Maintenance Tips

Indoor Air Quality Equipment Maintenance

• Follow manufacturer's instructions for changing (or cleaning) air filters in air handlers/furnaces and other home comfort equipment. Some air cleaners require only an annual filter change, while others need more frequent replacement.
• Maintaining proper humidity levels can greatly reduce airborne allergens. Make sure pans and coils of humidification/dehumidification unit are clean and free of debris.
• Regularly clean your return grills to prevent dust and debris from accumulating in ducts and clogging filters.
• Examine ducts around air handler for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might allow air infiltration.
• Make sure air system is balanced to avoid negative air pressure from pulling pollens and allergens into home. Consider using a dedicated ventilation system to introduce filtered outside air to create positive pressure with clean air.

Air Handler Maintenance

• Examine ducts around air handler for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might leak air.
• Replace your air handler filter once a month to reduce airflow restrictions and wasted energy.

Air Conditioner Maintenance/Heat Pump Maintenance

• Clean dust or move objects away from the grates that supply air into each room. Do the same to the large return grate, usually in a hallway, to ensure proper air flow.
• Clear leaves and debris from the system's outdoor condenser unit grille. If the interior unit is dirty, contact your contractor to perform a power wash that will not bend the fins of the grille.
• Examine ducts in attic or crawl space for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might leak air.
• Trim shrubbery to allow at least two feet of clearance from the unit.
• Set the thermostat mode to cooling (and heating for heat pumps) to make sure it's working. Contact the dealer for service if you hear any unusual noises.
• Replace your air handler filter once a month to reduce airflow restrictions and wasted energy.
• Make sure condensate line is clear to allow liquid runoff.
• Set up annual checkup of your system.

Gas Furnace Maintenance

• Confirm that the furnace runs completely through a normal cycle from start-up to shut-down. Look at the thermostat reading to confirm that the system shuts off when reaching the high temperature setpoint. (If otherwise, you have a short cycling problem requiring a service call.)
• Clean dust or move objects away from the grates that supply air into each room and the large return grate, usually in a hallway, to ensure proper air flow.
• Make sure obstacles are cleared away from the furnace and the safety switch on the furnace door.
• Check the vent connections for the exhaust pipe and chimney for rust or gaps.
• Make sure your CO2 monitor is operating properly and that it has fresh batteries.
• Replace furnace filters annually.