Keeping a home cool in the summer and warm in the winter is one of the most fundamental duties of a homeowner. Knowing the right person to call in the event of an equipment failure is essential to staying comfortable on a year-round basis. By reading the material below, there should never be any doubt about what steps to take.
If you want to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently, make sure you replace or clean the air filter once a month. Check the owner's manual on the a/c for instructions on how to clean the filter. Never run the unit when the filter is removed and let the filter dry before reinstallling it. Check out www.dtheatingandcooling.com for best HVAC related services.
Do not be surprised if the HVAC contractor you choose does an evaluation on your home. Any good contractor will spend time looking at the system you currently have and what the needs are for your home. They will also take a look at your duct system and look for air leaks.
Get any agreement with an HVAC contractor in writing. Some contractors try to skip over this step and charge customers a fortune. If you have a certain price and warranty in writing, they cannot go back and change this information. If they do, they could have a lawsuit on their hands.
Make sure the equipment you are buying is ENERGY STAR compliant. It may seem a small thing, but it isn't. Products that are ENERGY STAR compliant can save you a lot of money in energy costs over the year. It can be over $100 easily, sometimes a lot more.
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.
In order to avoid having any problems with your air conditioning unit, keep all vegetation at least two feet away from the outdoor unit. The unit should be clear of any vegetation on all sides and above. When you mow the lawn, aim the grass clippings away from the a/c unit. This will prevent grass getting inside the a/c and making it malfunction.
If you currently have a manual thermostat, consider installing a programmable one. You can set your system for different temperatures depending on time of day and if anyone is home. Also, you can set upper and lower temperature settings to allow for a comfortable range of temperatures so that heating and cooling don't kick in when not needed.
Install a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. You have greater control over the temperature settings with these. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Clean your filters! If you have a window unit air conditioner, there will be a filter right under the grill you can vacuum. If you have a furnace or outdoor units, they will also have filters to be cleaned or replace. A dirty filter can make your unit inefficient or even let it overheat.
Use plants to increase your air conditioner's effectiveness. An AC unit fully shaded by trees and shrubbery can operate up to 10 percent more efficiently. However, do keep spacing in mind. Air flow must not be constricted, and technicians need room to work when they come out to service your unit.
When you need the services of an HVAC professional, ask your friends and family if they can recommend someone to you. People who have had a good experience are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This will prevent you from getting scammed.
If you don't know who you should contact to do your HVAC maintenance or any installations, look online to see if you can find reviews. There are quite a few sites now that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is a great way to find people you want to work with and those you don't want to work with.
Few tasks are more critical to the efficient running of a household than ensuring that the HVAC system is up to par. Keeping everyone comfortable no matter what the weather is doing is an essential duty of every homeowner. By heeding the guidance presented in the above piece, the process can easier than ever before.
If you want to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently, make sure you replace or clean the air filter once a month. Check the owner's manual on the a/c for instructions on how to clean the filter. Never run the unit when the filter is removed and let the filter dry before reinstallling it. Check out www.dtheatingandcooling.com for best HVAC related services.
Do not be surprised if the HVAC contractor you choose does an evaluation on your home. Any good contractor will spend time looking at the system you currently have and what the needs are for your home. They will also take a look at your duct system and look for air leaks.
Get any agreement with an HVAC contractor in writing. Some contractors try to skip over this step and charge customers a fortune. If you have a certain price and warranty in writing, they cannot go back and change this information. If they do, they could have a lawsuit on their hands.
Make sure the equipment you are buying is ENERGY STAR compliant. It may seem a small thing, but it isn't. Products that are ENERGY STAR compliant can save you a lot of money in energy costs over the year. It can be over $100 easily, sometimes a lot more.
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.
In order to avoid having any problems with your air conditioning unit, keep all vegetation at least two feet away from the outdoor unit. The unit should be clear of any vegetation on all sides and above. When you mow the lawn, aim the grass clippings away from the a/c unit. This will prevent grass getting inside the a/c and making it malfunction.
If you currently have a manual thermostat, consider installing a programmable one. You can set your system for different temperatures depending on time of day and if anyone is home. Also, you can set upper and lower temperature settings to allow for a comfortable range of temperatures so that heating and cooling don't kick in when not needed.
Install a programmable thermostat to save energy costs. You have greater control over the temperature settings with these. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
Clean your filters! If you have a window unit air conditioner, there will be a filter right under the grill you can vacuum. If you have a furnace or outdoor units, they will also have filters to be cleaned or replace. A dirty filter can make your unit inefficient or even let it overheat.
Use plants to increase your air conditioner's effectiveness. An AC unit fully shaded by trees and shrubbery can operate up to 10 percent more efficiently. However, do keep spacing in mind. Air flow must not be constricted, and technicians need room to work when they come out to service your unit.
When you need the services of an HVAC professional, ask your friends and family if they can recommend someone to you. People who have had a good experience are often happy to share the name of their contractor. This will prevent you from getting scammed.
If you don't know who you should contact to do your HVAC maintenance or any installations, look online to see if you can find reviews. There are quite a few sites now that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This is a great way to find people you want to work with and those you don't want to work with.
Few tasks are more critical to the efficient running of a household than ensuring that the HVAC system is up to par. Keeping everyone comfortable no matter what the weather is doing is an essential duty of every homeowner. By heeding the guidance presented in the above piece, the process can easier than ever before.
