Simple HVAC Strategies You Can't Go On Without

TIP! If you are having issues with your HVAC, do a tour of your house before you call in help. Pay attention to which areas of the house are warm and which ones are cool.

Keeping your home’s HVAC system running at its optimal performance is a task most homeowners should do, even though many people don’t know how. Learning about selecting the ins and outs of choosing an HVAC professional replacement or repair services is a smart thing homeowners can do. The following article will get you started.

Know what type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This helps make sure your contractor has the information they will be sufficiently prepared.

TIP! Be sure to clean external condenser units regularly. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system.

If you are having issues with your HVAC, take a tour of the house prior to calling a professional. This will help the repairman determine what the problem is and how to fix it.

TIP! The coils and blades on the fans should be cleaned once a year. First, turn off the power so that nothing will move as you are working on it.

Turn the power off first so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.

TIP! If you want to know where you should put an outdoor compressor, you should place it somewhere where there is a lot of shade. If the unit is taking in cooler air, the efficiency will be boosted since it will not need to work as hard.

Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass in a direction from your unit. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.

TIP! Make sure your HVAC unit is in the shade. As it brings in cool air to cool, you will save a lot of money.

Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather turns cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps the system last much longer and save you a lot on repairs.

TIP! Your HVAC unit requires regular maintenance at least two times per each year. Ideally, you should have it looked at in the spring and fall so you know everything is set for the hot and cold months.

Don’t ever let your home to overheat. An AC unit will reduce the internal temperature of your home by 20ºF quickly. If your home happens to get near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.

TIP! Install a thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you’re not around.

Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this happens, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should call a pro to fix this problem, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.

TIP! If nobody is home, turn off the AC. Your home will become somewhat warmer during this time.

Ask your friends and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who have had quality work done are often happy to share this information. This can also help you learn the names of companies that you should avoid.

TIP! Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously high level. Air conditioners really can only cool a home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a reasonable amount of time.

There are quite a few sites out there that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is a good way to locate contractors that do good work with.

TIP! If you want to ensure you choose a trustworthy HVAC contractor, invest a little time in researching a few different companies, checking out their reputations. Check with the BBB and online reviews as well.

Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save some money by asking for many quotes. You should try to contact 5 to 6 contractors to determine what price you can reasonably expect to pay.

TIP! To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. If you purchase a unit that’s too large, it will not be efficient since it’ll cool the same.

Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The less amount of heat inside of your home, the less work your AC will have to do.

TIP! Consider how long a given HVAC company has been in existence before giving them your business. This gives you some history so that you can be sure the company is reliable.

If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, see if there are any obstructions right away. Sometimes there is debris that gets in the cooling system fans. Look carefully at it before calling in a technician.

Make certain they are tightly sealed so air can’t seep in. You can hire someone to test them.

TIP! If you HVAC unit is making a clicking sound, check immediately for any debris that may have accumulated in it. The issue may be debris hitting the fans of the cooling system.

Measure the living area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot of space. If you need to cool multiple rooms, combine all the square footage.

If you can only put the unit in the corner, be sure you’re getting a unit that has air flow coming from a direction that’s not facing the wall.

Always make sure to get references prior to hiring any contractor.

TIP! Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency number available to customers around the clock. Particularly if you have a family, you may need service at odd hours or on weekends.

Any HVAC contractor you hire should have an emergency hotline. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, be it in the middle of a heatwave or in the worst snowstorm of the year.

Some contractors attempt to charge you on material fees and fuel. Having a signed contract can help to avoid issues like this.

Always check any references that you by an HVAC contractor.

This needs to be factored in when figuring out the best sized unit for your system has to be.

TIP! It’s amazing to find out that 66% of homes have leaky ducts! They may add up to 25 percent of your utility bill. It is inexpensive and easy to seal up ducts.

These qualified energy products are known to meet strict efficiency guidelines. These guidelines are put together by the US. They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking time to fully research various units may help you get long-term savings on energy costs.

TIP! Look for an HVAC contractor that uses Energy Star products and equipment. An Energy Star unit has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

You might be surprised that as much as 66% of households have ducts that are leaky. These leaky ducts can lead to as much as a quarter of your home’s utility costs. Sealing up your ducts is cheap and easy, and it is something you can do yourself, saving you money on your utility bills every year from then on.

TIP! Keep your HVAC system operating efficiently and enjoy clean air by cleaning the heating ducts from time to time. Check your heating ducts weekly.

Keep your HVAC system running efficiently and enjoy clean air by cleaning the heating ducts from time to time. Look often at the ducts regularly so you can make sure they are in good shape. Damaged ducts could increase your energy bill by wasting air that is warm.

TIP! Refer to the owner’s manual for your unit when you operate it. The manual is going to give you quite a few things to learn about the unit you have and will help you out if you’re dealing with problems.

A good heating and cooling system is critical to maintaining a comfortable home. Therefore, if it breaks, you need to know how to handle the situation. Thankfully, the tips above can assist a homeowner with their HVAC system.