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Maintain your
equipment to
prevent future
problems and
unwanted costs.
Keep your
cooling and
heating system
at peak
performance by
having a
contractor do
annual
pre-season
check-ups.
Contractors get
busy once summer
and winter come,
so it's best to
check the
cooling system
in the spring
and the heating
system in the
fall. To
remember, you
might plan the
check-ups around
the time changes
in the spring
and fall.
A
typical
maintenance
check-up should
include the
following.
-
Check
thermostat
settings
to ensure
the cooling
and heating
system keeps
you
comfortable
when you are
home and
saves energy
while you
are away.
-
Tighten all
electrical
connections
and measure
voltage and
current on
motors.
Faulty
electrical
connections
can cause
unsafe
operation of
your system
and reduce
the life of
major
components.
-
Lubricate
all moving
parts.
Parts that
lack
lubrication
cause
friction in
motors and
increases
the amount
of
electricity
you use.
-
Check and
inspect the
condensate
drain
in your
central air
conditioner,
furnace
and/or heat
pump (when
in cooling
mode). A
plugged
drain can
cause water
damage in
the house
and affect
indoor
humidity
levels.
-
Check
controls of
the system
to ensure
proper and
safe
operation.
Check the
starting
cycle of the
equipment to
assure the
system
starts,
operates,
and shuts
off
properly.
Cooling Specific
-
Clean
evaporator
and
condenser
air
conditioning
coils.
Dirty coils
reduce the
system's
ability to
cool your
home and
cause the
system to
run longer,
increasing
energy costs
and reducing
the life of
the
equipment.
-
Check your
central air
conditioner's
refrigerant
level
and adjust
if
necessary.
Too much or
too little
refrigerant
will make
your system
less
efficient
increasing
energy costs
and reducing
the life of
the
equipment.
-
Clean and
adjust
blower
components
to provide
proper
system
airflow for
greater
comfort
levels.
Airflow
problems can
reduce your
system's
efficiency
by up to 15
percent.
Heating Specific
-
Check all
gas (or oil)
connections,
gas
pressure,
burner
combustion
and heat
exchanger.
Improperly
operating
gas (or oil)
connections
are a fire
hazard and
can
contribute
to health
problems. A
dirty burner
or cracked
heat
exchanger
causes
improper
burner
operation.
Either can
cause the
equipment to
operate less
safely and
efficiently.
Actions To Do
Yourself
-
Inspect,
clean, or
change air
filters
once a month
in your
central air
conditioner,
furnace,
and/or heat
pump. Your
contractor
can show you
how to do
this. A
dirty filter
can increase
energy costs
and damage
your
equipment,
leading to
early
failure.
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