Many people do not give their HVAC units a second thought until it’s too late. It can be confusing to understand which company should hire to work on your system or fix the one you have. The information below will help you work your way through this process.

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

Clean any debris that accumulates on an external condenser unit. You don’t know the amount of stuff that can pile up right after heavy winds or a storm. It can cause the unit to overheat and break down.

Turn the power off first so nothing moves. Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.

Don’t let grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim your grass cuttings in a different direction from your unit. This applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in the yard.

Clean the fan blades and coils on the condenser fan every spring. Before you get started, cut the power. Then remove the grill, remove the blades and clean it from top to bottom gently.

Have the HVAC serviced twice per year. This should happen in the fall and malfunctions.

Turn off outdoor condensers you have when weather turns cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This helps your unit is working order.

Make sure that you do not cover your outdoor components with grass clippings when you are trimming the grass. Turn your lawnmower in the opposite direction. This also applies to leaf blowing and any other yard work that results in debris.

It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double panes. This same effect also keeps warm in during the winter months.

Install a programmable thermostat you can program to save energy costs. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from your smart phone or other device.

If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. The port usually has either a rubber or metal cap on top of it. Use SAE 20 oil that is lightweight and detergent free, and put ten drops or fewer into each one. Make sure not to overfill them.

During your service visit, the contractor will oil parts, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple tasks will help keep your HVAC system running smoothly.

Research and check the companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and look for reviews of potential companies online. This is what you make the right choice.

Your HVAC system should be checked a few times a year. Ideally, you should have it looked at in the spring and fall so you know everything is set for the hot and cold months. Even if you can’t see anything wrong, checking it may help you locate and repair some possible issues.

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line may also freeze over. If you notice this, put your thermostat over to fan. You should leave the repair to a professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.

Look for calculators online to truly understand what size of unit you need for your home. Look at the manual or on the manufacturer website for air conditioners.

One way to save some money with A/C is by having a programmable thermostat installed. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you’re not around. Also, you’ll find that you can program your thermostat from a computer or anything connected to the web.

There are quite a lot of sites these days that allow customers to share their experiences with contractors. This will tell you to find the right contractor.

Contractors determine their own fee levels, so make sure you get quotes from several contractors before you make any hiring decision. You can save tons of cash simply by asking for many quotes. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what you should be paying.

Never allow your home to get dangerously hot inside. Air conditioners can only really cool your home down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. This limits their overall benefit. When you factor in humidity, this can still be dangerously hot for the human body at rest.

Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not be working efficiently. When you get leaks repaired, the testing has paid for itself.

Determine the direction that your home faces in order to establish efficient HVAC operation. The less amount of heat inside of your home, the less time your air conditioner will have to work.

To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. If you get something that’s too big, it won’t work as well for you in the end. Look in the manual or on the manufacturer website for this information.

If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, check immediately for any debris that may have accumulated in it. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting fans in the cooling system. Check this out before spending on a professional.

Now you should be better educated when it comes to HVAC systems. If your current systems need to be repaired or even replaced, you now have the knowledge of what you should be looking for and, also, what you need to avoid. These tips will help you through it all.

Before you go out there and hire an HVAC contractor, find out the length of time they’ve been in the industry. This gives you some history so that you can be sure the company is reliable. Otherwise, you are taking a huge risk with the person you hire.