Created by-Sharpe Thyssen

In order to have a happy home you never want to let your HVAC system go bad. So the best thing you can do is have one that works properly. Everyone at some point in time deals with HVAC issues, but it doesn't have to be bad if you understand how to keep it in good shape. Below you will find helpful HVAC tips, so continue on.

Before you call someone to help you fix your system, be sure to know what sort of system you have in place. Know the brand name and model number. It is also helpful to have the maintenance history. This will ensure that you can give your new contractor all the information they need.

If your HVAC system us giving you issues, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. Note which rooms are hot and which are cold. You can then relay this information to the technician so that they can more easily figure out what the problem is.

Make sure learn here ask for an estimate in writing before choosing a specific HVAC vendor. There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to purchasing these big items. You'll want to compare not only the cost of the equipment, but also the set up and the overall energy costs.

Let your friends and family know about the discounts that are possible via ENERGY STAR. There's a lot of savings that can be had here, so why hold this good news all to yourself! You can save those closest to you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.

Make sure that you regularly clean debris that might build up on external condenser units. Debris can pile up after a storm, bringing potential damage with it. Overheating may be the result if you don't.





In order to cheaply cool your home, turn the temperature up. If you take a few showers a day or just drink a cold ice water, you'll find that you're saving a lot of money on your utility bills by keeping the thermostat a little higher than usual in your home.

Get an estimate before agreeing to have any work done on your HVAC unit. This will help keep you from being surprised by a bill at the end. Any reputable technician should be able to look at your unit, determine the problem and give you an estimate as to how much it will cost to fix it.

Look for leaves or other debris if you notice a thumping sound in your unit. Many times you will find debris hitting that knock up against the fans inside the cooling unit. Just clear the debris to remove the problem. Before contacting someone for repairs, make sure you investigate the problem first.

Keep your condensers free of nearby obstructions. Keep plants, fencing, even bushes back and away from the unit. Two feet is a good minimum distance it should have from anything, including walls, but the more space you give it to breathe, the better it will work and the less likely it will be to fail.

Don't let your house get too hot. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. So if your home is 100ºF, you'll only get the temperature down to about 80. This can still be way too warm for you.

Consider window air conditioners 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.

Change your filter on a regular basis. learn more 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.

Determining the direction in which your house faces can help make the HVAC system efficient. When you determine the parts of your home that get the most sunlight, you can consider strategic landscaping that includes shade trees to somewhat reduce your home's exposure to heat from direct sunlight. If there is less heat in the home from sunlight, then the HVAC will require less work to actually cool the home.

A great way to reduce the stress on your HVAC unit is to install ceiling fans in your home. During the summer, you can have them blow downward to cool the air and make your home feel more comfortable. In the winter you can reverse the direction and circulate warm air trapped at the ceiling.

If you can, find a way to create shade over your outdoor HVAC unit. This can actually save you money as shaded air being pulled in by the HVAC unit is typically 5 to 6 degrees cooler than air that's heated by direct sunlight. It's a smart solution to lowering those energy bills.

Always request references when you are considering a HVAC contractor. Be sure previous customers got the service and value they expected. You will be able to avoid any scammers out there, as long as you follow up on references.

When you hire a contractor, make sure you ask for some references. You should know that the contractor does exactly what he says he's going to do, and there are no hidden costs involved. Also, it will prevent you from getting robbed.

When you have a short list of contractors to consider, ask the people on their reference list about not only the service they received, but also how well the system is still running. Did they need more work down the road? Has the company come back to make things right?

When comparing quotes from multiple contractors, think carefully about those on the bottom of the price list. It's likely they didn't really look into your home deeply, or they're making promises they can't keep. Do they offer you a guarantee? Are they insured? Do they have a current licence in your state?

Hire contractors who offer guarantees of at least 5 year on all labor and parts. This will ensure that you can go back to them to fix anything that goes wrong shortly after your system is installed or repaired. Anyone who doesn't offer a guarantee won't come back unless you pay them again.

When it comes to HVAC units, unless you have been trained in them, you usually need to call someone for help. The tips shared here can help you make the best decisions when it comes to using someone to help you with your unit. Be read page to use these tips for your HVAC needs.