Content written by-Rivas Marshall

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.

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.

When the spring comes and the days begin to warm up, call in a pro to give your HVAC a once over. This will ensure that your air conditioner works as expected all summer long, stopping you from sweating it out when you least expect the system to fail.




If you have outside condenser units, make sure to regularly clean the debris that builds up. Things pile up after storms and damage your system. If you do not, the unit may get too hot and cause additional problems.

Put your outdoor unit in places with shade. It will reduce the temperature of the air going into the unit, meaning that it will not have to work as hard to cool it.

Some fan condensers may contain oil parts, and if yours does, ensure it is lubricated at least once per year. Such ports tend to have coverings made of rubber or metal. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don't want to put in too much.

Do not allow your house to get extremely hot. Even the best air conditioners can only realistically cool your home approximately 20 degrees Farenheit. If the temperature in your home reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit, it will only reduce it to 80 or more. This can still be way too warm for you.

To save money on your HVAC system, turn the air conditioning down at night and let your home warm up a bit. To keep yourself cool, use a chilling water-filled pillow to cool down your head and your whole body as a result. This combined with a fan will keep you from overheating while saving on your utility bills.

If you want to pay for less power use, consider installing an HVAC-specific solar panel system. Such an installation harnesses the power of the sun directly for your heating and air conditioning. Don't worry though; you can have a switch put in that automatically connects to the power grid the days there isn't enough sun.

If you want to ensure your air conditioner offers you great performance, keep it dry. If it is located in a dry, cool area, you'll find that the efficiency goes up and the unit lasts a long time. You can even buy a water vapor cooler to cool it as it is running.

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!

If you do only one thing for HVAC maintenance, it ought to be replacing the air filter. It is the easiest and cheapest way you can take care of it. A new air filter is only a couple of bucks at your local hardware store.

When water condenses on your air conditioner, it drips into a pan and drains out. This drain should be inspected on a regular basis. If algae forms in the drain line or if the drain line freezes, you could be in for some expensive repairs. The drip pan could overflow causing extensive damage to your ceilings.

Think about installing a digital programmable thermostat to keep your heating and cooling bills low. These digital thermostats have timers that allow you to completely control your HVAC use. You can set the heat and cooling to only turn on when you are home and to turn off when you are at work.

Before https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2020/07/31/hillsborough-slows-work-on-school-air-conditioners-as-tax-collections-ebb/ 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.

When looking for an HVAC company, find one that is available when you need them. Reliable companies can be reached easily at any time. This includes both day and night. A prospective company should also values your resources and time. They should be able to schedule service calls at your earliest convenience.

To block out the sun on hot summer days, allowing your air conditioner to run less frequently, invest in heat blocking drapes. These textiles come in beautiful patterns and colors today, looking just like their designer counterparts. They will keep the heat out so that your home stays cooler without costing you an arm and a leg on utility bills.

Ask for referrals from friends and family. The best way to judge if an HVAC company is going to do a good job is from people who have actually used them. Ask your acquaintances if they have had work done, and find out if they were happy with the job, timeliness, and budget.

Understand the costs beforehand with your HVAC unit. Some contractors overcharge for add-ons like travel expense or fees for additional materials. Solid written contracts can help you avoid these issues.

Get references from anyone you are considering hiring. Ask these references if the job was what they expected, if it was done in a timely manner and on budget. By checking references, you can avoid being cheated.

Staying comfortable in your home, no matter what the weather outside is like, is important. Nobody wants to swelter or shiver because their HVAC system is not working properly. If you need help finding the right heating and cooling system for your home, just remember the advice that you have read here.