It can be difficult for many homeowners to know where to turn when the HVAC system begins to fail. To keep yourself from having a problem with this, learn all you can on the topic. The thrust of this article is to assist homeowners in getting the help they require.

Know the name and type of system before calling someone to fix it. This will facilitate the process when your contractor any information they might need.

Check the whole house before you call for help. While you are walking through the house, gauge which rooms are the coolest and which are the warmest. This can help contractors quickly figure out the issue and how to fix it easily and quickly.

If your HVAC system is acting up, check the entire house before contacting someone to come for repairs. This information will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.

Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone if they have not seen your current setup is. It will be more difficult for him to assist you can’t figure out what they need to do.

Clean your fan blades and coils each spring to ensure that your condenser fan operates at it’s best. Except when cleaning the outside, turn the unit off when performing any type of maintenance. Additionally, it’s important to clear out leaves and other debris from the outside condenser unit.

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

Turn off outdoor condenser units when it becomes cold out. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This simple tip will help keep the system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.

Every spring you need to make sure your condenser fan’s coils and blades on the fan part are clean. Shut the power off before you do anything. Then, remove the grill, then remove the blades and begin the cleaning process of the blades and the unit.

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

During this service visit, the contractor will oil parts, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system’s freon levels. These simple things will help keep your HVAC system to run at its peak performance.

Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outdoor condenser. 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.

Never let your home reach a dangerously hot inside. An AC unit is really only able to reduce the temperature of your home approximately twenty degrees in a short time span.If the temperature in your home rises to 100 degrees F or higher, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. This is not a healthy environment to live in.

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If you see this, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. If the issue persists, call a professional.

Your HVAC system could suffer when trees begin dropping their leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often during the fall. The fan needs to have an unobstructed path for air to enter the unit, and if it becomes blocked, you will end up with many headaches with the unit.

Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You can save tons of money when you call different companies for many quotes. You want to call at least a handful of contractors to determine what price you can reasonably expect to pay.

Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system can run better. It will serve as a barrier between your home cool when it’s hot outside. You may even use the attic as part of your living space if it is done right.

If the fan on your condenser includes oil ports, they must be lubricated annually. These are usually covered with rubber or metal caps. Put 10 drops of lightweight, non-detergent SAE oil in each port. Be careful not to use too much.

If your HVAC system is producing any type of clicking sounds, look for blockages right away. Often it is being caused by debris that’s hitting the fans in the cooling system. Look carefully at the system before you call up a service technician.

Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can hire someone to test them.

Getting a programmable thermostats can be a terrific way to realize savings. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. You can often control it from your mobile phone!

Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioning. You generally need about 20 BTU per square foot of the room. If multiple rooms need cooling, sum their areas.

Pick an HVAC business that know what they’re doing and can work quickly. The most reliable companies will ensure that their technicians will always be on schedule. A knowledgeable technician will also easily diagnose any potential faults with your HVAC unit quickly. After a quick diagnosis, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.

Shut off the air conditioning if nobody is home. When you turn it off, the house heats up, but only to a certain threshold. The unit will use a large amount of electricity to combat the heat during the day when the house is empty.

If you have no choice but to put it in the corner, get a unit where the air won’t be trapped against the wall.

Ask any potential contractor about their experience prior to hiring them. You need to know that they have the sort of experience needed to work you require.

Avoid allowing your home to ever get exceedingly hot. Expect an air conditioning unit to drop the temperature down 20 degrees within a short amount of time. This means that if the weather is above 100 degrees, then you’ll still be baking in 80 degree weather at first! Depending on humidity levels, this isn’t even a safe temperature for a human body to sleep at to recover from summer heat.

Any HVAC contractor or installer should have a 24-hour emergency number available to customers around the clock. They need to be able to come to you when they are needed, whether during a heatwave or a terrible snowstorm.

Always check out any references provided to you by a prospective HVAC contractor.

To know how large of an air conditioner you need, look for a calculator online. While you might think that a larger HVAC system is always better, in fact, larger systems sometimes are not the best choice for a particular space. Use the manual to determine what size is right for you.

This will help you to figure out how many BTUs the BTU your system has to be.

During extreme temperatures of the summer and winter, it can be incredibly frustrating to have your unit go out. However, homeowners who are educated in basic heating and cooling maintenance can overcome many of the issues that may arise during trying times. The tips from this article can help the homeowner make the best decisions about HVAC and steer clear of the worse case scenario.

Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are usually willing to tell of it. This is also a great way to get names of companies that should be avoided.