The comfort of comfort experienced within a home has a lot to do with whether or not it is being heated or cooled properly. That means your HVAC system healthy. If you don’t take good care of it, things will cost a lot to fix and it will be hard to live with it all. Here are some tips to help you keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
If you are having issues with your HVAC, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean the outside of your condenser unit.
Turn it off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.
Your HVAC units might suffer when trees lose their leaves. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned often during the leaves begin to fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, then your system could suffer.
10 Drops
Lubricate the oil ports on your fan condenser once a year.These ports are usually covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Have the HVAC serviced at the least. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Turn off any outdoor condenser when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This simple tip will help keep the system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.
During the service check, the system motor will be inspected, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These few simple tasks will help keep your system to run at its peak performance.
Do not let your house get extremely hot. Air conditioners can cool down unreasonably high temps. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, it will only cool off to about 80F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line may also freeze over. If you see this, 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 setting should start to melt the ice.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for air conditioners.
Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a newer contractor comes with an element of risk.
Think about having a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even use your attic as part of your living space more effectively.
Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system can work better. The less your home is heated, the less work your AC will have to do.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before buying a unit. You can figure out the unit you need 20 BTU per square foot of room space. If you need to cool multiple rooms, combine all the square footage.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the production of your unit running in tip top shape.
If you must position it in a corner, try buying a unit that lets you change its air flow direction away from your wall.
Always make sure to get references before hiring any contractor.
Some contractors attempt to charge you later for items like materials and fuel charges. Having a good written contract can help avoid any issues like this.
Always follow up on any references that are given to you by an HVAC contractor.
You might be surprised that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that are leaky. These leaky ducts can represent one fourth of your home’s utility costs. Sealing the ducts is something you can do easily and cheaply, and it may reduce energy costs greatly in the future.
Keep your system running efficiently and enjoy clean air by cleaning the heating ducts. Look often at the ducts regularly so you can make sure there is nothing wrong with them. Damaged ducts can cause your heating bill by wasting air that is warm.
Now you know what is involved when it comes to maintaining your HVAC system. Never allow it to falter just because you have of of paid attention to maintenance. Apply these tips so that you can keep it functioning properly.