Content by-Howard Kirkegaard
When properly maintained, your home's HVAC system isn't something you notice. You just walk in the door and enjoy an air temperature and quality you find comfortable. When your home HVAC isn't working right though, everyone knows. Keep reading
official source for advice on ideas on proper installation and maintenance of your home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
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.
Prior to putting in a service call on your HVAC, be able to identify it. Look for the maintenance history and brand and model. This will facilitate the process when your contractor asks for this information.
If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. You'll see that the ports here are closed with a rubber or metal cap. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don't want to put in too much.
Do you hear a clicking sound when your fan is turning? This may mean that there is something in the way of the blades of the fan. If it gets so bad that the blade bends, you must replace it, just unbending it will leave the fan unbalanced and can cause further issues.
Whenever possible, try to shade the compressor unit outside.
https://blogfreely.net/ronald7nidia/discover-a-good-cooling-contractor-as-quick-as-1-2-3-using-these-steps that's in a place that is shaded is usually five to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Your air conditioning unit will be up to ten percent more efficient if it is properly shaded during the summer months.
Clean the condenser on your debris regularly. Your HVAC system may run into problems after storms if it is surrounded by debris. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your unit.
Contractor set their own prices; this is why you should get many quotes. You should be able to hire the best contractor for the job if you take the time to do this. Ideally, five or six contractors should be called so you can get a good ball park figure of a reasonable rate.
If you currently have a manual thermostat, consider installing a programmable one. You can set your system for different temperatures depending on time of day and if anyone is home. Also, you can set upper and lower temperature settings to allow for a comfortable range of temperatures so that heating and cooling don't kick in when not needed.
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.
Whenever possible, try to shade the compressor unit outside. The air that's in a place that is shaded is usually five to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Your air conditioning unit will be up to ten percent more efficient if it is properly shaded during the summer months.
Never hire an HVAC contractor that does not hold a valid license from your state. There are people out there that will offer to do less expensive work since they have no license. While
http://jong3933carmine.booklikes.com/post/4059048/just-how-to-discover-the-a-c-contractor-you-want-to-entrust-with-your-projects may seem like a bargain, you will have lots of issues in the event that something goes wrong.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. If you need to cool multiple rooms, make sure to add the square footage together.
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.
There is a lot to think about when you install an air conditioner unit. For example, a big unit won't remove humidity while a small unit won't cool enough. Placing it in the wrong place can make it less efficient, and not insulating your home adequately could render it almost useless.
Replace the air filter in your HVAC system every month. It is an easy thing to do yourself in order to have your system running well. Filters are cheap, and changing them regularly adds up to long term savings.
Get bids from several companies before deciding who you are going to hire to install or repair your HVAC system. Most people know to avoid the company that has the highest quote, but you should also stay away from the one with the lowest. The price may be lower due to shoddy workmanship an/or using low-quality equipment.
Keep your evaporator coil clean. A dirty coil will cause the unit to strain when cooling air. You can clean the coil yourself easily. Simply remove the front panel to expose the coil and use a soft brush attached to a vacuum to remove any dust and debris that has accumulated on the coil.
If you are going to use the Internet as a source for good HVAC contractors, you need to be very careful. You never know who is behind the glowing reviews that are posted all over the Web. There is a chance that the contractor is posting their own reviews or paying others to do so.
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.
When you think you want to get HVAC help it may be hard to think about because there are so many options out there. But, it does not need to be terribly difficult. Now, you should feel much more empowered about dealing with issues when they arise.