HVAC Success In A Few Simple Tips


There are some people who are fortunate enough to live in temperate climates where the weather is always perfect. For the rest of us, we need good HVAC systems that keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter. For help finding such a system, read the following article.

Ask for referrals when hiring someone to install your HVAC system. Someone may seem like they know what they are doing, but you cannot simply take their word for it. You should be able to call past customers to get an idea of what to expect from this particular installer.

If you have oil ports as part of the fan condenser, annual lubrication is key. Such ports tend to have coverings made of rubber or metal. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don't overfill it.

Get any agreement with an HVAC contractor in writing. Some contractors try to skip over this step and charge customers a fortune. If you have a certain price and warranty in writing, they cannot go back and change this information. If they do, they could have a lawsuit on their hands.

An HVAC system is a really expensive investment. This is why you should do some browsing before purchasing your system. Try to find a good sale so you can get your system at a discount. Check out a couple of sites before making a decision. A great site to begin is www.energystar.gov.

Look to your neighbors and family to get recommendations of good HVAC specialists. Likely there's someone you know who's already done a ton of research. Use this knowledge to help get you the best specialist you can. This can save you many hours of research time and money too.

One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a new heating and cooling system is the manufacturer's warranty. Units come with a variety of warranties. Choose one with a long warranty for maximum long term savings. Generally, it is advised that homeowners should purchase the extended warranty if one is offered.

You can keep energy costs in your home lower by choosing to have professional maintenance done on your HVAC unit. An HVAC specialist will inspect the entire system, including the oil, the motor, and the ducts. These few simple things will help your system to run at its peak performance.

Change your air conditioner filter quarterly, or four times a year. This not only keeps the air coming into your home easier and cleaner to breathe, it takes a lot of stress off of your AC unit itself. You get to enjoy health, money savings and reduced energy use altogether at once.

Make sure that your AC is turned off when you are not using it. You may want to turn your unit off if your house will not become extremely hot or cold. The longer the unit stays on, the more it ends up costing you in energy bills.

Don't allow your home to become dangerously hot. An air conditioner can only cool your home by 20ºF quickly. So if your home is 100ºF, you'll only get the temperature down to about 80. This won't be a healthy environment to live in.

Get an estimate before agreeing to have any work done on your HVAC unit. This will help keep you from being surprised Affordable AC Repair by a bill at the end. Any reputable technician should be able to look at your unit, determine the problem and give you an estimate as to how much it will cost to fix it.

Make your HVAC work efficiently when you consider what way your home faces. When you determine the parts of your home that get the most sunlight, you can consider strategic landscaping that includes shade trees to somewhat reduce your home's exposure to heat from direct sunlight. You will reduce the need for AC when your home is naturally cooler.

If you are thinking of installing a new roof and want it to also boost the efficiency of your HVAC, choose white materials. They reflect the sun's heat so that your attic doesn't get hot, and that means your air conditioner doesn't have to labor as hard to cool your home.

If your system doesn't seem to be working efficiently, check your ducts for leaks. Call local utility companies to test it for you since many do it for a small fee or even free, which is lower than HVAC contractors. If you do have leaks that are repaired, this testing will pay for itself.

When you are looking to buy a new air conditioner, consider your climate. If you live in a hot, dry area, then an evaporative cooler will be your best bet. If you live in a humid area, opt for a compressor-style unit as it's the only one which will work.

Make sure your HVAC is clear when working outside. You should try keeping any vegetation about two feet away from your outdoor units. Keep the areas above it and on each side of it clear. Make sure you aim your grass clippings away from the unit when mowing. Keep leaves from getting inside your unit in the fall.

You should do your research before hiring anyone to come to your home to complete any HVAC projects. Watching home improvements shows can be deceiving since things rarely go as smoothly as they do on television. It is very important that you know what to expect before things get started.

Hire contractors that can repair or install HVAC systems with 24-hour emergency services. They should be available to you if a problem arises.

Any contractor that gives you a quote over the phone shouldn't be trusted. To truly evaluate your needs, they must come into your home and check it out basement to attic. If they make promises without even seeing your house, there is no way they'll be able to keep them.

Keeping your home in tip-top shape means taking great care of your HVAC system. It is important to keep the system maintained and clean to keep your family comfortable and healthy. Follow the useful tips above to know how to hire the right people and use the right equipment to keep your HVAC system in good shape.