Having an HVAC system that works well can make a home run better. However, if the system fails, it can cause a lot of headaches. Learning how to maintain your HVAC system begins with the tips will prove very useful.

If you struggle with your HVAC, do a tour of your house before you call in help. This will help the repairman determine where the problem is.

Make a circuit around your home before calling for help with your HVAC. Make a list of the temperatures in each room and whether they are hot or cold. If you do this, it will be a great help to the future contractor, who will now be able to quickly locate the problem issue.

Know what you want done before you hire a contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to provide you with an estimate over the phone without knowing what your current system. It will be way more hard if you don’t know what’s wrong.

Clean any debris that accumulates on your condenser units. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, bringing potential damage with it. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your system to malfunction by overheating.

Prior to choosing an HVAC customer, try to have an idea of what you want done. It will be difficult for an HVAC contractor to provide you with an estimate on the phone without knowing what your current setup is. It will be even harder if you cannot explain what you have done. Make an effort to gather all information you need before making the phone call.

Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.

Have the HVAC serviced at the least. This should happen in the fall and again in the spring.

Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coil in the spring. Shut the power off before you do anything. Then remove the grill, remove the blades and clean it from top to bottom gently.

Turn off any outdoor condenser units when the weather gets cold. This should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. This can keep the system working for many years to come.

It is always a good idea to replace single-paned windows for double pane ones. This also keeps warm air during the colder months.

Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. Direct the clippings away from the equipment. The same goes for when you blow leaves, so make sure your are careful when moving any debris in the vicinity of your HVAC devices.

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

Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check them out at the BBB and online reviews as well. Doing this can help you choose wisely..

Put outdoor units in the shade if you are installing them. When the air conditioner pulls in cooler air, it won’t have to do much more to cool it and that will save you a lot of money on energy bills.

Fan Setting

Air conditioners tend to ice up.The drain line might also freeze up.If this happens, immediately put your thermostat on the fan setting to turn off your compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, even if switching it to its fan setting starts making the ice melt.

It is always a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. To keep your home cool, investing in double pane windows is a must. It also facilitates heat retention in winter.

Companies that are well established have track records typically provide better service. Hiring a newer contractor who is just starting out can be risky.

There are a lot of online websites that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This is useful for finding people that you should work with and people that may not work well with you.

Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. A programmable thermostat can save you up to ten percent on your cooling and heating costs by simply turning the thermostat back ten to fifteen percent for eight hours a day. Some can even be controlled from a computer.

Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save some cash if you take the time to call around before you decide. You may want to get quotes from at least five contractors to determine what you should be paying.

Think about getting a radiant barrier in your attic so your HVAC system. It ensures that your unit stays hot outside. You could even use the attic space if it is done right.

Get your HVAC unit serviced yearly. This visit will include a motor inspection and checking the freon. These few simple things will help your system to run at its peak performance.

Check for duct leaks if your unit seems to not up to snuff. If you do end up paying, this testing will pay for itself.

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

Don’t let your house get too hot. AC units will only cool a house down 20 degrees. A home that is over one hundred degrees will only be cooled to around eighty. This won’t be a healthy environment to live in.

Measure the area you wish to cool before going air conditioner shopping. You can figure out the unit you need by calculating 20 BTU per square foot of room space. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, just add their total square footage.

You should now know more about your HVAC unit. Failing to make regular inspections will result in disaster. Hopefully, the tips above will help you remain happy with your HVAC system for years to come.

Sometimes, air conditioning units ice up. There are also occasional freezes in the drain line, which are often confused for plumbing leaks. If this happens, put your thermostat over to fan. While switching the system to the fan setting should begin the ice melting process, the best thing to do is to hire a professional to deal with the problem.