Authored by-Ramsey Almeida
The system you use to heat or cool your home is probably the largest influences on how much energy you use, and how much it costs. If your HVAC system needs updating, make sure the technician you hire is knowledgeable. The following article provides the information you need to hire the right professional.
Before calling for help, know the system you have. Find out the brand and model and, if possible, dig out the maintenance history. This will give contractor's a better idea of what to expect before they show up, which will help things go more smoothly on arrival.
Look for deals and rebates on the HVAC system you are having installed. Many ENERGY STAR units come with huge rebates either from your local utility company or the government itself. Investigate your options as it could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the installation costs.
When you have an outdoor unit, be sure to keep all plants, flowers, shrubs and trees at least two feet from it. Anything that grows inside it, either above the ground or even roots beneath the soil, can block it up and cause it to break. Give it some breathing room.
When you buy a new air conditioning unit, don't let the salesperson talk you into too large of a unit. This will be a waste of money and won't efficiently cool your home. The longer a system runs, the more efficient it will be when it's running, so look for one which runs 15 to 30 minutes.
Do not be surprised if the HVAC contractor you choose does an evaluation on your home. Any good contractor will spend time looking at the system you currently have and what the needs are for your home. They will also take a look at your duct system and look for air leaks.
A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. It changes the temperature so the system isn't in use when it's cooler outside or no one is home. There are also some programmable thermostats that can be controlled with a computer or other web-connected advice.
In the winter, wearing layers can save you a ton of money on your utility bill. If you can install a digital thermostat that makes the house cooler when you're asleep and warmer just before you get up, you can see significant savings on your next bill when it arrives.
Sometimes air conditioners get iced up. Freezes also occur in your drain line. These freezes are easily confused as leaks to the untrained eye. Turn your unit to the fan setting to turn off the compressor. Talk to a professional if you are unsure of how to do this.
Do not let your house get dangerously hot. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. The temperature will only reduce to about 80 if your home heats up to 100 degrees. This is not a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.
Do you want to make sure your HVAC unit works for you like it should? It is important to have your unit maintained on a regular basis. Any reputable technician will know exactly what you mean if you call them and ask for a maintenance service on your system.
Always ask for references before you allow anyone to start doing work on your HVAC system. Call
click here now of them to make sure that they are legitimate. Many people take the word of the contractor when it comes to customer satisfaction and that can prove to be a mistake in the end.
For your outdoor HVAC unit, make sure that your foliage is cleared around it. Two feet distance between the HVAC unit and shrubs is a good amount to remember. If you let the foliage creep up on the unit, it can cause all sorts of issues with debris and growth into the system.
Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. 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 a leak is found, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.
When comparing quotes from multiple contractors, think carefully about those on the bottom of the price list. It's likely they didn't really look into your home deeply, or they're making promises they can't keep. Do they offer you a guarantee? Are they insured? Do they have a current licence in your state?
Consider how long a contractor has been in business before you hire them. The longer they've been in your community, the more likely they are to do a good job. Fly by night operations pop up wherever people haven't heard of them before, and they're just the firms you want to avoid.
Is your home's electrical set-up ready to handle a new air conditioning unit? Most homes have 115-volt circuits in place, but larger air conditioners need 230-volts to be used. Some smaller units may need their own dedicated circuit as well to ensure your home doesn't go dark when you turn them on.
Every month clean out the leaves and debris that may have settled into your outdoor HVAC unit.
ac repair companies 'll be surprised at how much gets caught in your unit. Over time these leaves can build up and create issues for your system. Just this little clean up can save you a lot of money in maintenance bills.
In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. You can easily calculate this by using the formula: 20 BTUs per square footage of space. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.
When you have a short list of contractors to consider, ask the people on their reference list about not only the service they received, but also how well the system is still running. Did they need more work down the road? Has the company come back to make things right?
The HVAC system in your home is very important and must be properly serviced. Failure to do certain things will result in costly fixes and a miserable time for you. Don't be a victim of a faulty HVAC system, take what you learned here and use it to ensure that it runs smooth for a long time.