Before contacting a repair service, do a short tour of the entire home. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. Figuring this out will the contractor to diagnose the issues and quickly get to work on fixing it.
When seeking a new contractor, ask loved ones for referrals. They'll often have already had someone in for similar work and will know who to trust and who to avoid. If your family hasn't used anyone, ask co-workers or other people you trust in your community for some references.
If the fan condenser on your unit has ports for oil, make sure you lubricate it once a year. The port usually has either a rubber or metal cap on top of it. Look for an oil that is lightweight and then put about 10 drops inside the port. You don't want to put in too much.
Air Compressor
Put outdoor condensers in the shade. This will help ensure that the AC is pulling in cooler air, reducing the amount of work it has to do and saving you money.
Ask for references and be sure to call them as well. You are dealing with a high ticket item here, so you'll want to do your due diligence to make sure you are getting the best for your money. Ask for references, but don't stop there. Call each reference to check. A lot of people don't take that important last step.
If you are a homeowner, or if you can get permission from your landlord, install double-paned windows in place of any single panes in your home. Double pane windows can minimize the use of your air conditioner in hot weather since they keep the indoor air cooler. When it is cold in the winter months, these same windows will keep the warm air inside as well.
If you want to pay for less power use, consider installing an HVAC-specific solar panel system. Such an installation harnesses the power of the sun directly for your heating and air conditioning. Don't worry though; you can have a switch put in that automatically connects to the power grid the days there isn't enough sun.
Manage the heat flow into your home with window coverings to help out your HVAC system. In the warmer months, use drapes, curtains and blinds to block out sunward facing windows to keep heat from building up through the greenhouse effect. Alternatively, make sure that sunlit windows are letting light and warmth in during the colder months.
Keep your condensers free of nearby obstructions. Keep plants, fencing, even bushes back and away from the unit. Two feet is a good minimum distance it should have from anything, including walls, but the more space you give it to breathe, the better it will work and the less likely it will be to fail.
HVAC won't be too hard for you to understand now that you have some great tips in your mind about it. The key is to put this all to good use so that it can work out well for you in the long run. Hopefully you learned what you needed to know above!