The whole concept of HVAC systems might strike you as complex when you hear people discussing it. This is probably because you don’t have the subject.

Know what type of your HVAC system you currently have before calling someone to fix it. This will ensure that you to give your new contractor all the information they need.

When you call an HVAC system for help, you need to be aware of what you need them to do before calling. If you can’t describe the problem, you may not get an accurate quote. It will be way more hard if you can’t figure out what they need to do. Know this stuff ahead of time.

If your HVAC system is acting up, tour your home before calling a technician. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is.

Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. A contractor will not be able to give you an over-the-phone estimate if unfamiliar with your system. It will be way more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.

Make sure that you regularly clean debris that might build up on external condenser units. After a wind or rain storm things may pile up, causing problems with your system. This can lead to overheating.

Clean your condenser’s fan and coils come spring. Clean the outside of your condenser as well.

Turn the power off so you don’t get hurt or break something. Next, pop off the grill, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.

Every spring you need to make sure your condenser fan’s coils and blades on the fan part are clean. Before you do so, shut off the power to ensure that none of the parts will move while you work on it. Remove the grill and the blades, and then you can give them all a gentle clean.

Sae 20 Oil

Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. You can easily find the 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.

When you mow your lawn, take care that you don’t get grass clippings all over your outdoor unit. Instead, make sure that the grass is shooting in the opposite direction. The same should happen if you are blowing leaves, so be especially careful when you are going by your exterior HVAC devices whenever you are moving debris.

Put outdoor condensers in places with shade.

Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when it’s getting cold. This means that you should be done when the temperature drops below 60ºF to avoid damage. This helps your system remain in good working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.

You must keep your HVAC systems oil ports lubricated annually. These ports have a metal covering. Sometimes it is rubber. Get an oil that is SAE 20 and put about 10 drops into each port, but don’t overfill it.

During the visit, the system motor will be inspected, inspect the motor and the freon levels. These simple things will keep your system to run at its peak performance.

Don’t let your home to become dangerously hot. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If the temperature in your home reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit, it will only cool off to about 80F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.

If you want to know where you should put an outdoor compressor, you should place it somewhere where there is a lot of shade. The cooler air entering the unit will require less work to get to the proper temperature.

Research and check the companies before hiring them. Check with different references to determine the best one for reviews of potential companies online. These simple steps can help make a better decision.

Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit is necessary for your home. Look in the manual to determine the manufacturer website for this information.

To save money and be more comfortable in your home, install double-paned windows instead of single pane. Double pane windows can help minimize how much you use your air conditioner in the summer, because they keep cool air inside the home. Conversely, this also works to keep warm air in during colder months.

There are a lot of sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with different services. This is useful for finding people that do good work and those that are poor.

Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot or cold as it should be. You may even use the attic space more effectively.

Regular maintenance of your unit should be performed annually. The motor should be checked, the parts oiled and the freon levels inspected. This ensures your system runs smoothly.

Do you wish to buy a new cooling system? There are many things you should consider. Systems get rated according to how large an area they 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.

Figure out the direction your home is facing so your HVAC system more efficient. The less heat in your home, the fewer occasions you have to use your air conditioner.

Do not allow your home to reach excessive levels of heat during the summer. Your average AC unit can only reduce the temperature in your home by about 20 degrees in a normal span of time. If your home gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only cool down to still above 80. This won’t be a healthy environment to live in.

Measure the area that requires air conditioner shopping.You can figure out the unit you need 20 BTU for each square foot of room space. If the unit will be cooling several rooms, make sure to add the square footage together.

If you must position it in a corner, get a unit that lets you direct air flow away from any walls.

To help you pick a good HVAC contractor, carefully search for information that offers honest reviews about the companies that you might be looking to hire. Inquiring with the Better Business Bureau is always a good idea, as is looking for online review sites where previous customers can post their experiences. This will help you make the best choice.

Any HVAC contractor or installer should have an emergency hotline. They must be able to reach your home at any time, even if when the weather gets to be extreme.

There are contractors out there that will try to overcharge you. Having a solid written contract can help you avoid any issues like this.

You should always review the experience and history of an HVAC specialist before hiring them. This will ensure that you find someone who knows their stuff. Hiring an inexperienced contractor can be risky.

Always follow up on any references provided to you by an HVAC contractor.

Consider a programmable thermostat installed.This can save you a great deal on your energy bills because when you adjust the temperature to sync with your lifestyle.

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 many sites that other customers can place their reviews. This works both in finding those you want to hire and also with those you want to avoid.

You might be surprised to discover that as much as 66% of all homes have ducts that are leaky. This alarming percentage is responsible for nearly one quarter of your utility costs. Sealing up your ducts is cheap and easy, and it is something you can do yourself, saving you money on your utility bills every year from then on.

Look for HVAC contractor that uses Energy Star equipment and products. This will ensure that the EPA standards for efficiency. This will help you save money on your heating and cooling bills year round.

Consider installing a radiant barrier to your attic to help your HVAC system run more efficiently. It will block the heat and lower the energy necessary to keep your home cool in the summertime. If you do things right your attic can be used as a living space too.

Make sure that you know where the owner’s manual is anytime the system in a convenient place. The information contained within this manual is going to give you quite a few things to learn about the unit you have and will be very useful.

This article was written to help make you comfortable and familiar with the average HVAC system. With the above tips and some motivation, it will be easy to delve into this world. You will be glad you did when everything begins to make sense to you!

Figure out which direction your home faces in order to make your HVAC system more efficient. If your home is surrounded by strategically planted trees, they can often block out the morning sunlight. The cooler your home already is, the less work your AC will have to do.