Preventative Maintenance Tips
You wouldn’t drive your car 100,000 miles without changing the oil. The same logic holds true for your home comfort system. Regular preventative maintenance is the best way to ensure trouble-free operation and peak performance. Pre-season maintenance is also important. It can help to avoid a system failure in severe hot or cold weather when you need it most.
Well maintained equipment runs more efficiently, so you’ll use less fuel, save on your monthly utility bills and avoid unexpected repair costs. You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing that your equipment is saving you money every time it comes on.
Additionally, if you or a family member suffers from asthma or allergies, regular furnace maintenance including air filter replacement or cleaning is recommended to reduce aggravating dust particles, bacteria and plant spores in your home.
What To Do Indoors
Replace or Clean the indoor unit’s air filter as per instructions:
Old/Dirty filters cause equipment to work harder, resulting in energy waste and possible internal damage. If you have a reusable/washable filter, make sure that it has completely dried prior to reinstalling.
Inspect the blower compartment of your furnace:
Use a vacuum to remove any dirt or dust, which can result in improper performance and low efficiency.
Remove clutter from around the furnace:
Items stored near the furnace are fire hazards. They may also obstruct combustion air supply. This could cause complete combustion and the production of carbon monoxide gas. Your furnace could be located in a closet, attic or basement. Removing clutter applies to your equipment no matter where it is located.
Check the chimney or flue pipe connections for tightness, blockage or loose connections:
Your gas furnace flue pipe must remain tightly connected and free of blockage for the furnace to operate correctly. If repairs are required, contact us to schedule the repairs.
Set the thermostat to “HEAT” and move the temperature setting above room temperature:
Listen for any unusual sounds and call us if you suspect problems.
Keep return registers/grilles clear of obstructions:
The return register/grille must remain free of obstructions such as furniture, lint, dust or pet hair for the system to operate properly.
What To Do Outdoors
Trim brush and shrubbery near outdoor units to prevent airflow obstruction:
It is important to provide unrestricted airflow to the outdoor unit. Leaves, trash or shrubs crowding the air conditioner or heat pump cause the unit to work harder and use more energy. Also remove any debris that may have collected around the unit.
Clean outdoor coil:
The outdoor coil on an air conditioner or heat pump can sometimes become obstructed by grass clippings, leaves, dust, etc. If this happens, using a garden hose, gently run water over the coil, removing unwanted obstructions.
Make sure outdoor unit remains level:
Ground shifting or settling can cause an air conditioner or heat pump to sit in an uneven position. If this happens, re-level the unit to make sure water/moisture drains from the cabinet properly.
