HVAC Do’s And Don’ts For The Average Person

Lots of folks are interested in HVAC issues, but they don’t know where to begin learning about them. This doesn’t need to be the way things are, though. This guide is going to give you some awesome advice to go along with that will allow this to be easy for you!

If you are having issues with your HVAC, do a tour of your house before you call in help. You will be looking to see which of your rooms feel hotter or colder than they should be. This gives the repairer a starting point to work from.

Prior to putting in a service call on your HVAC, be able to identify it. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. This information will be helpful to any contractor you hire to repair it.

Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate without looking at your system. It’s even harder if you’re not able to explain what you’ve done. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.

Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. The power to the unit should be removed before you begin any maintenance, even cleaning. Additionally, remove leaves and any other debris from the outside condenser unit.

If your HVAC system is acting up, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. Note which rooms are hot and which are cold. The contractor can probably figure out and fix the problem easier.

If you have outside condenser units, make sure to regularly clean the debris that builds up. Leaves, twigs and other troublesome objects can accumulate, particularly after very windy weather, and this will wreak havoc on your system. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.

If trees are losing leaves around your home, this can impact your HVAC unit. At least twice a week, you need to clean the grill of your fan. The fan needs to be able to get proper air inside without any blockages, and extra blockage can later develop into more serious problems.

Before selecting a HVAC repairman, know what you need done. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. It will be even harder if you cannot explain what you have done. So, know this information in advance.

Installing a programmable digital thermostat can help save money. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. Additionally, some programmable thermostats can be controlled remotely using a web-connected device.

Shut off the air conditioning if nobody is home. With the system off, the house will only heat up to a certain temperature. 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.

Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Prior to working on or cleaning the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Also, be sure to clear leaves and debris from your condenser unit.

Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. Proper sizing will increase efficiency. Read over the owner’s manual to see the manufacturers suggestions as to the cooling capacity of the unit for the most accurate information.

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 will prevent you from getting scammed.

Be sure to clean external condenser units regularly. Things pile up after storms and damage your system. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.

Online reviews are a great source of information about HVAC contractors. You have a choice of review sites to use. This is a great way to find people you want to work with and those you don’t want to work with.

A radiant barrier is something that you may want to consider. It blocks heat from the inside out, lowering the amount of energy needed to cool your home in the summer. You might even be able to start living in your attic.

The coils and blades on the fans should be cleaned once a year. Before you do so, shut off the power to ensure that none of the parts will move while you work on it. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.

Are you going to buy a new HVAC system? You will need to take a few things into account. HVAC systems have a rating to determine how much space you should use it on. It is best to get a bigger unit than you need, instead of a smaller one.

Make sure that your ducts are not leaking. Often your utility company is willing to test this for you, and it may be free or lower in cost than you would get with a contractor. When you repair the leaks, you’ll see that the tests paid for themselves.

The HVAC unit in your home can become damaged from falling leaves. Clean outdoor units often to remove leaves. Because the fan requires a clear path for air to enter, you may encounter issues with your system if the fan gets blocked up.

HVAC issues will not be difficult for you to tackle if you remember the tips above. Use the above tips to help you begin. Start now to take care of your HVAC system.