Self Maintenance

With the proper maintenance and care, your equipment will operate economically and dependably. There are a few simple, routine maintenance operations you can do to help ensure the best performance and comfort from your system.Before you perform any kind of maintenance, consider these important safety precautions.

Disconnect all electrical power to the unit before removing access panels to perform maintenance. Please note that there may be more than one power connection switch.

Although special care is taken to prevent sharp edges in the construction of our equipment, it’s best to be very careful when you handle parts or reach into units.

Check the air filter in your furnace or fan coil every 3 to 4 weeks. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. Replace your filter when necessary, or clean it if you have the reusable type. (If you have a reusable filter, make sure it’s completely dry before you re-install it.) The prefilter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should be cleaned at least two or three times per year. Keep your outdoor condensing unit free of debris.

If you keep grass clippings, leaves, shrubbery and debris away from your outdoor unit, it should only require minimal care to operate properly.If the outdoor coil becomes dirty, use a brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to clean the surface or call us for service.

Make sure your outdoor unit stays in a level position. If the support for your split-system outdoor unit shifts or settles and the unit is no longer level, re-level it promptly to make sure moisture drains properly out of the unit.

If you notice that water or ice collects beneath the unit, arrange for it to be drained away from the equipment.Inspect your furnace’s combustion area and vent system before each heating season.

If you find dirt, soot or rust, your system may not operate properly or at its peak efficiency. Contact us and do not operate your furnace until it is professionally inspected and/or repaired.Have oil-fired boilers inspected annually.

Contact us before each heating season to replace your oil filter cartridge and conduct a thorough inspection of the unit’s operation.

Clean your humidifier at the beginning of every heating season. Review your owner’s manual for the proper procedure to clean the external and internal components of your unit. The evaporator pad should also be replaced before each heating season. If the water in your area is hard or has high mineral content, you may need to clean or service your humidifier more frequently.

(Source: ) Learn more about heating and air conditioning terminology with our handy glossary.