Anyone that has an HVAC unit in their house knows how it important it is to have it properly maintaining it. An improperly or inefficiently functioning HVAC system wastes a bit of money. This article can help you keep your HVAC will continue to run effectively.

Know the name and type of system before looking for a repair person. This will help you to give the new contractor any information they might need.

Get all of the details regarding a broken system before calling for repair. Know the brand name and model number. It is also helpful to have the maintenance history. The contractor will likely need all of this information.

If you struggle with your HVAC, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. This information will help the repairman determine where the problem is and how to fix it.

Clean your fan blades and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your external condenser unit.

Before contacting a repair service, do a short tour of the entire home. Figure out which rooms are hot and cold. This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.

Clean any debris that accumulates on an external condenser units. 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 could overheat and cause your unit.

Lubricate your condenser at least once each year. You will notice these ports have a rubber or metal caps covering them. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.

Before the summer you should clean out your condenser fan’s blades and coils. Be safe and turn off the power supply before working on your HVAC unit. If you see debris, get rid of it.

Put outdoor units in the shade.

Turn off any outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This means that you should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years and save you a lot on repairs.

Be sure to clean external condenser units regularly. You can never tell when things will pile up, especially following rain or wind storms. These can wreak havoc on your units. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.

It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double pane ones. This same effect also keeps warm air during the winter months.

During this service visit, they will inspect the motor of the system, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These simple tasks will help keep your system to run at its peak performance.

You need to lubricate parts of your fan condenser. You can find these ports covered with rubber or metal caps. Buy an SAE 20 product that is lightweight, and then put no more than ten drops into the ports.

Companies with proven track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time. Hiring an inexperienced contractor who is just starting out can be risky.

There are a lot of sites that let customers share experiences of different services. This can help filter out the people you find a top notch professional.

A good place to place your compressor unit outside is in a shady spot. When it draws in air for cooling, it will be more efficient because it will not need to work as hard to cool down the air.

Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. You want to call at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.

Check the ducts to find any leaks if your existing system is not up to snuff. If a leak is found, this testing will pay for itself.

For maximum efficiency, place outdoor units in a shady spot. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.

Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can hire someone to test them all for you and often this testing is free.

Measure the living area that requires air conditioner shopping. You will need about 20 BTU per square foot in the room. If you need to cool multiple rooms, sum their areas.

When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. When the temperature goes below 60 degrees, shut off the unit in order to prevent damage. You’ll pay less for repairs which you follow this tip.

If you have no choice but to put it in the corner, ensure that the air is not directed towards a wall.

Ask a contractor about their experience.Make sure they are experienced with the kind of work that you need.

Your home should not have temperatures that are too hot. Air conditioners really can only cool a home down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit within a reasonable amount of time. This limits their overall benefit. Taking into consideration the humidity level, this may not even be adequate for the human body to recover from excessive heat while sleeping.

Always get references before hiring any contractor.

Any HVAC contractor you hire should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to a home when needed, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.

To help you pick a good HVAC contractor, be sure to research a number of different companies. A good start would be the BBB to see if there are any complaints, then search online for review sites where you can see what actual customers had to say about their experience. These steps are going to help to ensure your decision is a wise one.

Some contractors will attempt to overcharge you after the work is complete for things such as material fees and fuel charges. Having a written contract will let you avoid any issues like this.

Cover your condenser when the winter. This will allow it to last longer if it is protected when not in use. Use the fan instead to avoid straining the condenser unit.

Find an air conditioner calculator online to determine what models are best for you. If you get something that’s too big, it won’t work as well for you in the end. Check your manual to learn what it is rated by the manufacturer if you want accurate information.

This tells you the number of BTUs your system requires to keep your home comfortable.

Consider have a programmable thermostat. This lowers your heating and cooling bills because your settings to ensure optimal performance.

Find out how many years an HVAC company has been in business before you hire them. Fly-by-night companies are those you want to avoid. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can be risky.

You may be surprised that as much as 66% of households have ducts that are leaky. This can result in as much as one fourth of your energy bill. Sealing up your ducts is cheap and easy, and it is something you can do yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.

Heating Ducts

Having a radiant barrier in your attic helps you HVAC system run better. This type of barrier will help to block heat, which in turn will help your system work less at cooling your home. If this is installed correctly, it will give you the ability to actually use your attic as extra space to live in.

Keep your HVAC system operating efficiently and enjoy clean air by cleaning the heating ducts. Check your heating ducts for damage or openings often. Ducts that have some damage will make you pay more in heating because you have to pay more to keep the warm air.

Hopefully, you have gained a solid understanding of what needs to be done to keep your system in check. Caring for your system will ensure you don’t end up with issues down the road. Keep these tips handy so you can refer to them as needed.

Make sure that your ducts are not leaking. The local utility may be able to test for you, and their services are frequently free or low cost. When you get leaks repaired, you may see that the testing pays for itself.