When it comes to HVAC, at first glance it may seem that it is impossible to learn much about it. If you take your time, it’s not that hard. It will help you to be more prepared.
Cleaning the blades and coils will help the system run better. Be safe and turn off the power supply before working on your HVAC unit. Remove leaves and debris from the condenser outside.
Grass Clippings
When you mow your lawn, take care that you don’t get grass clippings all over your outdoor unit. Aim the grass clippings in the other direction. This is the same if you are using a leaf blower.
As the leaves are falling off the trees, your HVAC system can really take a hit. When the leaves fall from nearby trees, clean the grill of your fan often. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it is clogged, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.
If your fan condenser has oil ports, you must lubricate it once per year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. 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.
In order to boost efficiency, place new outdoor units or move your current unit to a place which resides in the shade. The unit will have to do less work cooling this air.
Turn off your outdoor condenser when it becomes cold out. If it’s lower than 60 degrees, the time has come to turn it off. This helps your system remain in good working order.
Replace any single-paned windows with double-paned versions. They help cool air remain inside your home, effectively cutting back on how much you have to run your air conditioner. It also facilitates heat retention in winter.
One great way to save some cash when you’re working on keeping a home cool is to install a thermostat that’s programmable. Such thermostats help you save around ten percent when it comes to energy costs. Also, you’ll find that you can program your thermostat from a computer or anything connected to the web.
In order to keep energy costs down, make sure heating and cooling systems are services at least once per year. This visit will include a motor inspection and checking the freon. These things will boost the performance of your system.
Don’t allow your home to become dangerously hot. AC units will only cool a house down 20 degrees. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then you will only be able to reasonably cool to around 80. This won’t be a healthy environment to live in.
It is possible for air conditioners to ice over. The drain line also occasionally freezes, which can be misdiagnosed as a plumbing leak. If this happens, disable the compressor by switching the thermostat to run the fan only. Get a professional to deal with this, even if you see the ice start melting because you turned the compressor off.
Consider how long a given HVAC company has been in existence before giving them your business. Companies that have been around for longer have a proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a new contractor comes with an element of risk.
Use online reviews to help you find a source for HVAC maintenance. There are now different online sites that let customers share their service experiences. You will be able to make a more informed choice if you do this.
Consider installing a radiant barrier to your attic to help your HVAC system run more efficiently. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. If you install the unit properly, you can even begin to use the attic as a bedroom as it will be so comfortable!
Determining the direction in which your house faces can help make the HVAC system efficient. If you strategically place trees, it’s possible to block some of the morning sunlight so your home won’t become overheated. The less heat in your home, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.
When your unit is clicking, immediately go out and look to see if anything is inside it. The issue may be debris hitting the fans of the cooling system. That is a simple solution; just take the debris out. Before contacting someone for repairs, make sure you investigate the problem first.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. You will need approximately 20 BTU per square foot, so calculate the necessary size based on that formula. If more than one room needs AC service, combine all the square footage.
Pick out an HVAC business that is fast and knows what to do. Good firms ensure they are always on schedule. They should be able to diagnose issues quickly. This will maximize your overall satisfaction.
That shouldn’t have been too hard for you to follow if HVAC is something you’re ready to get into. Everything will work well for you as long as you follow the advice given here. Use it properly, and you could even earn money from it.