Heating and Cooling System Maintenance

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:27:29 +0000

Air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps also known as HVAC, help regulate the temperature in your home and make it more comfortable. To ensure that your heating and cooling systems remain effective and efficient, regular maintenance is needed. Preventative checkups may also prolong the life of your systems. Maintenance requirements vary depending on the type of system, so it is best to consult your owner s manual.

General suggested maintenance includes:

Inspecting air filters monthly during seasons of peak use and replacing or cleaning dirty filters.
Checking for disconnected or crushed ductwork. Disconnected ducts can result in heated/cooled air being distributed outside or in areas of the house where it is not needed. Crushed ducts restrict airflow and reduce system efficiency.
Sealing duct leaks and insulating ducts to reduce energy loss.
Clearing away weeds and debris around outside air-conditioning or heat pump units. Air should circulate freely around the unit.
Hiring a professional heating and air-conditioning technician to inspect your home’s heating and cooling systems for proper functioning prior to the season of use (that is, air-conditioning should be inspected in the spring, and furnace should be checked in the fall).

Choosing a new heating or cooling system can be daunting. However, by doing your homework and talking to licensed heating and cooling professionals, upgrading cooling and heating systems can make your home more comfortable and reduce energy costs.

Tips to remember when purchasing a new system:

If your heating or cooling system is 15 years or older, purchasing new equipment may be more energy-efficient and save money over the long run.
The type of system you choose will depend on the local climate, size of the home, the amount of home insulation, and the heating/cooling usage patterns.
Look for systems that carry the ENERGY STAR label.
Air-conditioning units are rated by their seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER). The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. A unit is considered high efficiency when its SEER ratio is 13 or greater.
Furnaces are rated by annual fuel-utilization efficiency (AFUE). High-efficiency units have AFUE ratings above 90 percent.
If choosing an air-source heat pump, which combines cooling and heating, look for one with a SEER of 13 or greater and a heating season performance factor (HSPF) of 7 or greater.

Need someone to check out your HVAC unit? The Ultimate Handyman can help! We do repairs and maintenance on your exisitng HVAC units and we also do new installations. Just give us a call at (323) 651-0635 or email us.

You can also check us out on the web at:

www.ultimate-handyman.com

Spring Maintenance Tips for Your Home

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:19:32 +0000

Spring tips

Replace your furnace filter
Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
Check your electrical system
Always have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible.
Make sure the light bulbs in all your fixtures are the correct wattage
Review your fire escape plan with your family
Consider installing a lightning protection system on your home
Protect all your electrical appliances from power surges and lightning
Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer
Check for damage to your roof
Run through a severe-weather drill with your family
Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface
Protect your home from sewer or drain back-up losses
Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration
Check your water heater
Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function
Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer
Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged
Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Replace or clean your furnace filter.

It should be checked once a month and replaced or cleaned as needed. Some filters are reusable and are supposed to be taken out, washed with a hose and re-inserted. A dirty filter can lower the efficiency of the heating/cooling system, increase heating costs and cause fires.

Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.

Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help keep a stovetop fire from spreading.

Check your electrical system.

Look for burn marks at the main electrical panel; they can be a sign of arcing inside the panel, which can easily lead to a fire. Loose connections or damaged insulation can cause the arcing. Note: Only a qualified electrician should remove the front panel cover.
Trip and reset the circuit breakers regularly.
Remove any combustible materials such as paper boxes or flammable liquids from the area near the main electrical panel. Sparks caused by arcing inside the panel can ignite material stored nearby.
Check all electrical outlets for loose-fitting plugs they are an indication of a worn out receptacle. Worn receptacles should be replaced as they cause overheating and fires. Also check electrical outlets and switches to be sure they work properly. If any switches, outlets or receptacles do not work, have a qualified electrician determine the problem and fix it to avoid fires inside the walls of your home.
Install safety covers to help protect children from electrical shock. Any appliance or tool that gives even the slightest shock should be unplugged and checked by an electrician or repair shop.

Always have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible.

Make sure it is Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed or Factory Mutual (FM) approved. Check the gauges to make sure they are charged and ready to use.

Make sure the light bulbs in all your fixtures are the correct wattage

The light fixture manufacturer recommends the correct wattage. If too high a wattage bulb is used in a light fixture, heat produced inside the fixture can lead to fire inside the fixture, ceiling or wall.

Consider installing a lightning protection system on your home.

Protect all your electrical appliances from power surges and lightning.

Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer.

Maintenance should include:

Cleaning the evaporator coil
Lubricating fans and motors
Tightening or changing the belts
Checking electrical safeties
Checking the drain pan for leaks
Testing the capacitors
Check the condensate drain
Test the crankcase heater
Calibrating the thermostat
Visually checking the wiring for potential short circuits

These steps can help decrease the chance of fire, save money by making the system run more efficiently and help prevent breakdowns.

Things you can maintain:

Check the condensate hose to be sure it is not blocked with algae.
Clean the outside condensing unit screen of leaves.
Listen for unusual noises.

Check for damage to your roof

Signs include missing, curling, cupping, broken or cracked shingles. Pooling or ponds of water that fail to drain from flat roofs may indicate low areas and inadequate drainage.

Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface.

This will help prevent guests and family members from slipping, tripping or falling.

Protect your home from sewer or drain back-up losses

Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration.

These areas can become weathered and worn and may lead to potential water damage.

Check your water heater.

If you have a gas-fired water heater, check to make sure it is venting properly. Light a match next to the vent and wave it out (don’t blow it out). See if the smoke is pulled up into the vent. If it isn’t, have a professional inspect and repair it. Otherwise, carbon monoxide and other combustibles can build up in the home.
Check around the base of your water heater for evidence of leaks. If your water heater is over 5 years old, it should be checked monthly for any leakage or rusting at the bottom. If water leakage or rust is found, the water heater should be replaced.

Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function.

Know the location of all valves and what equipment and water lines they serve. Teach all family members.

Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer.

Poor maintenance allows lint to build up in the exhaust duct and cause fire.

Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged.

Exposed wires may cause arcing, which will produce heat and can start a fire. Care should also be taken to keep appliances and their power cords away from water or a heat source because this will damage the cord’s insulation.

Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Need some help with Spring Maintenance? The Ultimate Handyman can help! Just give is a call at (323) 651-0635

email us!

Check us out on the web at: www.ultimate-handyman.com

The Ultimate Handyman » Maintenance Tips