Although we’d love to see you, we’re sure you’d rather not see us! Here are some tips and hints to keep your system running at peak performance:
Repair or Replace?
When it comes to thinking about the best way to create the most comfortable environment, let us give you a few questions to ask about your heating and air conditioning system...
Think about your home and your comfort needs:
- Do your utility bills seem too high?
- Are any of your current HVAC system units too noisy?
- Do you have a problem with humidity in the summer or dry air in the winter?
- Are there rooms that are always too hot or too cold?
- Do you have pets?
- Do any family members suffer from allergies?
- Do cooking odors linger?
- Is your current system still covered by a warranty?
- Do you want more control over managing energy costs?
- Do you want a unit that is backyard-safe?
- Do you want a system that's easy to maintain? Maybe a filter that's easy to replace?
- Is your current outdoor unit unattractive?
- Is your current furnace’s short cycle constantly turning on and off?
Maintenance
You wouldn’t drive your car 10,000 miles without an oil change or go years without seeing a dentist. Just like anything we depend on to provide us with a long standing service, our HVAC systems need some TLC every now and then—especially with harsh seasonal use. While it’s best to have most home HVAC maintenance done by a professional, there are a few things you can do at home to ensure your HVAC system is working reliably and efficiently so there won’t be issues when you need it most.
HVAC preventative maintenance
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and when it comes to HVAC units, this couldn’t be truer. Taking care of problems that may arise before they happen is going to save you big in the long run, not only on parts and labor, but also on your energy bill. Be sure to check your HVAC system twice a year—in the spring and in the fall—and right before the respected seasons where you would use either heating and cooling to make sure you’re not left out in the cold or suffer the heat.
Additionally, use this home HVAC maintenance checklist to ensure things are going to run smoothly:
- Inspect the outdoor unit to be sure it's free of debris.
- Check for the proper level of refrigerant. If you're not sure how to do this, just call us (click to call) and we'll come to your house and perform any necessary maintenance to your entire system.
- Clean or replace the air filter.
- Check the airflow to ensure there is no blockage.
- Clean air vents.
At-Home Maintenance for your Air Conditioner
If you follow the instructions outlined in your owner’s manual, central air conditioning maintenance can help your system work smarter, more efficiently, and longer. While most issues should be left to professionals like Climate Makers, there are few things you can do on a regular basis to keep your A/C system running smoothly.
At-home air conditioner maintenance and cleaning
Cleaning the unit itself is very important when it comes to A/C system maintenance. Changing seasons and stormy weather can take a toll on your system. Ensuring the unit is free of debris will help keep pesky twigs, leaves and various other yard wastes from getting into your system and potentially causing damage.
Air conditioner preventative maintenance
Here are a few other central air conditioner maintenance tips and tricks that can be completed by you or a professional air conditioner servicing technician:
- Changing the filter and vents monthly is quick and easy. Be sure to check with us to get the right products for your system, as well as add-on components such as an air purifier.
- Cleaning the evaporator can be easy to do if your furnace's plenum has foil-wrapped insulation in the front. If so, simply remove the insulation and clean the inside of the evaporator with a stiff brush. Be sure you clean the tray below the evaporator unit below to get rid of the rest of the mess left from the condensation. You might also consider cleaning the evaporator with bleach to eliminate fungus or as part of air conditioner preventative maintenance.
- Cleaning the air conditioner coils with a garden hose also helps keeps your system running smoothly. To do this, make sure the unit is disconnected, then use gloves and safety goggles to spray the coils with a commercial-grade cleaner, and then hose off with water.
Central air conditioning professional maintenance
While a few simple preventative measures can help your HVAC system run efficiently, you should always consult with Climate Makers before performing any at-home A/C system maintenance. For serious issues, we can visit your home to perform a diagnostic check, or answer your questions over the phone.
Symptom Checker
System isn’t working? No matter what the problem, we’re here to help. Before you call for service, try these simple tips for trouble shooting air conditioners.
Is it getting power?
- Check your fuses or circuit breakers to make sure they don't need to be present
- Remember, if your home's power is out or disconnected, your system may not work
Is the thermostat set correctly?
- Make sure your thermostat has power
- Check that your thermostat is set to cooling or heating mode and not set to "off"
- Make sure the thermostat is set to the right setting and temperature
No Heat / Insufficient Heat
Do you have a new or newly remodeled home? Was any work done on your fuel or electricity lines recently? Check to see if your gas or electricity has been turned off. If this is the case, having it turned back on may solve the problem.
- Check to see if your thermostat is on, and what temperature it's set at. If your thermostat is turned off or set incorrectly, turn on and/or reset thermostat.
- Check your home's circuits and fuse box. If you have an open circuit breaker or burned-out fuse, switch on the circuit or replace the fuse.
- Remove any snow drifts resting against your outdoor unit.
No cooling / insufficient cooling
- Check the doors and windows in your home. Close any open doors or windows as cool air may be escaping through them.
- Check to see if your thermostat is on, and what temperature it's set at. If your thermostat is turned off or set incorrectly, turn it on and/or reset thermostat.
- Check your home's circuits and fuse box. If you have an open circuit breaker or burned-out fuse, switch on the circuit or replace the fuse.
No airflow
- Check around your outdoor unit. If there are any leaves, hedges or property walls butting up against it, your system may have frozen up due to a dirty coil. Make sure your outdoor unit has 1' of clearance all around it.
- Check the filters in each of your system components (where applicable). If any of your filters are dirty, consult your manual to clean or replace it. Or call us to do this for you.
- Check to see if there is any air coming through your vent. Your indoor blower may not be operating. If this is the case, you should contact Climate Makers.
Stale and stuffy air
- If you have a whole-home air cleaner or air exchanger, make sure it is switched on and its filter is clean.
Too dry or too much moisture in the air
- Check to make sure your humidifier is switched on. Many times, homeowners turn off the humidifier at the end of the previous heating season and forget to turn it back on when needed.
- Make sure your humidifier’s damper or water valve is open. If it’s closed, consult your manual to open or unclog.
- Check your humidifier setting and adjust the indoor relative humidity settings to bring greater comfort to your home.
Noisy air vents
- A high pitched sound often, although not always, indicates a lack of return air. Make sure your return and supply vents are open and free of any blockages including furniture.
- Other noises (e.g., rattling, humming, thumping or scraping sounds) could be a sign of undersized or flimsy duct work, clogged filter or wear and tear on your system’s internal components. If you hear an unusual sound, call Climate Makers for service.
Indoor Air Quality
We all like our homes to be clean and clutter free. But what about the air we breathe inside of our homes? We want that to be clean, too. It’s been shown that many times the air we breathe in our home is just as contaminated with toxins, including dust mites, pollen, mold and other unwanted air pollutants, as the air outdoors. And because indoor air quality is now one of the EPA’s top five environmental risks to public health, it’s more important than ever before to ensure the air we breathe indoors and outdoors is safe and healthy.
How You Can Improve Indoor Air Quality
There are plenty of ways to improve indoor air quality. Remember, determining what’s right for you and your family is important as not everyone’s home has the same needs. Below are a few suggestions to get you thinking about how to improve air quality in your home:
- Increased ventilation – Opening up the windows is a great first step in improving the air quality of your home. During the winter, we often keep all of our windows closed for months on end, but it’s important to remember that while it is cold outside, it’s also important to get the air in our homes circulating. Consider opening up your windows for a couple of minutes a few times a week—while it may drop the temperature in your house, the fresh air will do wonders for the quality of the air in your home. A more energy efficient way to get fresh air into the home is to install a whole-home air ventilator. Ventilators work with your HVAC system and can save energy by retaining the heat of stale air before it is moved out of the house.
- Air cleaning – Whether it’s common air pollutants, seasonal allergies or dander from our furry friends, air cleaners can dramatically improve the quality of the air in our homes. American Standard’s air cleaners feature filters that are up to 15 times more effective than a standard throw away filter. Plus, because air cleaners work with your HVAC system and not just in one particular room, you can be sure that the air you breathe upstairs is the same as the air you breathe downstairs.
- Upgrade old appliances – Sometimes the appliances we use can significantly alter the quality of air in our homes. Be sure you’re using energy-efficient appliances and means of heat so that you’re not breathing in unwanted pollutants. Upgrading means you’ll be helping to save the environment and energy costs.
How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home
American Standard has a variety of air quality add-on components and products, including air cleaners and air purifiers to help you keep your home cool, comfortable and clean. Climate Makers can help you keep the air you breathe clean, as well as keep everyone in your family comfortable with ways to improve indoor air quality.