Most people suddenly fill dread when they get home after a long day and learn their cooling or heating system is not working the way it should. Taking reasonable steps to avoid problems with your HVAC system are an important part of your home ownership. The tips that follow will assist you in this process.
Before calling someone to repair your system, make sure you know what kind of HVAC system you actually have. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. This helps make sure the contractor has the information they will need.
Before contacting a repair service, do a short tour of the entire home. Figure out which rooms are too cool or warm. Doing so can help your technician fix your HVAC issue quickly.
What do you need done? Know this before calling a contractor. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. Being unable to explain what has been already done will make it even harder. Be sure to find this out ahead of time.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. Things tend to pile up around these units, especially after storms come through, which could cause problems to your system. If you do not, the unit may get too hot and cause additional problems.
Make sure your condenser fan is in good working order by wiping down the fan blades and the coils. Before you do anything, however, turn the power off. Then, remove the grill, then remove the blades and begin the cleaning process of the blades and the unit.
Make sure clippings don’t get on your outdoor units when your mowing your lawn. Make sure the grass does not get in your unit. This is the same if you are using a leaf blower.
Lubricate your condenser yearly if it has oil ports. They are usually fitted with a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is lightweight and detergent free, and put ten drops or fewer into each one. Make sure not to overfill them.
When selecting the spot to put the outdoor compressor for your unit, choose somewhere that gets plenty of shade. The unit will operate more efficiently to cool your home if the intake air is cooler to begin with.
If the current location of your HVAC unit outside isn’t working, try having it moved to an area with more shade. You save money this way because the air conditioner is now pulling in cooler air, which is easier to cool further.
When the weather cools down, turn your outdoor condenser off. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. This will maximize the life of your unit.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. You have greater control over the temperature settings with these. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Service your HVAC yearly. The motor should be checked, the parts oiled and the freon levels inspected. Doing this simple task can ensure that your system will be running for years with no problem!
If you’re away from home during the day, raise the temperature setting on your air conditioner to save money. The house will heat up, but not too much. However, leaving it on increases your electric bill and wear and tear on the system.
To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. Buying one that’s too large will not cool that well. You can look online or do other research to get information from HVAC system manufacturers and sellers in order to determine the best unit size for your needs.
Use the techniques presented in the article you have just read. It’s not great to arrive home and realize you do not have any air. Repair costs are a nightmare. With these tips, all of this may be prevented. Use them as necessary.