Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. Make sure the unit's fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. A blocked unit can quickly become a broken unit.
Be sure to get every quote or estimate in written form. You have no recourse on a verbal agreement, so a written contract is a must. This will allow you to follow up if something goes wrong or you don't get what you were promised, protecting you from shady contractors.
If you own your own home or have permission from your landlord, replace your single pane 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. They help in the winter, too, keeping the heat in.
If you have oil ports as part of the fan condenser, annual lubrication is key. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
In order to cheaply cool your home, turn the temperature up. If you take a few showers a day or just drink a cold ice water, you'll find that you're saving a lot of money on your utility bills by keeping the thermostat a little higher than usual in your home.
Find out how many years an HVAC company has been in business before you hire them. Fly-by-night companies are those you want to avoid. It's a risk to hire a new one.
If the condenser fan has oil parts, then you need to lubricate it at least once per year. A rubber or metal cap is typically placed over such ports. Pick a type of SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight. Place 10 or less drops into every port to avoid overfilling.
If you have fans in place to help make your HVAC more efficient, be sure that they're turning in the right direction. They should be pushing air downwards over the people in the room to help cool their skin. If it's blowing upwards, all it does is push hot air into the room.
The Internet can really help you out when it comes to finding someone to work on your HVAC unit. There are plenty of online websites that give people the opportunity to leave comments about the service they received. This can help filter out the people you would like to work with.
Clean your filters! If you have a window unit air conditioner, there will be a filter right under the grill you can vacuum. If you have a furnace or outdoor units, they will also have filters to be cleaned or replace. A dirty filter can make your unit inefficient or even let it overheat.
If your home gets hot in the summer and you'd like to use your air conditioner less often, consider a metal roof. It reflects the heat right back up into the sky, allowing your home to gain less heat on sunny days. Since metal roofs are permanent, you'll save on repair and replacement costs also.
If the HVAC unit makes a clicking noise, look immediately to see if there is an obstruction. Often the problem will be some kind of debris hitting your fans in your cooling system. Simple removal of the debris will solve the problem. Check it out yourself first before you call in the professionals.
Keep your condensers free of nearby obstructions. Keep plants, fencing, even bushes back and away from the unit. Two feet is a good minimum distance it should have from anything, including walls, but the more space you give it to breathe, the better it will work and the less likely it will be to fail.
As you can see, finding the perfect HVAC system for your home can be tricky. There is a lot of information that you need to absorb before you can make the right decision. By Air Conditioner Installer Qualifications keeping this advice in mind, you can find a great new system that will keep you comfortable all year long.
