Coming home to an HVAC unit that is not working is no fun at all. A temperature controlled home is a comfortable home, and you should make yourself aware of what you need to know to keep it cared for. Following are a number of tips to aid you in that regard, so read on!
Make sure you check the filters in your air conditioning unit. This is important because checking your filters could make the difference between inexpensive repairs and more expensive ones down the line. Try to put it into your monthly schedule so that you don't forget to check the filters regularly.
Make a circuit around your home before calling for help with your HVAC. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. Doing so can help your technician fix your HVAC issue quickly.
Know what work you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. If you can't describe the problem, you may not get an accurate quote. In addition, you need to be able to tell the contractor what you have already tried. So be aware of this information ahead of time.
During the fall, leaves can gather around your HVAC. During this time of year, check and clear off the fan grill on your unit on a regular basis. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you will have to contend with problems.
Look to your neighbors and family to get recommendations of good HVAC specialists. Likely there's someone you know who's already done a ton of research. Use this knowledge to help get you the best specialist you can. This can save you many hours of research time and money too.
Each spring, try cleaning the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan. Before you begin cleaning the unit, make sure that it is unplugged. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.
If you want to pay for less power use, consider installing an HVAC-specific solar panel system. Such an installation harnesses the power of the sun directly for your heating and air conditioning. Don't worry though; you can have a switch put in that automatically connects to the power grid the days there isn't enough sun.
Change your air conditioner filter quarterly, or four times a year. This not only keeps the air coming into your home easier and cleaner to breathe, it takes a lot of stress off of your AC unit itself. You get to enjoy health, money savings and reduced energy use altogether at once.
Check reviews online to find professional help. Many online review sites provide an avenue for this information. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work and ones that are poor.
If you don't want to install ductwork in your home, consider a mini-split system instead. They work form the outside in, allowing your whole home to cool without a central air conditioner. This allows you to enjoy all of your indoor space in a cool, comfortable way all summer long.
Pick an HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. Good companies attend to their customers in a timely manner. The technicians will be able to help you and offer the best possible options. When they know what the problem is, they should know how to fix it quickly so that it works properly.
If you HVAC unit is making a clicking sound, check immediately for any debris that may have accumulated in it. Most of the time such a noise is created by an object striking the blades of the fan in the system. That is a simple solution; just take the debris out. Check the fan and coil before you waste time contacting a professional.
If your home gets hot in the summer and you'd like to use your air conditioner less often, consider a metal roof. It reflects the heat right back up into the sky, allowing your home to gain less heat on sunny days. Since metal roofs are permanent, you'll save on repair and replacement costs also.
For greater efficiency, put a radiant barrier in your attic. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. If done right, you can even start using the attic as living space.
When you are looking to buy a new air conditioner, consider your climate. If you live in a hot, dry area, then an evaporative cooler will be your best bet. If you live in a humid area, opt for a compressor-style unit as it's the only one which will work.
Protect your condenser unit from winter weather by placing a cover around it. This simple tip will extend the life of your condenser considerably. Residential HVAC Cost Estimator Do not use the compressor if the temperature drops below 60 degrees. Switch on the fan instead and do not put strain on the unit.
Want to save the most you can with your HVAC unit? Consider increasing your room temperature by a single degree or two. Each degree means money that stays in your pocket. In fact some estimate that each degree you move up can work out to be around 9% in overall energy savings.
You should focus on finding an HVAC contractor that can offer you a warranty on the work they are doing. This is a sign that they are confident in their ability to get the job done well. This will protect you in the event that is not done right and needs to be fixed.
The biggest step to preventing problems in your air conditioner is getting a professional tune-up once a year. This is especially important before the summer. This is when your air conditioning system will be working its hardest. Getting regular tune-ups reduces the risk of malfunctions and will keep you cool all summer long.
That wasn't too hard to learn about was it? If you just spend some time putting the things you learned here into practice, you should be able to easily see that this all can work for you. It just takes the right attitude and a willingness to put things into practice that you learned above.
