The method you use to cool and heat your home is very important. Due to this, your HVAC must remain in working order. If you aren’t taking care of your system, you will likely experience costly repairs and uncomfortable temperatures. Read on to find out how to care for your HVAC.
It is important to have some knowledge of your present system and needs before calling a contractor. A contractor will be hard pressed to provide you with an over-the-phone estimate if unfamiliar with your system. If you can’t explain changes you’ve made, the process will be even more difficult. So be aware of this information ahead of time.
Clean the coils and blades in your condenser at the beginning of summer. Turn off the power if you are going to work on your HVAC system. Also, make sure you remove any debris or leaves from the condenser unit outside.
If you have outside condenser units, make sure to regularly clean the debris that builds up. Falling leaves and wind or rain may cause debris to reduce the efficiency of your unit. Left unchecked, your unit is more likely to break down.
A big mistake that people make is cutting the grass next to the outdoor condenser unit and allowing all of the clippings to blow inside the fan and coil. Aim the grass in a different direction from the unit. Be just as mindful when you blow leaves to not blow them toward your HVAC equipment.
Some fan condensers may contain oil parts, and if yours does, ensure it is lubricated at least once per year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is lightweight and detergent free, and put ten drops or fewer into each one. Make sure not to overfill them.
Try to choose a shady place to locate the outdoor compressor device. This will limit the work that it has to do.
Boost energy efficiency by putting your condenser unit in the shade. As you get your air conditioner to suck in cool air it won’t have to do too much work to cool it which saves you some money.
Once it grows cold outside, turn off your outside condenser unit. To prevent damage, turn off your unit if the outside temperature is less than 60 degrees. This will maximize the life of your unit.
To help lower cooling costs when not at home, make sure the air conditioner is turned off. When you turn the air conditioner off, the house may heat up a little but only a certain amount. Obviously, if you leave your air conditioning set at a low temperature all day long even if you’re not home, you’ll be paying to maintain that low temperature.
Now you know how to keep your HVAC running smoothly. Be sure to stay on top of your maintenance work. Use what you’ve learned here to keep things working right so you don’t get home and find out there’s a disaster on your hands.