Before an HVAC expert comes to your home to do any repair work, walk around the home and check out the temps in every room. Figure out which rooms feel hot and which feel cold. This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.
Look for deals and rebates on the HVAC system you are having installed. Many ENERGY STAR units come with huge rebates either from your local utility company or the government itself. Investigate your options as it could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the installation costs.
Be sure to get every quote or estimate in written form. You have no recourse on a verbal agreement, so a written contract is a must. This will allow you to follow up if something goes wrong or you don't get what you were promised, protecting you from shady contractors.
When the trees are losing their leaves, your HVAC unit can suffer. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. The fan should have a clear path for air to come in. If it is blocked, your system will suffer.
Clean your permanent air filters or replace disposable ones every single month. If you have the choice, an electrostatic is the best option on the market today. Be sure to turn off your unit before you change the filter as it should never be run without a filter in place.
Make sure things don't get too hot or cold where your thermostat is. Any electronics or heat sources like lamps or televisions nearby can trick the thermostat into thinking the home is warmer than it actually is. This just means it runs your air conditioning longer than necessary, wasting energy and money.
Icing up is common in air conditioners. There are also occasional freezes in the drain line, which are often confused for plumbing leaks. When you see ice, turn the unit to fan. Talk to a professional if you are unsure of how to do this.
If you have a window air conditioner, be sure 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!
Make sure that the HVAC contractor you plan to hire does not use subcontractors to do their work. Many people use this as an excuse to shirk their responsibility in the event that something goes wrong when your system is being worked on. Only allow this if there is a note in the contract about what will happen if there is an issue.
Change your filter on a regular basis. This is one of the easiest HVAC tips that you can do yourself. It is also one of the least expensive things that you can do to ensure that your system is running efficiently. Clogged and dirty filters can make your unit work 5-10% harder.
Use your HVAC system to heat your water for free! In the summer, residual heat pulled here out of your house is used to heat water through a geothermal system. This will cool your home while allowing you to save a ton on hot water costs, plus it's environmentally friendly to boot!
Look for leaves or other debris if you notice a thumping sound in your unit. The problem may be debris getting into the fans of the cooling system. Removal of the debris should solve the issue. Look at this prior to calling a technician.
You should focus on finding an HVAC contractor that can offer you a warranty on the work they are doing. This is a sign that they are confident in their ability to get the job done well. This will protect you in the event that is not done right and needs to be fixed.
Is your home's electrical set-up ready to handle a new air conditioning unit? Most homes have 115-volt circuits in place, but larger air conditioners need 230-volts to be used. Some smaller units may need their own dedicated circuit as well to ensure your home doesn't go dark when you turn them on.
If your HVAC unit is not operating as efficiently as it once was, check the evaporator coil in it? There may be some debris blocking it which is causing the issue. You can use a soft brush to clean it - like the one you find as an attachment for handheld vacuum cleaners.
This information should have helped you understand your HVAC better. You just have to learn the information and do things step-by-step so that you don't run into any trouble. Good luck and hopefully now things will start to work fantastically for you well into the future!
