Suggestion how to prevent or lessen the

number of service calls

To reach maximum efficiency, and service life from your heating/cooling system, there are a few things that the owner/tenant should be taken care of on a regular basis. .

Filters are the most commonly neglected item in most systems, and plugged filters cause more problems than any other item. They can be responsible for high heating and cooling bills, poor or even no air circulation, and can drastically shorten the life expectancy of the equipment. Filters should be changed when they are about half blocked. Systems for heating only, for residences should have the filters changed or cleaned at least twice each season. Central systems with air conditioning or heat-pump systems are in use year round, and the filters should be changed/cleaned monthly. Failure to maintain the filters in these systems will result in a major service charge to clean a plugged indoor coil. If you live in a particularly dirty area such as near a farm or industrial area you may have to change them more often. For commercial buildings a minimum of four times per year is recommended. Restaurants and industrial buildings may need more frequent service. Electronic air cleaners should be cleaned at least monthly according to the manufacturers directions. .

Read your owners manual for care of the various motors found in your equipment. Some motors are "permanently lubricated" and need no service prior to replacement. Others will specify the interval between oiling or greasing the motor and failure to do so will mean the difference between possibly as little as six months and as high as thirty years for the life expectancy. Drive belts in residential usage should be inspected annually for wear and cracking, and if worn should be replaced. The drive pulley on the motor should be inspected and if found to no longer have flat surfaces to contact the belt, it too should be replaced. Drive belts on commercial equipment should be inspected shortly after startup of the equipment or replacement of the belts to retighten the belts and every six months minimum. Motor drive pulleys in commercial usage will wear much faster than on home equipment and may need replacement every few years. Belts should be of appropriate construction for the drive horsepower, and "X" type cogged belts are recommended. .

Most modern gas furnaces are designed for use with a minimum of care, filters being the number one item needing to be checked. Most have pre-lubed motors and other than keeping the area around the burners free of dirt, will need no owner work until repairs are necessary. Heat exchanger should be inspected during other needed repairs, and periodically on older equipment. If cracks are found at any time, the heat exchanger will have to be replaced if available or the furnace will need to be replaced.

During the cooling season, your furnace is responsible for moving the chilled air throughout your home so do not forget to maintain the furnace filters. Central air conditioning should have the refrigerant charge checked at the beginning of the cooling season. If the system is low on refrigerant, not only will you have reduced cooling capacity, but you may have the indoor coil freeze solid costing you money for no cooling, and also fail to cool the compressor in the outdoor unit. Out of warranty replacement of a compressor is a sizable investment. .

Heatpumps ideally should have their refrigerant charge checked in the early fall, as the charge is more critical during the heating season and if low will cause excessive icing of the outdoor coil, failure to defrost and increased heating costs from lower efficiency and increased usage of auxiliary heat strips.