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Maintaining your home's HVAC system is a major part of home ownership. It is important that you have a good professional to work on the unit when necessary and that you understand a bit about how to maintain the unit. The information shared here can help.

Check out the system that you have before you call a professional. Write down the make, model, and any maintenance history. The contractor will likely need all of this information.

Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. They won't be able to offer you a quote if they haven't seen your system. If you do not know what you want, the process can become tedious, especially over the phone. So be aware of this information ahead of time.

Clean your fan and coils when the weather begins to warm. Always shut off all power to your unit for any work beyond superficial cleaning. Keep the exterior of the condenser unit free of debris.

Clean your outdoor condensers often. Leaves and debris can accumulate quickly, particularly following storms, and that can cause problems for your system. It can cause your system to malfunction by overheating.

If you have a fan condenser with oil ports, it needs to be lubricated every year. Most of these ports have some sort of protective cap covering them. You should select an SAE 20 oil since it is lightweight and does not contain detergent. Be sure to use just 10 drops or so, or your system may overfill.

Be sure you have the HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. The normally recommended time for HVAC system inspections is once before the peak cooling season when it gets hot and you'll be using your AC, and once before the peak heating season, during the cold months when you're likely to be using your heat. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.

Turn off any outdoor condensers you have when the weather gets cold. When the temperature goes below 60 degrees, shut off the unit in order to prevent damage. This helps your system remain in good working order.

Install a thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. 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. Additionally, some models of programmable thermostats actually allow you to control them remotely from your office computer or cell phone.

You can keep energy costs in your home lower by choosing to have professional maintenance done on your HVAC unit. During your service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit's motor, oil the unit's moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. This will help keep your system performing at maximum efficiency.

If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. When it's off the house will get hot, but only by a certain amount. If will be constantly fighting the heat and using lots of electricity if it is left on all day.

Shop around before hiring an HVAC contractor. The BBB is always great when you are looking for references or online reviews. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.

Air conditioners tend to ice up at times. In addition, the drain line sometimes freezes, and people often think that there is a plumbing leak. Change your thermostat in situations like this. Talk to a professional if you are unsure of how to do this.

Ask friends and family for contractor recommendations. Someone who has used a contractor in the past is generally willing to let you know what they thought about it. This will prevent you from getting scammed.

Use online reviews to help you find a source for HVAC maintenance. There are quite a few sites now that allow customers to share their experiences with different services. This will tell you who is great and who isn't.

Be sure to test for leaks in the ducts if your system seems inefficient. You can call a utility company in your area to help you with testing, and that doesn't cost much or nothing at all usually. When you get leaks repaired, you may see that the testing pays for itself.

Make sure your windows and doors are efficient. They have to have a tight seal, stopping air from going in or out. Call a professional to come over to check how good you home is sealed up.

There aren't many things that make a home more comfortable than a functioning HVAC system. It can be pretty frustrated when this system breaks down. These suggestions should help you to keep your system running well.