Anyone that has an HVAC systems in a house knows what it means to have it properly maintained. A HVAC system can cost a ton of money. This article can help you keep your HVAC unit in optimal condition.

Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.

Before you ever begin looking for an HVAC contractor, first consider the entire job that you’ll need completed. A contractor will be hard pressed to provide you with an over-the-phone estimate if unfamiliar with your system. If you can’t explain changes you’ve made, the process will be even more difficult. Understand this information beforehand.

Clean the condenser on your debris off your outdoor condenser unit. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, bringing potential damage with it. It could overheat and cause your unit.

Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. The fan must not have anything in the way so that air can flow into it, and if it gets blocked, then your system could suffer.

Clean the condenser coils and fan at the beginning of the year to help the unit run efficiently. Before you clean the surface, be sure to turn off the power. Take away all of the debris as well.

Sae 20 Oil

Lubricate your fan condenser yearly if it has oil ports. You will notice these ports as they have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.

Keep your outdoor units free of debris when your cutting grass. Aim the grass in a different direction from the unit. The same goes for when you blow leaves, so make sure your are careful when moving any debris in the vicinity of your HVAC devices.

Turn off outdoor condenser units when weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This simple tip will help keep your HVAC running and can save you money on repairs.

A programmable thermostat can help save money on air conditioning costs. Some of these thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.

Fall is a hard time on HVAC units. Make sure the unit’s fan grill is cleaned frequently when the leaves begin to fall. A blocked unit can quickly become a broken unit.

There are many sites that let customers share experiences of different services. This is useful for finding people that you should work with and people that may not work well with you.

Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save quite a lot of money when you call different companies for price quotes. You want to get quotes from at least a handful of contractors in order to know what you should be paying.

Make certain that an outdoor unit is in the shade. Your unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the inside air if the outside air it sucks from is cooler.

Are you looking into getting a new heating and cooling system? There are some things you should consider. Systems get rated according to the total area they can effectively heat or cool. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than purchasing one that is a smaller one.

Check for duct leaks if you you feel your existing system is not be working efficiently.When you repair the leaks, the testing will pay for itself in energy savings.

Condenser units for the outdoors should be shut off when it starts to get cold outside. Avoid damaging the unit by turning it off when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees. You’ll pay less for repairs which you follow this tip.

Figure out which direction your home is facing so your HVAC system more efficient. The less heat, the less time that the AC has to work.

If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, immediately start looking for any obstructions. Often it is being caused by debris hitting fans in the cooling system. Take a look for yourself before calling a technician out.

Try to have your HVAC system looked at every year, because regular maintenance will go a long way in energy efficiency. When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, and they will oil all the moving parts. This will help your system run better.

Make sure they have tight seals to keep air inside. A professional can sometimes test the windows and many times the testing is free.

Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of room space. If you are cooling more than one room, combine all the square footage.

If nobody is home, turn off the AC. Your home will become somewhat warmer during this time. However, leaving it on increases your electric bill and wear and tear on the system.

Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. It is the easiest way you can take care of it.

Pick HVAC companies that know what they’re doing and works quickly to solve the problem. The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians stay on schedule. A knowledgeable technician will also easily diagnose any problems with your HVAC unit quickly. After diagnosis, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.

You can get ice in your air conditioner. The drain line may also freeze up. When you see ice, turn the unit to fan. You should call a pro to fix this problem, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.

Having read this article concerning heating, ventilation and air conditioning, you now have a thorough comprehension of what you need to do to keep things running well for the long-term. Faulty HVAC systems can cost you quite a bit of money in maintenance and bills. As a homeowner, proper HVAC system maintenance should help you save money.