It seems hard to learn about HVAC. If you take your time, then this won’t be the case. This advice will help even the novice when it comes to simple repairs on your HVAC system.

Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to provide you a price estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.

Help the outside condenser fan run efficiently by cleaning the coils and fan blades before the summer starts. Shut off power before working or cleaning your system. Also, it is important to clear the outside condenser unit from any debris that maybe trapped inside.

Clean the fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Clean off any leaves or debris from your condenser unit.

Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Then, take the grill off, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.

Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. Now so the grass clippings are shot away from your unit. Also do this when blowing leaves or shoveling snow.

Lubricate your condenser once each year. You can find the ports as they have a rubber or metal cap. Use a lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.

Put your outdoor condensers in the shade.

Look for shade when placing a compressor outdoors. When your unit takes in cool air, it takes less energy to tool the air, thus boosting efficiency.

Your HVAC unit requires regular maintenance at least two times a year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.

Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when it’s getting cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This simple tip will maximize the life of your unit.

To boost the efficiency of your HVAC system, you should put your unit in a shady place. This will ensure cool air is sucked in, meaning less cooling must be done by the unit.

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

During your service visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system’s motor, the moving parts will be oiled and the freon levels will be checked These few simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.

Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. With this device installed, it can help you save money on your energy bills by you having the power to regulate the temperature throughout the day. Some newer programmable thermostats have computerized controls you can access from your personal computer, laptop or mobile media device.

Fan Setting

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you notice this, change the setting on your thermostat to the fan setting and this will disable the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan setting should start to melt the ice.

Save some cash by shutting down the air-conditioning system when there is no one in the house. The house will heat up when it is turned off, but only a certain amount. When the AC is left running, your power bill will go up quite a bit.

Look for calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your home. Look at the manual or on the manufacturer website for air conditioners.

There are quite a few sites that let customers share their experiences with contractors. This is a great way to find people you wish to work with all the information you don’t want to work with.

Never let your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners only cool down a home by 20 degrees. If you have your home at above 100 degrees then you can only get it to about 80 or above. While it depends on the humidity, this is not safe for a human to sleep in to recover from the heat of the summer.

Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You should save tons of money this way. You want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what reasonable rates are.

Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It ensures that your home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You could even find that you can use your attic space more effectively.

Some air conditioners can ice up. The drain line also occasionally freezes, which can be misdiagnosed as a plumbing leak. Turn your unit to the fan setting to turn off the compressor. You should still call a professional to help regardless.

Are you thinking of getting a new HVAC system that’s new? You will need to know some things first. Systems get rated according to how large an area they effectively cool and heat. You are wise to err on the side of a bigger unit rather than purchasing one that is a bit too small.

Measure the living area you wish to cool before buying a unit. You can usually substitute 20 BTU per square foot in the area to be cooled. If you have multiple rooms to cool, sum their areas.

Use an online sizing calculator to help you calculate the proper size of the air conditioning unit you should purchase. Buying a unit which is too big reduces efficiency. Look at the manual to determine the recommended size for air conditioners.

Replace the air filter to keep your HVAC system every month. This is the easiest step to take to ensure that you can do to keep your unit running in tip top shape.

Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They should be able to get to your home whenever you need them there, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.

How long has the contractor been in business? Companies that are established have been proven, and you can use their track record to to determine if they provide good service. It’s a risk to hire a new one.

Some contractors will attempt to charge you after the work is complete for items like materials and fuel. Having a signed contract will help to avoid any issues like that.

This determines the amount of BTUs your system will need to keep your home comfortable.

When you need the services of an HVAC professional, ask your friends and family if they can recommend someone to you. Find someone that has a lot of quality work under their belt. This will also help you avoid bad companies.

These qualified energy devices are known to meet very strict efficiency guidelines. These are put in place by the US Environmental Protection Agency. They are in charge of protecting the EPA for short.Taking the time to fully research various units may help you get long-term savings on energy costs.

You may be surprised to discover that as many as two-thirds of all homes have ducts that leak.This alarming percentage is responsible for nearly one quarter of utility costs. Sealing your ducts is both easy and cheap, and it is something you can do yourself, and it can reduce your electricity bills significantly every year thereafter.

To find out which HVAC company is worth hiring, make sure to use the Internet to look for reviews about any company you’re interested in. There are a number of great sites out there that let customers talk about how they were treated by services. This is useful for finding people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.

Look for HVAC contractors that uses Energy Star equipment and products. This ensures efficiency that your system has met the EPA. This will help you save money on your heating and cooling bills year round.

Make sure you keep all owner’s manual is anytime the system is running. The manual will help you out if you’re dealing with problems.

Install a radiant barrier in your attic to boost HVAC efficiency. This mechanism will prevent outside heat from coming in, reducing your energy consumption when cooling. If you do it right, you may be able to expand your living space into your attic.

Always get written estimates in writing. It is important to get your agreement in writing and not a verbal estimate. There are quite a few jobs that you have to get multiple estimates of the cost. This can ensure you get adequate service. Compare all of the deals that you receive.

Now you know all about HVAC. You should be able to keep the HVAC system functioning properly using the tips you’ve read above. Use it wisely and you may even be able to turn this into a way to make money!

Are you looking into getting a new heating/cooling system? You could keep a few points in mind. First, the rating a system has indicates how much area they can warm up or cool down. It is better to purchase a slightly larger than needed unit, rather than a slightly smaller than needed unit.