A reliable HVAC unit makes home life more pleasant. However, if the system fails, it can cause a lot of headaches. Learning about your unit minimizes the chances of a breakdown; these tips will prove very useful.

Know what type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This will ensure that you to give your chosen contractor any information they might need.

Help the outside condenser fan run efficiently by cleaning the coils and fan blades before the summer starts. If you are doing more than a light surface cleaning, make sure that the power is shut off to the HVAC unit. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.

Know what work you need before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to provide you a price estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do.

Clean your fan and coils come spring. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.

When you’re trying to cut your grass, don’t cover a unit outside with the clippings. Aim your grass cuttings in a direction away from your unit. This also applies to blowing leaves or moving debris. Just be careful with that exterior HVAC unit.

Clean the debris off your outdoor condensers often. You never know when things can pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It can also cause the unit to overheat and break down.

Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. Aim the grass in a different direction from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in debris.

A good place to place your compressor unit outside is in a shady spot. The cooler air that the unit can suck in, the less work it will need to do to further cool the air.

10 Drops

Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. You can easily find the ports have a rubber or metal cap covering them. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.

Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. 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.

Do not let your house to get extremely hot.An AC unit will reduce the internal temperature of your home by 20ºF quickly. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you would only be able to cool it down just above 80 degrees. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.

Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit you need for your room or home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.

If the house is yours or you’re permitted to, replace the windows that are single pane with windows that are double pane. Try to insulate your windows to prevent air from being lost. Likewise, in the winter more hot air stays inside during the cold season.

Ask around so you are looking for a reputable HVAC contractor. People that have had a good experience are often happy to share this information. This is also help you to figure out some names of companies that should be avoided.

There are a number of online websites that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is an excellent method of finding people that you are interested in dealing with and those that you don’t.

Service your HVAC unit at least one time a year. This visit will include a motor inspection and checking the freon. Small problems can occur in any of these areas and lead to serious issues if ignored for too long.

Are you thinking about buying a cooling and heating system that’s new? There are a number of things you must consider first. Systems are given ratings by how effectively they can cool or heat an area. You are better off purchasing a unit that is slightly too large for your needs than a smaller one.

Figure out the direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. The cooler your home already is, the less time that the AC has to work.

In order to select an HVAC contractor that you can trust, it pays to invest some time researching a few prospective companies and checking their reputations. It is a good idea to check with the BBB and look for reviews from prior clients. Doing all of this will make sure you hire the best company for your HVAC needs.

If you hear a clicking in the HVAC unit at home, look for an obstruction. Often the issue is some sort of debris that’s hitting fans in your cooling system. Check it out before you waste time contacting a repairman.

Measure the living area that requires air conditioner shopping. You generally need 20 BTU for each square foot. If multiple rooms need cooling, get their square footage added together.

Sometimes air conditioners get iced up. You may even encounter a freeze in your drain line which is often confused with a plumbing leak. If you see this, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. The fan setting can help melt some of the ice, but you should still call a professional to check your unit out.

Replace the air filter monthly to keep your HVAC system every month. This will help your unit remains in good operating condition.

Pick HVAC companies that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem.The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians stay on schedule. A licensed technician should also easily diagnose any potential faults with your HVAC. Once they know what’s wrong, they should be able to fix it as fast as they can.

Use online AC sizing calculators to figure out what size unit you need. Buying a unit which is too big reduces efficiency. Check the manual to see what the manufacturer rates the unit to cool for accurate information.

There are dishonest contractors out there that will try to overcharge you. A written contract that covers the basics will prevent this materializes.

Cover your condenser unit for protection in the weather becomes less than optimal. This will make sure the condenser will last longer if it is protected when not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid straining the unit.

Prior to hiring any HVAC contractor, you should ask how long their business has operated. This gives you some history so that you can be sure the company is reliable. If you hire someone that’s new that this then you’ll be risking your money.

Always check out any references that are given to you by a prospective HVAC contractor.

This information is used to determine the BTU your system requires to keep the environment of your home comfortable.

If you don’t know who you should contact to do your HVAC maintenance or any installations, look online to see if you can find reviews. Many online sites permit customers to let others know about their experiences with various services and contractors. This is an excellent method of finding contractors that you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you want to avoid.

You might be surprised that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that are leaky. This will kick up your total utility costs. It is easy and cheap to fix the ducts yourself, and you will see a noticeable change in the amount you pay for electricity.

Your HVAC unit is vital to your home. By failing to do routine inspections, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Hopefully, the tips above will help you remain happy with your HVAC system for years to come.

Each contractor establishes his own fees, so before you hire one, obtain a few estimates. If you call around before making a final decision, it can save you a lot of money in the end. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors in order to know what you should be paying.