An Easy-to-understand Guide To All Your HVAC Questions
Not everyone is familiar with HVAC service and contracting. This can be disturbing when it breaks down. The information below can help you out of an HVAC jam. Keep reading for what you need to know.
Before choosing a HVAC company find out what the company offers. This is necessary so that they can give you a quote before doing any work. If you can't explain changes you've made, the process will be even more difficult. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.
Your HVAC unit may suffer when trees start to lose their leaves. Cleaning your unit is very important for its effectiveness. You can head off future problems that can be caused by blockages by making sure there is a free flow of air to your fan.
If you need to decide the best place to put your outdoor compressor unit, consider putting it in a location that is in the shade. If it sucks in cool air, it will need to work less to coll the air inside, which can make it last longer.
To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, be sure to keep it in the shade. It will help you save on your energy bill when you do this.
When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. When the temperature drops beneath 60 degrees, it's time to cut off the unit to prevent damage. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.
Installing a programmable digital thermostat can help save money. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you're not around. Also, you'll find that you can program your thermostat from a computer or anything connected to the web.
Sometimes air conditioners get iced up. There are sometimes also freezes that happen in a drain line, and this can be confused for a plumbing leak. If this is something you notice, switch the thermostat in your home to fan only so the compressor is disabled. You should still call a professional to help regardless.
Look for sizing calculators based on the air conditioner you have to figure out how big of a unit you need in your home. If the unit is too large, it won't cool more than a smaller unit, just less efficiently. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.
Always check to see how long a company or contractor has been working for. Someone that has been in the business for a while probably isn't going to scam you. Taking risks is not something that you want to do in this area.
Your friends or family likely have recommendations for a local HVAC specialist. People that have gotten great work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. This will also help you to avoid undesirable companies.
To improve the efficiency of your HVAC unit, put a radiant barrier up inside the attic of your home. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. This can also help you make the attic useful again.
Be sure to test for leaks in the ducts if your system seems inefficient. You can call in your local utility company to do the testing for you, often for free or at a lower cost than a contractor. Paying for the test is fine as repairing the leaks will pay for itself quickly.
Having windows and doors in place is essential to make sure your HVAC system runs well. Make certain they have tight seals to keep air inside. Professional testing is available, and it is often free of charge.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. You can usually substitute 20 BTU for each square foot in the area to be cooled. If you need to cool multiple rooms, make sure to add the square footage together.
Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system working well. This represents an easy way to keep your system working well. A new air filter is only a couple of bucks at your local hardware store.
Think about the air flow direction of your A/C when figuring out where to put it. When it's being put into a corner, you have to be able to direct the air out into free space.
Ask for references from any contractor you're considering. Previous customers can provide information about timeliness of job completion and if the contractor stayed within their budget. You can find out whether the company and their employees are honest and good workers this way.
Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency number available to customers around the clock. They owe it to you to show up to fix anything, no matter how extreme the weather or what time of day it may be.
Understand the costs beforehand with your HVAC unit. There are contractors out there that will make you pay for extra things like charges for fuel or materials. You can avoid these issues if you have a contract that is written out.
Make sure that any contractor that provides you with a quote also performs a heat-loss calculation. This determines the BTU your system has to be. There are several factors involved, including your insulation and how many outside windows and doors you have.
Look into the installation of a programmable thermostat if you are repairing your existing HVAC system or having a new one installed. This will save you money on your utility bill and give your unit needed rest.
When the heating or air conditioning breaks, a homeowner immediately becomes disgruntled. This process is not as bad as you think though. These tips will help you get the job done right.
