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10-Point Checklist For Fall Furnace Maintenance

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As heating season approaches the Indianapolis area, it’s time to get out your fall maintenance checklist. High on your list should be a comprehensive furnace tune up. Annual furnace maintenance by a qualified HVAC professional will save you money on energy costs and extend the life of your system, as well as help keep you warmer and your family safer this heating season. Here are 10 important maintenance tasks your HVAC professional will perform:
• Check and tighten electrical and gas connections to ensure your system operates safely.
• Check operational pressures.
• Clean condenser coils.
• Measure the current and voltage on the motor.
• Check safety switches.
• Clean and lubricate all moving parts to reduce friction.
• Check your thermostat for accuracy and proper operation.
• Check and clean blower assembly.
• Clean condensate drain lines.
• Check and replace the air filter.
In addition to a professional tune up, there are some things you can do this winter to help keep your system running smoothly and safely:
• Stock up on furnace filters and change your filter monthly to ensure proper airflow and extend the life of your furnace.
• Keep the area around your furnace clean and accessible in case of an emergency.
• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and test them to make sure they’re working properly.
• Keep the emergency number of your gas company posted on your furnace and call immediately if you smell gas around your unit.
• Know where your emergency gas shutoff valve is, and make sure it’s easily accessible.
Taking steps to maintain your furnace will help prevent carbon monoxide leaks, prevent breakdowns and save you the cost of replacing the unit.
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Is Your HVAC Ready For Winter?

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Again, winter is on its way – and getting ready sooner rather than later is always a good idea. In fact, the change of seasons is a perennial trigger for doing things that should be done on a regular basis any way to help maintain the value of the investment you make in your home. For example, is your heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system ready for the cold weather that’s surely on the way?

Among the things to do to get ready: replace or clean all the filters in your HVAC system (this really should be done monthly). Dirty filters aren’t all that effective and they restrict free flow.

Adjust the registers on your HVAC system, recognizing that hot air rises and cool air falls; open some supply registers on the first floor and close some on the second floor. Also adjust your thermostat and humidistat for winter, and maybe even change the times of day for different temperatures if you have that option. (Don’t ever set your thermostat temperature higher than you really want just to heat up space faster on occasion; that just doesn’t happen and your furnace will simply pump out excess heat.)

Ideally, your HVAC system should be checked twice a year by professionals to ensure efficient, reliable and safe operation. They can check filters; inspect working parts such as belts, motors, and electrical switches and contacts; make sure that thermostats and humidistats are set and working properly; check gas pressures and replace or add refrigerants in accordance with EPA guidelines.
So take advantage of a routine maintenance agreement we offer to be sure that your seasonal checkups are done on schedule.

Tips on maintaining your air conditioner

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ac unitIt’s almost time to get those air conditioners tuned up and ready. The hot summer months are right around the corner.

Heating and cooling a home adds up to nearly half of a homeowner’s annual energy bill – about $1,000 a year.

Here are four A/C operating tips that will help you keep your air conditioner working efficiently and cost effectively through this summer and many more to come.

 

  1. Keep it maintained: Have your system tuned up by an HVAC-system professional at the start of each cooling season. He will change the filter, but check it regularly as the cooling season      progresses. As soon as it looks dirty, change it, as a dirty filter impedes airflow and makes your air conditioner work too hard. (If you did not have a tune-up this spring, it’s not too late!)
  2. Provide enough clearance: Your air conditioner’s condenser needs plenty of  airflow to run well. Make sure it has at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides. It should also have 5 feet of open space above it. Trim trees, grass and other vegetation away from the unit.
  3. Reduce sources of indoor heat: Close the drapes to keep out sunshine that raises your indoor temperature. Pay particular attention to windows facing south or west, as they get the most sunlight.
  4. Use your A/C and appliances wisely: Keep your thermostat set as close to 78  or 80 as possible. Each degree you raise your thermostat could lower your cooling bills by as much as 5 percent. Use your ceiling and space fans to keep the air circulating