeowners know how to do this. Understanding how it works and how to maintain it is a smart idea. The following article will help put you in a great position.

What system do you have? You need this information to tell your contractor. Write down what brand your system is along with the model number and, if they’re available, maintenance records. Your contractor will appreciate this information.

Make a circuit around your home before calling for help with your HVAC. You will be looking to see which of your rooms feel hotter or colder than they should be. This can help the contractor determine the problem areas quickly and fix the problem easily.

Clean the coils and blades in your condenser at the beginning of summer. Always shut off all power to your unit for any work beyond superficial cleaning. Remove leaves and debris from the condenser outside.

If trees are losing leaves around your home, this can impact your HVAC unit. Clean outdoor units often to remove leaves. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it is clogged, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.

Lubricate your condenser yearly if it has oil ports. Most of these ports have some sort of protective cap covering them. Your oil should be an SAE 20. This particular oil is very lightweight and it only requires about 10 drops per port.

When selecting a location for an outdoor compressor, opt for a shady area, if possible. When your unit is bringing in cool air, it will not have to work as hard to cool the air as it moves it inside, boosting efficiency.

Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. This will help ensure that the AC is pulling in cooler air, reducing the amount of work it has to do and saving you money.

Have the HVAC system serviced twice per year. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. A quick check is worth it to avoid problems down the road.

When it gets cold outside, it is necessary to turn off outdoor condenser units. This should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. Doing this keeps your system working well for years and saves you from having to spend money to repair it.

Programmable Thermostat

Consider getting a programmable thermostat for your AC. A programmable thermostat can save you up to ten percent on your cooling and heating costs by simply turning the thermostat back ten to fifteen percent for eight hours a day. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.

Keep energy costs from rising by having your system serviced annually. During service the technician will check the motor and refill the system fluids. These repairs will keep your HVAC system running smoothly.

Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. It takes quite a while to cool a home by more than 20 degrees. So, if you house heats up to about 95, you won’t see the temperature go below 75 for a while. If humidity is high, this temp is still unsafe for people.

Occasionally, ice will form on your AC. The drain line might also freeze over. If you see this, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. If the issue persists, call in help.

Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Buying a unit that is too large for your home is a poor decision that wastes money. Look at the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.

Figure out how long the HVAC company you choose 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.

Talk to others that you have in your life to see if they can recommend an HVAC contractor to you. People who have been happy with work they have had done in the past are normally more than happy to recommend their contractors. This can also help you to figure out some names of businesses that you should avoid at all costs.

Each contractor will have their own fee schedule, so make sure you get several different quotes before you hire anybody. You should be able to hire the best contractor for the job if you take the time to do this. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.

Do you need a new HVAC system? You should first think about several things. Systems have ratings according to the total area they effectively heat or cool. It’s always better to buy something just a little bit bigger, as opposed to trying something too small.

If your current system isn’t working well enough, test out the ducts for leaks. The local utility may be able to test for you, and their services are frequently free or low cost. You’ll see the test pays for itself once all leaks are fixed.

Get references from anyone you are considering hiring. Did the homeowner get what they expected? Was it done on budget and on time? This can assure you hire someone trustworthy.

You need a cover for your condenser during the cold months. That ensures it isn’t damaged by the cold and snow. Also, when it’s less than sixty degrees outside, you shouldn’t use the compressor. Instead, just use the fan if need be.

When your HVAC works correctly, your home will be comfortable. Without proper knowledge for hiring someone that knows what they’re doing, having this equipment break down is frustrating. Fortunately, by using the information you learned here, homeowners can know just what needs to be done.