Having a great HVAC system in good working order can be enjoyable in the home. But if you experience a failure of your HVAC system, the situation can become frustrating very quickly. Learning how to maintain your unit minimizes the tips below.

Know what type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will help you to give your chosen contractor any information they might need.

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. You need to know who manufactured the product and the item number. Also, get the maintenance records from your files if you have them. This will let you know that you’re able to give the contractor the information that can help them.

Know what work you want done before you hire a contractor. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate if unfamiliar with your system. It will be way more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.

Grass Clippings

Clean the fan blades and coils prior to summertime. Always shut the power off before doing any work or cleaning on the unit. In addition, be sure to get rid of any leaves or other debris that may have accumulated on the outside condenser.

Don’t get grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim the grass clippings in the unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.

Lubricate your condenser once each year. You can easily find the ports as they have a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, detergent-free SAE 20 oil, putting 10 drops in each port.

Be sure to clean external condenser units regularly. Debris can pile up after a storm, bringing potential damage with it. It can also cause it to overheat.

Put your outdoor condensers in places with shade.

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

You must keep your HVAC systems oil ports lubricated annually. These ports are typically covered with caps made of metal or rubber. Choose an oil graded SAE 20, it is non-detergent and lightweight. Place about 10 drops into each of the ports, taking care that it does not overfill.

It is a good idea to swap out single pane windows for double pane ones. This will also works during the cold months to keep the warm air inside.

During this service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple things will boost the performance of your system.

Put your outdoor unit in places with shade. 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.

Never allow your home to get dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners really can only cool down 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time period. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, it will only cool off to about 80F. This won’t be a safe and comfortable temperature for you to sleep in.

Research and check the reputation of companies that you consider using. Check with the best one for your situation. These steps will help make a better decision.

During cold weather , be sure to turn off outdoor condenser units. If you get into temperatures that are less than 60 degrees you need the unit to be shut off so it doesn’t get damaged. This will help keep it in good condition for many years.

Companies with proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. Hiring a new contractor means taking a considerable risk.

There are plenty of sites these days that let customers talk about their experiences with contractors. This will be an excellent way to locate people that you wish to work with and those that you don’t.

A programmable thermostat can help you save money on your air conditioning bill. A thermostat that’s programmable is going to save you around ten percent on the heating and cooling costs you have to pay when you turn it back about fifteen percent for a part of the day. Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled from a PC or other device.

Think about getting a radiant barrier installed in your attic so support the efficient functioning of your HVAC system. It will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. You could even find that you can use the attic space if it is done right.

Check the ducts to find any leaks if your unit seems to not up to snuff. If you do end up paying, the money spent on finding and repairing the leak will pay for itself.

You can keep energy costs in your home lower by choosing to have professional maintenance done on your HVAC unit. The motor should be checked, the parts oiled and the freon levels inspected. These easy to do things are going to allow your system to run its best.

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

Pick HVAC business that understands the unit and works quickly to solve the problem. The best companies will ensure that their technicians working honestly and on time. The technicians should also know what to do to figure out what’s going wrong with an HVAC unit quickly. After they figure out what is causing the problem, they should be able to get the work done quickly for your sake.

Never let your home reach a dangerously hot temperature. A simple AC unit will usually only cool the home around 20 degrees within a short period of time. If you have your home at above 100 degrees then you can only get it to about 80 or above. Depending on the humidity level, this temperature isn’t considered a safe sleeping temperature for the human body to be able to recover from the summer heat.

Ask a contractor about their experience.You need to know that they have done the type of experience needed to work on your particular system.

Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This simple cover keeps the life of your condenser last longer if it is protected when not in use. Use the fan setting only to avoid putting strain on the unit.

In order to select an HVAC contractor that you can trust, it pays to invest some time researching a few prospective companies and checking their reputations. It is always wise to check their status with the BBB. In addition, check out customer reviews that appear online. Doing all of this will make sure you hire the best company for your HVAC needs.

This tells you the number of BTUs will be used.

These types of units meet very strict efficiency guidelines. These are determined by the United State Environmental Protection Agency. They are called the environment and human health. Taking time to fully research various units may help you save a significant amount of money.

Air conditioners sometimes ice up. Drain lines can also suffer an occasional freeze, and these are sometimes mistaken for plumbing leak issues. Try switching to fan-mode and disabling your compressor to test whether the water is a leak or melting ice. If the issue persists, call in help.

Hvac System

Now that you’re done reading this article, you understand how important it is to have a properly maintained HVAC system. If it isn’t maintained properly, it could break. Hopefully, the tips above will help you remain happy with your HVAC system for years to come.

Check any company you are considering to see how long it has been around. Companies that have been around for longer have a proven track record that you can use to decide if they are worth the time and money. If you choose to hire a new contractor, you may be risking things.