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When a home HVAC system develops issues, homeowners often don't know where to begin. To stop such a situation from becoming a real disaster, it pays to spend some time getting familiar with the topic. This article was put together to help homeowners to find the help they have to get.

Before you choose someone to do HVAC work, figure out what they need to do for you. It's hard to get an estimate since they haven't look at your system. They also won't be able to offer you a quote if they don't have a detailed idea of what you want done. Learn this information to start with.

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. Prior to working on or cleaning the unit, be sure to turn off the power. Take away all of the debris as well.

Clean the debris from outside units often. Excess debris can really affect your system's quality. It could overheat and cause a disaster with your unit.

Check to determine if the fan condenser on your HVAC system is equipped with oil ports, and if it is, be sure to lubricate every year. Such ports tend to have coverings made of rubber or metal. Your oil should be an SAE 20. This particular oil is very lightweight and it only requires about 10 drops per port.

Condenser units for the outdoors should be shut off when it starts to get cold outside. If the temperature outside is less than 60ºF, be sure to turn off the unit so that you don't damage it. This will maximize the life of your unit.

It is a good idea to replace single-paned windows with ones that have double panes. Having a double pane window helps limit your need for air conditioning during the summer months. This same effect also keeps warm air in during the winter months.

Regularly having your HVAC system serviced can help keep your heating and cooling bills down. During a maintenance visit, professionals can help by inspecting the system's motor, oil the different moving parts as well as check the system's freon levels. This will help your system run better.

If nobody is home, turn off the AC. The house will only heat up to a certain point. Leaving it on for the entire day means that it is struggling to keep things cool, something that takes lots of energy.

You can get ice in your air conditioner. The drain line also occasionally freezes, which can be misdiagnosed as a plumbing leak. If you see this, try switching your thermostat to just the fan so that it disables the compressor. You can call a HVAC professional, but switching to the fan will make the ice melt.

There are sizing calculators available to determine the proper sized system for your home. 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. You can look online or do other research to get information from HVAC system manufacturers and sellers in order to determine the best unit size for your needs.

You should always review the experience and history of an HVAC specialist before hiring them. Someone that has been in the business for a while probably isn't going to scam you. It is always risky to hire a contractor with little experience.

Ask your friends, relatives, and coworkers about their experiences with HVAC contractors in your area. People that have had quality work done are usually more than willing to share this information. This can also be used to see who you should avoid.

Have you been thinking about buying a new HVAC system? There are some things to consider. Those systems get rated by the area amount they are able to cool and heat effectively. Getting a unit that's a little larger than you need will be better than getting one that's smaller.

To increase the efficiency of your HVAC unit, determine the direction that your home faces. You can help keep your home cool with the strategic placement of trees. The less heat inside the house, the less time that the AC has to work.

You need to check your windows and outside doors to make certain your HVAC runs well. Make sure seals are tight to avoid exterior air seeping in and interior air seeping out. Talk to a professional to determine the best way to do this.

Have you ever lost your HVAC system during the bitter winter or blistering summer months? If you have, then you know what a terrible nightmare this can be. But if they know what's going on, they can quickly fix the situation. The tips you learned here can help you to make a great HVAC choice when the time comes.