It is not easy for homeowners to understand where to turn when their heating or cooling system isn’t working properly. To prevent a situation like this from mushrooming into a disaster, it is worth taking the time to learn about the subject. This article was put together to help conscientious homeowners learn how to hire the proper help they need for their HVAC unit.

If your HVAC doesn’t seem to be working properly, 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.

When you start making calls to get someone to help with your HVAC system, it’s a good idea to know what system you have before that phone call. Look for the maintenance history and brand and model. If you have to have someone come out to repair the unit, you will be able to help the contractor understand more about what is going on.

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

Clean your fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Clean off any leaves or debris from your external condenser unit regularly.

If you have some problems with the HVAC system, check out your home before calling a contractor. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. Taking this step aids a contractor in figuring out what the problem is and how to repair it as quickly as possible.

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

Don’t let grass clippings on your outdoor condenser.Aim the grass cuttings in a direction away from the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.

In order to keep your outside condenser fan running efficiently, make sure the coils and the fan blades are cleaned before the cooling season begins. Except when cleaning the outside, turn the unit off when performing any type of maintenance. Take away all of the debris as well.

Leaves falling from trees can wreak havoc with your system. Make sure the fan’s grill often during the fall. The fan must stay clear in order to function, and if it gets blocked, you’ll have a lot of headaches eventually.

Lubricate your fan condenser once a year. These are usually covered by a rubber or metal caps. Use a lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, but make sure to avoid overfilling them.

If there are condenser units as part of your HVAC system, clean them often as they tend to have lots of debris. Debris can pile up after a storm, bringing potential damage with it. It may even overheat, which can ruin your system.

Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.

Turn off outdoor condenser when it’s getting cold. This should be done when the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit.This simple tip will help keep your HVAC running efficiently for many years to come.

When the leaves start to fall, the HVAC equipment can be harmed. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. Because the fan requires a clear path for air to enter, you may encounter issues with your system if the fan gets blocked up.

It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows with ones that have double panes. This also helps keep in heat when it gets cold.

A programmable thermostat is a simple way to help you save money on your air conditioning bill. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.

It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. When your unit is bringing in cool air, it will not have to work as hard to cool the air as it moves it inside, boosting efficiency.

During the visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These repairs will boost the performance of your HVAC system running smoothly.

Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a contractor can be risky.

You can boost the efficiency of your HVAC unit by replacing it with a new energy efficient one or moving your old one to a shady outside location. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.

Ask people that you know and family for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great service are usually willing to tell of their contractor. This will also let you avoid bad companies.

Experiencing serious problems with your HVAC during the dead of winter or heat of summer can spell big trouble. But, if they have armed themselves with knowledge in advance, the situation need not be so dire. The tips found above can assist any homeowner in making smart HVAC decisions.

It is very important that your HVAC system is serviced two times a year. This should happen in the fall and the spring. Even if everything seems fine, check things out to find potential problems.