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Save Cash By Getting Your HVAC Work Done The Right Way
Save Cash By Getting Your HVAC Work Done The Right Way
Having an HVAC system that works well is a joy but one that malfunctions can cause all kinds of grief. A bad HVAC system is costly in terms of energy use and repair and it can make your home uncomfortable to live in. The key is to heed sound HVAC maintenance tips like this in this piece.
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.
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.
Whenever possible try to shade the compressor unit outside. The air thats in a place that is shaded is usually five to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Your air conditioning unit will be up to ten percent more efficient if it is properly shaded during the summer months.
Whenever possible try to shade the compressor unit outside. The air thats in a place that is shaded is usually five to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Your air conditioning unit will be up to ten percent more efficient if it is properly shaded during the summer months.
Dont let your home get way too hot to where its dangerous. It takes quite a while to cool a home by more than 20 degrees. So if you house heats up to about 95 you wont see the temperature go below 75 for a while. Depending on how humid the environment is that is not a healthy temperature for the human body when it rests during sleep.
Use online AC sizing calculators to figure out what size unit you need. Buying one thats too large will not cool that well. To get the right information look in the manual to find out the rating the manufacturer gives the unit for cooling.
You should be sure to change the air filter of your HVAC system once every six months. Neglecting to do so can cause dust particles to clog the air ducts. In turn your system will not work properly and you will find your bills going up. Its worth spending the time to clean the filters.
Have your HVAC inspected every year to ensure that it is working properly. The technician will check your filters drain lines air flow and Freon levels. This will have your HVAC working at peak performance saving you money all season long. It will also alert you to any repairs that need to be address before they become big problems.
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 suns heat so that your attic doesnt get hot and that means your air conditioner doesnt have to labor as hard to cool your home.
You need to measure the space of your home so you can purchase the proper size unit. For each square foot youll need 20 BTU of cooling power. If you have multiple rooms to cool be sure to add their square footage together.
Use your HVAC system to heat your water for free! In the summer residual heat pulled out of your house is used to heat water through a geothermal system. This will cool your home while allowing you to save a ton on hot water costs plus its environmentally friendly to boot!
You do not want your living environment too hot or too cold and having a good HVAC system that is running how it is supposed to is key. Thankfully you just learned some helpful tips that showed you how to spot problems along with how to properly maintain your HVAC system. Keep these tips in mind as you perform regular maintenance on your HVAC system.
How To Find Out Which HVAC Strategy Is Best For You
How To Find Out Which HVAC Strategy Is Best For You
A properly serviced and running HVAC system is vital to ensure that you dont have skyrocketing energy costs. A faulty HVAC system can cost any homeowner a lot of money in costly repairs not too mention the time spent feeling uncomfortable if it is too cold or hot. Keep your HVAC system running right and with the tips below it is a great start so continue reading.
Although most people are thinking of their heating systems during the winter months air conditioning is also important. When installing a new furnace or heating system make sure the air ducts are also set up to work with your air condition system. Using the ducts for both heating and cooling is the most economical choice.
Before you hire anyone to do any work on your HVAC be sure to get a written estimate which has itemized costs listed on it. This will ensure that comparing one contractor to another will be simple as you can see what one offers that another doesnt or what price theyre charging for the same items.
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 dont get what you were promised protecting you from shady contractors.
If you want to know more about efficiently heating or cooling your home go online and download the ENERGY STAR Guide. It provides information for homeowners to learn more about how they can save money while still keeping their home comfortable all year round so it is a worthy ready.
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.
Whenever possible try to shade the compressor unit outside. The air thats in a place that is shaded is usually five to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Your air conditioning unit will be up to ten percent more efficient if it is properly shaded during the summer months.
As you compare new HVAC system be sure to look at the energy ratings for each unit. The higher they are the better they will be. Efficiency will not only get your home comfortable faster but it will save you on your energy bills when you are running your new unit.
Outer coils can be cleaned with a regular outdoor hose before you turn the unit on for the season. That said interior coils should be taken care of by a professional so that you dont do any damage as you attempt to clean them. Bring someone in to complete a check up.
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.
Manage the heat flow into your home with window coverings to help out your HVAC system. In the warmer months use drapes curtains and blinds to block out sunward facing windows to keep heat from building up through the greenhouse effect. Alternatively make sure that sunlit windows are letting light and warmth in during the colder months.
Do not close your vents. Keep air vents open and unblocked at all times. Many people believe that closing off a vent will save them money on cooling costs. This is not true. It can actually damage your HVAC system. Closing vents can cause your cooling coil to freeze and damage the compressor.
Check the ducts to find any leaks if you you feel your existing system is not up to snuff. Your utility company can test this for you oftentimes at no charge. If not it should be less expensive than a HVAC contractor. When these leaks are fixed the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.
Change your filter on a regular basis. This is one of the easiest HVAC tips that you can do yourself. It is also one of the least expensive things that you can do to ensure that your system is running efficiently. Clogged and dirty filters can make your unit work 5-10% harder.
Be careful of sounds in your HVAC. If the condenser fan begins to make a grating or clicking sound the blades could be hitting an obstruction. If blades get bent dont try straightening them. You could unbalance them and cause them to hit the condenser coil. This could loosen the motor in the fan. Try replacing the bent blades with new ones. Make sure the new blades can freely rotate without wobbling.
Be sure to check your Filter Check light frequently on any stand-alone units. If it is on turn the unit off as you cant operate it without a filter in place. Clean the filter carefully and return it to its proper location but dont operate the unit if the filter is still wet.
Make sure that your contractor can be reached at all times. Whether a hurricane just blew through or its the hottest day of the year they need to be able to come and fix your system.
When you hire a contractor to do a job be sure to listen to what they tell you. For example they can give you advice on how to keep your HVAC in working order. Ask about maintenance tips and how often you should be cleaning or servicing the unit.
Consider how long a contractor has been in business before you hire them. The longer theyve been in your community the more likely they are to do a good job. Fly by night operations pop up wherever people havent heard of them before and theyre just the firms you want to avoid.
Incredibly two-thirds of homes have ducts that leak! This can result in as much as one fourth of your utility bills. You can fix your ducts on your own plus its simple to do and cheap too.
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 keeping this advice in mind you can find a great new system that will keep you comfortable all year long.
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