It can be difficult for many homeowners to know where to turn when their heating or cooling system begins to fail. To keep yourself from having a problem with this, you really should spend your time to learn what you can on this subject. The following information will help anyone make the right choices for their system.

Before making that repair phone call, make sure you know the specifics about your particular system. Write down the brand and the model and have all maintenance records on hand. That way you can provide the contractor with all the necessary information.

If your HVAC system us giving you issues, take a look around the house prior to calling a contractor. Figure out which rooms are hot and cold. The contractor can probably figure out and fix the problem easier.

What do you need done? Know this before calling a contractor. A contractor will not be able to give you an accurate price without accurate information about your system. It can be harder if you don’t know what’s wrong. So, you should know this beforehand.

Clean the coils and blades in your condenser at the beginning of summer. If you are doing more than a light surface cleaning, make sure that the power is shut off to the HVAC unit. Clean the outdoor condenser as well.

Clean the debris off your outdoor condenser unit. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, like right after it’s windy or rains, and that can ruin your system. Overheating can occur, which often spells disaster for your system.

When you are choosing a location for the outdoor compressor unit, it’s preferable to use a shaded area. The cooler the air which goes in, the less work the unit will have to do.

Put outdoor condensers in the shade. You save money this way because the air conditioner is now pulling in cooler air, which is easier to cool further.

Be sure you have the HVAC unit in your home checked about two times every year. Ideally, you should have it looked at in the spring and fall so you know everything is set for the hot and cold months. Even if you don’t notice anything wrong, you can check it out to figure out what the potential issues are.

Turn off your outdoor condenser when it becomes cold out. If it’s less than 60 degrees outside, turn the unit off. This can ensure your unit is working well throughout the years without the cost of repairs.

Make sure to have your unit serviced once a year. 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 keep you energy efficient and comfortable.

Experiencing serious problems with your HVAC during the dead of winter or heat of summer can spell big trouble. However, if they were prepared for something like that happening, it won’t be so bad. Use these suggestions to increase the performance of your unit.