Learn How To Get HVAC Issues Taken Care Of

Understand how HVAC works is key to having a good system at home. In order to maintain it properly the homeowner should know important information about it. If local heating and cooling repair would like good tips about an HVAC system you plan to purchase, or one that is already at your home, then continue ahead to the following article.

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.

You should be sure to change the air filter of your HVAC system once every six months. Neglecting to do so can cause dust particles to clog the air ducts. In turn, your system will not work properly and you will find your bills going up. It's worth spending the time to clean the filters.

Before you hire anyone to do any work on your HVAC, be sure to get a written estimate which has itemized costs listed on it. This will ensure that comparing one contractor to another will be simple as you can see what one offers that another doesn't, or what price they're charging for the same items.


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.

Make sure that you do not cover your outdoor components with grass clippings when you are trimming the grass. Have the grass shoot in the opposite direction. Be just as mindful when you blow leaves to not blow them toward your HVAC equipment.

If you can choose the place where your outdoor compressor goes, pick a spot with lots of shade. If it sucks in cool air, it will need to work less to coll the air inside, which can make it last longer.

If possible, put your HVAC in a shaded area if it is outside. how often should you service your furnace save money this way because the air conditioner is now pulling in cooler air, which is easier to cool further.

Consider residential heating and air conditioning systems for your home if you are thinking about installing a central unit. Do you really need to cool your kitchen overnight? Do you have multiple floors with only one housing bedrooms? To efficiently and cheaply cool only where people are actually staying, window units are a great choice.

Manage the heat flow into your home with window coverings to help out your HVAC system. In the warmer months, use drapes, curtains and blinds to block out sunward facing windows to keep heat from building up through the greenhouse effect. Alternatively, make sure that sunlit windows are letting light and warmth in during the colder months.

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.

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.

Consider painting the outside of your home in a light color to reflect heat if you live in a hot climate. If your summers are cool, use a dark color to instead heat up your home in the winter. This simple change can end up saving you a lot on your utility bills.

If you plan on having a service on your HVAC unit, ask the technician what he will be doing. Any thorough service should consist of several things. The technician should check temperature levels, pressures, amperage draw, and coolant levels. They should adjust any belts that need it and clean the coils.

For your outdoor HVAC unit, make sure that your foliage is cleared around it. Two feet distance between the HVAC unit and shrubs is a good amount to remember. If you let the foliage creep up on the unit, it can cause all sorts of issues with debris and growth into the system.

Measure the area that requires air conditioning. Typically, 20 BTUs are required per square foot. When several rooms must be cooled, determine the square footage of each room and then add the numbers together.

In order to determine the size of the air conditioner to purchase, you must measure the area that you want to cool. You'll need about 20 BTU per square foot of living space. If multiple rooms need cooling, just add their total square footage.

It wasn't too hard to learn about HVAC now that you can see that the tips are easy to follow. The key is just taking the time to make things work right. Just don't give up and you should be able to use the above advice to lead you to success.