A quality HVAC will keep proper air flowing at all times. They are expensive to fix or replace. A little maintenance, though, can keep things in good working order for longer. The tips found here will help you to make the most of your HVAC system.
If you must hire someone to help you out with your HVAC system, be sure to learn about all of the requirements your state has legislated regarding licencing and insurance. You need to be able to ask anyone you plan to hire if they meet these requirements before you hire them.
If you want to seriously extend the life of your HVAC system, as well as cut down your overall power bill, install ceiling fans in commonly used warm season rooms. Energy-star certified ceiling fans can sometimes cut your HVAC use in half. However, you won't physically notice a difference in temperature.
When you are no longer using your outdoor air conditioning unit, be sure to protect it with a tight cover. This will keep it free of debris, frost and snow so that you'll have a working unit when the spring comes and you are ready to uncover it and use it again.
Get any agreement with an HVAC contractor in writing. Some contractors try to skip over this step and charge customers a fortune. If you have a certain price and warranty in writing, they cannot go back and change this information. If they do, they could have a lawsuit on their hands.
Lubricate your fan condenser if it has oil ports. These are usually covered with rubber or metal caps. Choose a SAE 20 oil whch is lightweight and non-detergent and place 10 drops or less into each port, ensuring it doesn't overfill.
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.
When you are looking for a service provider to perform service on your HVAC system, look for a company that stands behind their work. This is especially important if your compressor or condenser is being repaired. Repairs to these two things are extremely expensive, so you want to ensure that the service provider warranties their work.
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.
Outdoor condenser units need to be turned off when the weather turns cold. When the temperature goes below 60 degrees, shut off the unit in order to prevent damage. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
The energy efficiency of a unit should be taken into consideration when purchasing a new heating and cooling system. Although you should be concerned about the price of a unit, the efficiency of the unit will save you thousands over the lifetime of the heating and cooling system and should weigh heavily on your buying decision.
Always ask for references before you allow anyone to start doing work on your HVAC system. Call several of them to make sure that they are legitimate. Many people take the word of the contractor when it comes to customer satisfaction and that can prove to be a mistake in the end.
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.
Are you looking into getting a new heating/cooling system? You need to know some things HVAC System Details first. Learn about the size systems need to be for optimal efficiency. It may be wise to get a unit that is a bit larger than needed. Just don't get one that is smaller than you need.
Outer coils can be cleaned with a regular outdoor hose before you turn the unit on for the season. That said, interior coils should be taken care of by a professional so that you don't do any damage as you attempt to clean them. Bring someone in to complete a check up.
Measuring the space you want to cool is the first step to figure how large of an air conditioner you need. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of the room. Account for all of the rooms in the house.
Be sure to check your Filter Check light frequently on any stand-alone units. If it is on, turn the unit off as you can't operate it without a filter in place. Clean the filter carefully and return it to its proper location, but don't operate the unit if the filter is still wet.
Only choose a contractor to repair or install your HVAC unit if they provide a 24 hour hotline in case of emergencies. They must be able to reach your home at any time, in any weather.
Hire contractors who offer guarantees of at least 5 year on all labor and parts. This will ensure that you can go back to them to fix anything that goes wrong shortly after your system is installed or repaired. Anyone who doesn't offer a guarantee won't come back unless you pay them again.
Be sure to look up information online about the reliability of any unit you are thinking of having installed. While the efficiency ratings, BTU and price are important, knowing that it will continue working for many years will save you a lot of money on repairs over time, so be vigilant.
You should now have a good understanding of how important it is to maintain your HVAC system correctly. If your HVAC fails, it can be expensive to repair. Don't let this happen; work on using the advice you were given above.
