A comfortable home starts with a working HVAC system. The heat in the winter and cool air in the summer are very refreshing to come home to. You will be in trouble if the HVAC fails and you do not know what to do. Learning how to maintain your unit minimizes the chances of a breakdown; these tips will prove very useful.
If you are having issues with your HVAC, do a tour of your house before you call in help. Notice the temperature in each room. Are some cooler or hotter than others? That will help your repairman figure out where the problem is, and how he can fix it easily and quickly.
Look for discounts wherever possible. HVAC systems can be rather costly, so you'll 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 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 your condenser comes with oil ports, you should lubricate it yearly. Most of these ports have some sort of protective cap covering them. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.
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.
Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out if your HVAC system needs to be fixed or needs to be replaced. If your system frequently breaks down, is always turning on or off on its own, or if your bills are too high, it may pay to have it replaced. Otherwise, little things can just be fixed.
To keep your system running smoothly have your system serviced once a year. During service the technician will check the motor and refill the system fluids. All of these little jobs will add up to big savings in energy use, with the improved efficiency.
Having a programmable thermostat installed is a money saving idea. With this device installed, it can help you save money on your energy bills by you having the power to regulate the temperature throughout the day. Take advantage of the convenience of the ability to control many programable thermostats from your favorite electronic device.
If you want to cool your home in the summer without using your air conditioning on full, consider installing fans in your home. An attic fan can blow hot air out while sucking in cool air into your basement, and ceiling fans help distribute the air in your rooms evenly.
Before you hire any HVAC companies, find out how the amount of time they've been in business. Someone that has been in the business for a while probably isn't going to scam you. Taking risks is not something that you want to do in this area.
If you have a window air conditioner, be sure Heating Contractors to check and see if it has an Energy Saver button. If so, use it! This turns off the fan when the unit isn't actually cooling the air, which can save you as much as 30 kwh over the period of a month!
If you hear a clicking noise coming from your HVAC unit, immediately start looking for any obstructions. It might be debris in the way of the blade. You just have to take out the obstruction and the problem is solved. Look at this prior to calling a technician.
Consider painting the outside of your home in a light color to reflect heat if you live in a hot climate. If your summers are cool, use a dark color to instead heat up your home in the winter. This simple change can end up saving you a lot on your utility bills.
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.
Look for deals on equipment. The equipment you need to update, maintain or repair your HVAC system tends to be expensive. Keep your eyes open for available coupons, store discounts and rebates on this equipment. Stock up on things you always need, like filters, when they are on sale.
In order to save money overnight, buy an air conditioner with a switch that sets it to be fan-only. This will push hot air outside and bring in cool air from near the ground. Turn this on just before bed so that you can cool the house as you sleep.
Protect your condenser unit from winter weather by placing a cover around it. Doing this extends the life of your condenser when it is not in use. In addition, you should never run the compressor when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees. Use the fan setting only to avoid straining the unit.
Choose a contractor who knows how to work with your current system. If they work with that set-up frequently, they'll quickly diagnose any problems and know exactly how to maintain it. Choosing such a firm will save you time and money, and will also save you from unnecessary headaches.
Ask your contractor if there are any upgrades which can boost your home's energy efficiency. For example, could extra insulation be added to the attic? Or should your windows and doors be better sealed? Once these are in place the change may be dramatic enough to allow you to install a cheaper HVAC unit.
Now that you have read this article, you should be much better informed about what to look for in a new HVAC system. This is an important decision, so it is not one that you should make in a hurry. Take your time so that you can find the right system for your needs.
