New Year's Heating Repair Phoenix Checklist
Very Important Disclaimer: As a safety note, before going elbows deep into an intense DIY HVAC inspection, be sure to turn off the circuit breakers that power the furnace and air conditioner. Leave both off during your inspection.
What You Can Do Now:
- Buy a high efficiency air filter to save on your energy bill and reduce your carbon footprint.
- Keep AC and heating units free of leaves, pollen, and grass. This will save your unit from deterioration.
- Clear two feet of space around outdoor heating and cooling units.
- Never close more than 20% of a home’s registers to avoid putting unnecessary strain on the heater. More often than not, this causes more work for the heater.
- Keep an eye on the thermostat. Turning it down a few extra degrees in the winter, and up a few degrees in the summer can save energy usage and lower wear and tear on your heating and cooling Phoenix
- Conduct a thermostat inspection. Remove the cover and hunt down dust with a Q-tip to remove dust and dirt that can shorten the thermostat’s life.
Monthly or Seasonal Upkeep:
- Replace or clean your air filter (depending on if it is reusable or not) at least every 90 days. If you have pets, replace/clean it every 30 days.
- In the summer, turn off water to the furnace humidifier.
- In the fall, replace the humidifier filter and turn on water.
- Listen for any squeaks or noises when manually inspecting moving parts. Sometimes the best indication of something wrong is when your heating and cooling Phoenix system sounds abnormal.
- Vacuum the air-conditioning coils if there appears to be any dust or debris buildup.
- Check the furnace flame. It should be a solid blue, not flickering yellow or orange. Irregularities in the color could mean your unit has combustion problems.
Annual Upkeep:
- Replace your carbon monoxide detector battery. This is just as important as replacing your smoke alarm battery.
- Ensure an outdoor AC unit is on firm and level ground. You could even add a pad underneath the unit to keep it level.
- Clear AC condensate drain with a bleach/water mixture to prevent mold and algae buildup.
To schedule your unit’s biannual tune-up, or for more information on how to check your unit, contact your heating repair Phoenix specialists at 602.943.3426 (Phoenix) or 520.292.6858 (Tucson). Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook!
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