Are there times when you wonder if your air conditioner or furnace is working properly? Is it hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature? If so it may be time to look for a new HVAC system. This article has a great deal of useful advice about doing so.
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.
Have the HVAC system checked twice a year at the least. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. Even if everything seems fine check things out to find potential problems.
Make sure that your contractor provides a home assessment. Not every HVAC solution is for everyone. Your home could have special needs for heating and cooling. Your contractor should do a walk around of your space to judge what is best. If they arent be sure to request one.
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.
It is very important that your HVAC system is serviced two times a year. Check into it twice a year before you head into the hot and cold months. Even if everything seems fine check things out to find potential problems.
When you buy a new air conditioning unit dont let the salesperson talk you into too large of a unit. This will be a waste of money and wont efficiently cool your home. The longer a system runs the more efficient it will be when its running so look for one which runs 15 to 30 minutes.
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.
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.
Before you get into the hot summer months make sure to schedule a tune up for your current HVAC system. This is very important to keep issues from popping up with your system. Its a small cost to pay compared to the large bills to fix issues that could arise.
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.
Never accept the first offer you get when you are looking to hire an HVAC contractor. There are many people out there that charge more than others for doing the same services. Getting price quotes from several companies can help ensure that you are getting a rate that is acceptable.
These tips will help you to keep your HVAC system in great shape for the whole time you live in your home. Print this off and revisit it once a year so that you know what you need to do. The more effort you put into your home the more benefit you will gain from it.
<h3>HVAC Advice You Need To Have Right Now</h3>
HVAC problems are one of those issues homeowners simply hate to see arise. The task of finding a qualified affordable contractor is something that many simply dread. However by applying the guidance that follows below the process can actually be far easier than many might have imagined so keep on 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.
Look to your neighbors and family to get recommendations of good HVAC specialists. Likely theres someone you know whos 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.
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.
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.
When you buy a new air conditioning unit dont let the salesperson talk you into too large of a unit. This will be a waste of money and wont efficiently cool your home. The longer a system runs the more efficient it will be when its running so look for one which runs 15 to 30 minutes.
There are sizing calculators available to determine the proper sized system for your home. If you purchase a unit thats too large it will not be efficient since itll cool the same. Look at the manual for more information.
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.
If you need recommendations for an HVAC contractor check online. Many online review sites provide an avenue for this information. This is an awesome way to find contractors to work with.
It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. Windows that are double pane keep the cool air in and can greatly reduce the amount of time your air conditioner will need to run. 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.
Try to stay away from HVAC contractors that ask for upfront payments before they are willing to get started on the work they were hired to do. In many cases this means that they are more concerned about getting paid than they are about making sure the job is done well.
To find out which HVAC company is worth hiring make sure to use the Internet to look for reviews about any company youre interested in. You have a choice of review sites to use. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with those you want to avoid.
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.
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.
It is important to pick out the right HVAC company for your needs as you will need professional assistance. You want one that maintains a schedule. A professional can also perform a quick diagnosis on a faulty machine to locate the problem. After they see what the problem is they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.
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.
Think about installing a digital programmable thermostat to keep your heating and cooling bills low. These digital thermostats have timers that allow you to completely control your HVAC use. You can set the heat and cooling to only turn on when you are home and to turn off when you are at work.
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.
If you want to buy a new HVAC unit or system ask a contractor to come up to size up your home and tell you what options you have. Theyll have the best advice as they know what sort of systems work in your area or in a home like yours.
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.
To keep your home feeling comfortable it is very important that your HVAC system is working the right way. The tips and information from above hopefully have showed you what it needed to make the HVAC last a very long time. Remember what you learned here and use it to ensure you have a home that has a comfortable living space.