Many people do not know about HVAC systems and contractors. This fact can become a problem if it is time to work on a heating or cooling problem in a home. The information you will read will help you tremendously.
Look to your neighbors and family to get recommendations of good HVAC specialists. Likely there’s someone you know who’s 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.
Check your unit at least twice each year. This should happen in the fall and the spring. Whether you know of problems or not, good maintenance will help you to avoid future issues.
When you are no longer using your outdoor air conditioning unit, be sure to protect it with a tight cover. This will keep it free of debris, frost and snow so that you’ll have a working unit when the spring comes and you are ready to uncover it and use it again.
If your evaporator coil, found inside your home, becomes dirty, your unit will lose efficiency. Just pop off the front panel of the furnace and check to see that the coil is dry. Using a brush attachment on a vacuum, gently clean the coil of any dust or other debris.
Do not allow your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. Expect an air conditioning unit to drop the temperature down 20 degrees within a short amount of time. If you have your home at above 100 degrees then you can only get it to about 80 or above. If humidity is high, this temp is still unsafe for people.
Whether you have an air conditioner in a window or outside your home, be sure to keep it in the shade. The cooler the air around it, and the cooler the condenser itself, the easier a time it will have of keeping the air inside your home cool as well.
Keep your condensers free of nearby obstructions. Keep plants, fencing, even bushes back and away from the unit. Two feet is a good minimum distance it should have from anything, including walls, but the more space you give it to breathe, the better it will work and the less likely it will be to fail.
If you don’t want to install duct work in your home, consider a mini-split system instead. They work form the outside in, allowing your whole home to cool without a central air conditioner. This allows you to enjoy all of your indoor space in a cool, comfortable way all summer long.
Speak with someone close to you to see if they can recommend someone good to service their HVAC unit. Someone who has used a contractor in the past is generally willing to let you know what they thought about it. This is also a great way to get names of companies that should be avoided.
Handling a faulty HVAC system represents a serious headache for any homeowner. Understanding them before you have a problem is ideal. Use these tips to help ease the process when you run into an issue.
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