Heating and Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips For Do It Yourself Homeowners
Some system maintenance can and should be done by the homeowner, but should you find yourself with no heat or air conditioning, these tips are a good place to start.
These are fairly simple and can get you back up and running quickly and free.
Please Note
While most of these procedures are well within the capabilities of the average homeowner, if you don't feel comfortable performing them, please call us at 732-494-9200 to arrange a service call.
- Set the thermostat properly. Remember, that if you put the thermostat switch in the fan on position, the fan will run continuously. Set thermostat to fan auto, the fan will only run when the thermostat is calling for air conditioning or heating.
- Check that all emergency switches are on. On some systems, the heat and air conditioning share some controls and parts. If you shut off the furnace switch, the air conditioning unit will not work.
- Check that all electrical breakers are on. Sometimes breakers trip and you can't tell. Turn the breaker off then back on. Quite often storms in the summer trip breakers.
- Be sure the furnace doors are securely fastened. Most furnaces have safety switches which shut the unit down if the door is not secure.
- Check your pilot light(s). If your heat isn't turning on and the furnace has a pilot light check to be sure it's lit. While uncommon, these pilots do go out from time to time.
- Change the filter according the manufacturer's recommendation. Dirty, clogged filters can cause numerous problems and will decrease efficiency and increase your utility bills.
- If your air conditioning ices up turn the unit off and set the fan to on position using the controls on your thermostat. Ice should melt in approximately 6 hours. Call us immediately for service.
