You should have your HVAC system inspected at least once, but
preferably twice, per year. Make sure the person takes a look at the
motor and examines the levels of freon. These things will boost the
performance of your system.
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.
Consider
an annual service agreement for technicians to regularly inspect your
AC unit. Schedule brief inspections for the winter to make sure nothing
is obviously wrong. The most important time for an inspection and
service is just before it starts getting warm. You don't want to
discover an AC breakdown when you need it working most.
Looking
for an efficient way to cool your home? Consider installing a
whole-house evaporative cooler. They use water to cool air instead of
traditional chemical coolants, using a ton less energy to cool your home
than those other units. That said, they do work best in dry climates
and not at all in humid ones.
Installing a whole-house
fan can either cool your home without the use of air conditioning or
make your air conditioner more efficient. It blows out all of the hot
air which collects in your attic, and this air flow draws in cool air
from your basement and up into your home.
Change your
filter on a regular basis. This 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.
Are
you thinking about buying a new HVAC system? You could keep a few
points in mind. The systems are generally rated based on the area they
cover. If your home falls in size between two units, select the one that
is larger.
Be careful of sounds in your HVAC. If the
condenser fan begins to make a grating or clicking sound, the blades
could be hitting an obstruction. If blades get bent, don't try
straightening them. You could unbalance them and cause them to hit the
condenser coil. This could loosen the motor in the fan. Try replacing
the bent blades with new ones. Make sure the new blades can freely
rotate without wobbling.
