When seeking a new contractor, ask loved ones for referrals. They'll often have already had someone in for similar work and will know who to trust and who to avoid. If your family hasn't used anyone, ask co-workers or other people you trust in your community for some references.
Clean the coils of your condenser fan each month. Before you clean the surface, be sure to turn off the power. Clean the outdoor condenser as well.
Look for discounts wherever possible. HVAC systems can be rather costly, so you'll want to seek out whatever discounts and deals that may be out there. When shopping around, ask about any current specials running, and look for discounts that are related to ENERGY STAR compliance. Both can save you a lot of cash.
If you want to know more about efficiently heating or cooling your home, go online and download the ENERGY STAR Guide. It provides information for homeowners to learn more about how they can save money while still keeping their home comfortable all year round, so it is a worthy ready.
Be careful when doing yard work that you do not get debris on or in your unit. Shoot grass the other way. The same goes for blowing leaves, so always be careful if you are moving debris near your HVAC devices.
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.
An investment in a smart thermostat is truly going to save you money. You can program it to turn on and off at certain temperatures or times, allowing you to ensure that your air conditioner or heater isn't running when it doesn't need to be, saving you a ton.
Consider all of your alternatives before installing a central air conditioner. You can only cool certain rooms, use whole-house fans, or even make use of a geothermal system. The more efficient the system you set up, the less you'll spend on utility bills over time as you use it.
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.
You shouldn't rely on a single quote from one contractor to gauge the cost, because different specialists set their own price. You will be likely to save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. In an ideal situation, you can estimate a reasonable rate by getting quotes from up to a half-dozen individual contractors or businesses.
Icing up is common in air conditioners. In addition, the drain line sometimes freezes, and people often think that there is a plumbing leak. Change your thermostat in situations like this. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.
You can usually have free duct testing performed if you are concerned about your HVAC system not running properly. Your utility company will usually test the unit for free or for a small fee. Once you fix the leaks, the savings will be more than worth the hassle.
Before you get into the hot summer months, make sure to schedule a tune up for your current HVAC system. This is very important to keep issues from popping up with your system. It's a small cost to pay compared to the large bills to fix issues that could arise.
Never hire anyone to work on your HVAC system unless they are licensed and bonded. This industry is one where mistakes happen often and you want to make sure that you are protected. You do not want to be stuck paying for medical bills that get more info are more expensive than the work you were having done.
Now you're able to see that you can learn about HVAC easily when you know a few tips first. Hopefully this guide is something that has taught you all that you need to know when you're starting out. If you still have questions then make sure you do even more research!
