Preventative Maintinence Tips - Gillette Air Conditioning Co.

• Mar 01, 2018
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Gillette wants you to save money on your central air and heat. Not throw it away!

Why should I perform preventative maintenance?
Heating and cooling systems work incredibly hard to perform their functions for your household. The constant stopping, starting and continual operation can wear down a machine quickly and unexpectedly if the proper care and maintenance is delayed. However, by performing preventative maintenance, or servicing your system regularly, you can maximize the lifecycle of your heating or cooling unit and guard against many unexpected failures

Preventative maintenance inspections performed on a regular basis can uncover leaks, rust, rot, soot, frayed wires and corroded electrical contacts.

What equipment requires preventative maintenance?
It is best to check your residential air conditioner and overall heating systems at least twice a year. Annual Service Agreements are available and will provide greater efficiency to the heart of your home.

Inspections on boiler and furnace systems should include ductwork, pipes, dampers, valves, the chimney, registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines, the gas meter, oil tank and every part of the actual furnace and boiler. Meanwhile, heat pump and air conditioning unit inspections should also include inspections of the fan, compressor, indoor coils, outdoor coils and refrigerant lines.

What is a low blow?
When servicing the distribution side of a forced-air system, you begin with the blower. In this phase, the axle will be lubricated, blades cleaned and the lower motor checked to ensure that your system is not being unnecessarily burdened. During a low blow, the fan belt should be adjusted to deflect no more than one inch when pressed and all accessible duct joints should be sealed. Ducts running outside heated spaces should all be insulated.

What type of filter should I use?
Standard furnace filters work well to keep your system and its ductwork clean, but they don’t really improve indoor air quality. To do that you need a filter media. The filter media rests between the main return duct and the blower cabinet and will improve dust and particle removal by seven times that of a standard furnace filter. However, upgrading to a pleated media filter will remove everything from insecticide dust to airborne viruses from the filtered air. A media filter can have a life exceeding one year, and its only drawback is that its tight fiber weave can cause your furnace to have to work harder to blow air through the house. Always choose a filter that matches your blower’s capacity.

What are the preventative maintenance measures for my ducts?
Although modern technology has made significant advances in air filters over the past decade, a fractional amount of dust still finds its way past heating and cooling filters and into your home ducts. As this dust accumulates throughout your home, it creates the perfect environment for the growth of mold, mites and harmful bacteria. To check your ducts for dust buildup, pull off several supply and return registers and see how much dust has accumulated in the system. If you choose to clean your system, your best option is to contact a professional duct cleaner. Although duct cleaning has little effect on the actual air quality, it will eliminate a house-wide breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold in addition to helping your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently. If you are installing a new system, you should consider cleaning the ducts at the same time. New systems are often more powerful than old systems and can stir up dust that is sitting in the existing ductwork.

What is the most efficient way to run my heating and cooling system?
Here are several tips to help you keep your system running at its most efficient level:

• Keep your thermostat at a constant temperature; the recommended temperature is 78 degrees, even when no one is home.
• Change your filters every month.
• Check the outside condensing unit regularly
• Look for any grass clippings or leaves stuck to the coil.
• If it is dirty – disconnect the power at the circuit breaker FIRST!
• Use a shop-vac with a brush attachment to vacuum off the debris.
• Run water from a garden hose through the coil until the water passing through it is clear.
• Turn the power back on.

If you are unable to do some of these things then it would be advised to call Gillette Air Conditioning Co., Inc., your trusted local service company. Gillette has serviced many friends and neighbors, providing referrals and the quality service team to fit your needs. Call Gillette Air Conditioning Co., Inc. at 210/735-9235 today!