Your HVAC unit could be considered the heart and soul of your home. As the furnace or air conditioner pump out comfortable air the ducts carry it to where you are living in the home. To ensure that it works for you as you wish it to check out the tips below.
If you want to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently make sure you replace or clean the air filter once a month. Check the owners manual on the a/c for instructions on how to clean the filter. Never run the unit when the filter is removed and let the filter dry before reinstallling it.
When your contractor comes to fix your unit or install a new one he should walk around your home and investigate whats going on with your current set-up. They should be looking for how much insulation you have where your windows are and what quality they are and more.
Make sure you ask for an estimate in writing before choosing a specific HVAC vendor. There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to purchasing these big items. Youll want to compare not only the cost of the equipment but also the set up and the overall energy costs.
If you have a window air conditioner without a timer use a regular outlet timer to control when it is on or off. These are the same ones you use for holiday lights so all you have to do is plug your air conditioner into the timer and set it to cool you during the day.
If at all possible install double-paned windows in your home instead of those with a single pane. You can reduce your energy costs from energy leaking out through your windows by installing window that are double-paned. As with other steps you take to improve your ability to keep your air conditioned air or heated air inside your home double-paned windows can help you save on energy costs.
To save money on your HVAC system turn the air conditioning down at night and let your home warm up a bit. To keep yourself cool use a chilling water-filled pillow to cool down your head and your whole body as a result. This combined with a fan will keep you from overheating while saving on your utility bills.
When you are no longer using your outdoor air conditioning unit be sure to protect it with a tight cover. This will keep it free of debris frost and snow so that youll have a working unit when the spring comes and you are ready to uncover it and use it again.
If you are uncertain about which HVAC contractor to call when you experience an equipment failure take the time to ask friends and family for personal recommendations. By doing this you will be able to feel more confident about the choice you make because you will have gotten the opinions of people you already know to be trustworthy.
Installing a whole-house fan can either cool your home without the use of air conditioning or make your air conditioner more efficient. It blows out all of the hot air which collects in your attic and this air flow draws in cool air from your basement and up into your home.
When you are looking for a service provider to perform service on your HVAC system look for a company that stands behind their work. This is especially important if your compressor or condenser is being repaired. Repairs to these two things are extremely expensive so you want to ensure that the service provider warranties their work.
Think about having a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It blocks heat from the inside out lowering the amount of energy needed to cool your home in the summer. You might even be able to start living in your attic.
Before having someone install a new HVAC system or maintain or repair yours make sure they are insured. Having someone who is insured work on your system will assure that if anything happens while they are working at your home they are financially covered and you will not be responsible.
To boost your home HVACs efficiency install solar screening. It reflects sunlight back outside stopping it from heating up your home. Your air conditioner will be able to run less in the daytime and your energy bill will plummet as a result. You can install this on any glass you have doors or windows.
Keep your evaporator coil clean. A dirty coil will cause the unit to strain when cooling air. You can clean the coil yourself easily. Simply remove the front panel to expose the coil and use a soft brush attached to a vacuum to remove any dust and debris that has accumulated on the coil.
Do you need a new HVAC system? Many things must be taken into account before you purchase one. The systems are generally rated based on the area they cover. Be sure to choose a slightly too large system over a too small of one.
After reading the above article you now have a greater understanding on the importance of keeping your HVAC system in good working order. Remember the solid tips here as you know what to look out for so no HVAC problems turn into major disasters. Study the tips and use them as you perform regular maintenance on your HVAC system.
If the thought of an HVAC failure leaves you scratching your head wondering what you would do during such an event you are not alone. The key to knowing how to handle such events is spending some time learning how to hire the best possible professionals. The information found below can serve as just the resource you need.
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.
Look for discounts wherever possible. HVAC systems can be rather costly so youll want to seek out whatever discounts and deals that may be out there. When shopping around ask about any current specials running and look for discounts that are related to ENERGY STAR compliance. Both can save you a lot of cash.
If you want to save money once a new HVAC system is put in place be sure to pick ENERGY STAR rated products to use. They are very energy efficient so your new system wont cost you a ton when it comes to your utility bills every month recouping some of your installation costs.
When the spring comes and the days begin to warm up call in a pro to give your HVAC a once over. This will ensure that your air conditioner works as expected all summer long stopping you from sweating it out when you least expect the system to fail.
Consumers are usually advised to have their HVAC systems inspected twice a year. The normally recommended time for HVAC system inspections is once before the peak cooling season when it gets hot and youll be using your AC and once before the peak heating season during the cold months when youre likely to be using your heat. Whether you know of problems or not good maintenance will help you to avoid future issues.
The correct HVAC system should have sealed air ducts to minimize heating or cooling loss as air travels to different rooms. The heating or cooling requirements of different rooms in the home should be taken into consideration. There is no reason to increase energy usage by controlling the temperature in rooms that are used very little.
Keep your air conditioner off when people arent home to save you money. By raising the temperature from for example 78 to 80 your house will be warmer but only up to 80 before your AC kicks in. If you decide to set the temperature to 82 or 83 or so on your AC wont go on until it reaches that temperature. If its left on all day it will fight the heat all day which uses quite a bit of electricity.
If your system doesnt seem to be working efficiently check your ducts for leaks. The local utility company may be able to do this for you at a cost lower than what a contractor would charge you. Having these repaired is worth the cost of testing if you had to hire a contractor to do the job.
Look for leaks in the ducts if your system isnt working right. 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. Youll see the test pays for itself once all leaks are fixed.
Measure the area that requires air conditioning. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of the room. Make certain that you calculate using all of the rooms the unit will be treating.
If your home gets hot in the summer and youd 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 youll save on repair and replacement costs also.
Consider installing a radiant barrier to your attic to help your HVAC system run more efficiently. This mechanism will prevent outside heat from coming in reducing your energy consumption when cooling. If this is installed correctly it will give you the ability to actually use your attic as extra space to live in.
To reduce the air conditionings energy cost close drapes blinds and shades that cover windows which face the sun. Also white shades will reflect the heat away from the house keeping it cooler and saving you money. It is also recommended that you close the vents in rooms that are not used often. This will ensure that you are not spending money cooling less-used rooms.
To run an efficient HVAC you must ensure your house is fully insulated. First check into your attic to find out if you have the right kind of insulation and enough of it. If not investing in getting that up to grade is better than installing a strong HVAC system!
If you are going to use the Internet as a source for good HVAC contractors you need to be very careful. You never know who is behind the glowing reviews that are posted all over the Web. There is a chance that the contractor is posting their own reviews or paying others to do so.
This article has given you some excellent basics on keeping your HVAC system maintained correctly. Dont ignore it or it could fail on you because you didnt give it regular maintenance. These tips will help you keep your unit maintained and should help you if you ever need it replaced as well.