Follow these helpful tips to put yourself in the best position.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor any information they need.
If you struggle with your HVAC, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. This information will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Hvac Contractor
Know what you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for an HVAC contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.
Clean your fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit regularly.
Your HVAC unit may suffer when your trees start to lose their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned frequently when the fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it gets blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.
Lubricate your fan condenser at least once each year. These are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.
Turn off your outdoor condenser units when weather turns cold. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double panes. This also keeps warm in the winter months.
During your service visit, the contractor will oil parts, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These simple things will help your HVAC system running smoothly.
Never allow the temperature in your home to get dangerously high level. An AC unit will reduce the internal temperature of your home by 20ºF quickly. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check with the best one for reviews of potential companies online.Doing this makes it more likely that you make a better decision.
Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you notice this, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. You can call a HVAC professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
Contractors charge different rates, so make sure to get multiple quotes. You can save quite a bit of money when you call different companies for many quotes. Call at least four or five different HVAC specialist to find the rates are.
Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your unit stays hot outside.You may even find that you can use the attic space if it is done right.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. If you do have leaks that are repaired, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
If you hear a clicking noise coming from the HVAC unit, there may be something obstructing it. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting fans in your cooling system. Take a look for yourself before calling a technician out.
Make sure they have tight seals to keep air inside. A professional can also test these for you for free.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before going air conditioner shopping. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the room. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, sum their areas.
There are some contractors out there that try to charge you more later for such things like material fees and fuel charges. Having a written contract can help avoid issues like this.
The HVAC in your house is a vital part of your daily life whether you know it or not. Many homeowners choose to neglect these units until it is too late and they begin malfunctioning, which can lead to expensive repairs or even an entire replacement! Do not let this happen; keep these tips in mind, and keep your HVAC system running smoothly.