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.
Ask for referrals when hiring someone to install your HVAC system. Someone may seem like they know what they are doing, but you cannot simply take their word for it. You should be able to call past customers to get an idea of what to expect from this particular installer.
Check out the system that you have before you call a professional. Write down what brand your system is along with the model number and, if they’re available, maintenance records. This makes sure your contractor will be sufficiently prepared.
If you struggle with your HVAC, try touring your home before calling a professional. Figure out which rooms feel hot and which feel cold. Doing so can help your technician fix your HVAC issue quickly.
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. You’ll want to compare not only the cost of the equipment, but also the set up and the overall energy 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.
If the fan condenser on your unit has ports for oil, make sure you lubricate it once a year. You’ll see that the ports here are closed with a rubber or metal cap. Pick out a SAE 20 type of oil because it has no detergent, is lightweight, and you should put around 10 drops in the ports but make it to where they don’t get too full.
Have the HVAC system checked twice a year at the least. The normally recommended time for HVAC system inspections is once before the peak cooling season when it gets hot and you’ll be using your AC, and once before the peak heating season, during the cold months when you’re likely to be using your heat. This will help you to avoid problems.
Whenever possible, try to shade the compressor unit outside. The air that’s 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.
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.
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