Heating & Cooling Seasonal Maintenance 101

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.

Maintenance Savings Plan

Your home is your largest investment. It’s your place of comfort, security, family, memories, giving and sharing. And a place that’s supposed to function while providing all this. That’s why we created this Maintenance Savings Plan.

Here’s what you can get as a member:

• Discounts: On parts and labor for repairs. You save each time!
• Seasonal Maintenance: Included at no additional charge (when done during scheduled times). Tune-ups save you money.
• Free Reminders: Take this one off your “to do” list. We handle everything to keep you on schedule!
• Increased Equipment Life: The #1 reason for system failure is dirt! Properly maintained equipment lasts longer.
• Lower Utilities: Properly maintained heating and cooling equipment keeps more energy dollars in your pocket.
• Priority Service: You get to “cut in line” ahead of nonmembers, even during our busiest times!
• Bonus Bucks: Get Bonus Bucks every year that you’re a member. Use like cash toward a new system!
• Peace of Mind: Your system is safety-checked, it’s saving you money, and it’s working correctly. If it’s not, you know who to call!
• Satisfaction Guarantee: This agreement can be canceled at any time for any reason, or for no reason, with the unused portion of your dues refunded.

Seasonal Maintenance Includes:

• Cooling Maintenance

Condenser Coil will be cleaned as required.
Blower Wheels inspected and cleaned as necessary.
Cooling performance verified.
Air Filter and other indoor air quality accessories evaluated
Belts and pulleys will be inspected and adjusted as required.
Motors and Bearings lubricated.
Motors inspected
Thermostat will be checked and calibrated as required.
Controls & Safeties will be inspected and tested.
Capacitors will be tested.
Condensate Drain will be checked to assure it is open.
Relays and Contactors will be inspected.
Unit Disconnect will be inspected.
Unit Wiring will be inspected and loose connections tightened.

• Heating Maintenance

Heat Exchanger will be inspected for cracks and deterioration.
Air Filter and other indoor air quality accessories evaluated.
Burners cleaned.
Thermocouple inspected.
 Fan Switch will be checked and adjusted as needed.
Safety Controls will be operationally checked.
Gas line will be leak checked from the furnace shut off valve to the burners.
Flue Pipe inspected.
Combustion Air openings checked.
Blower Wheel will be cleaned and motor lubricated as required.
Secure all panels.
Thermostat checked and calibrated as required.