Basic central AC system care
Basic tips for maintaining your central system
• Change disposable filters monthly. Space-Gard/Aprilaire or similar high filtration filter systems should be changed one to three times a year.
• To help keep your drain line clear and draining properly, once a month during the cooling season, pour a cup of an algaecide (bleech) into the PVC access tee located at the front of your indoor cooling coil.
• Keep grass, weeds and bushes cleared or trimmed around the outdoor condensing unit.
• Turn off the system when mowing or trimming around the outdoor condensing unit.
• Once a month keep a pesticide good for killing ants and spiders sprayed or powdered around the outdoor condensing unit’s concrete slab.
• Make sure that every supply air grille is open in all rooms. Closing grilles in some rooms will not save you any money and can cause harm to the compressor during cooling.
• Try to avoid large temperature swings in the house. Once you set the thermostat leave it alone as much as possible. Do not turn the unit off when you leave the house, instead adjust it to a higher setting during cooling or a lower setting during heating. Programmable thermostats can accomplish this and help
save money on energy usage.
• Change disposable filters monthly. Space-Gard/Aprilaire or similar high filtration filter systems should be changed one to three times a year.
• To help keep your drain line clear and draining properly, once a month during the cooling season, pour a cup of an algaecide (bleech) into the PVC access tee located at the front of your indoor cooling coil.
• Keep grass, weeds and bushes cleared or trimmed around the outdoor condensing unit.
• Turn off the system when mowing or trimming around the outdoor condensing unit.
• Once a month keep a pesticide good for killing ants and spiders sprayed or powdered around the outdoor condensing unit’s concrete slab.
• Make sure that every supply air grille is open in all rooms. Closing grilles in some rooms will not save you any money and can cause harm to the compressor during cooling.
• Try to avoid large temperature swings in the house. Once you set the thermostat leave it alone as much as possible. Do not turn the unit off when you leave the house, instead adjust it to a higher setting during cooling or a lower setting during heating. Programmable thermostats can accomplish this and help
save money on energy usage.
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
• During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
• $ Long-Term Savings Tip: Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78 percent AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR models on the market that exceed 90 percent AFUE.
• $ Long-Term Savings Tip: For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 10 SEER, increasing to 13 SEER in January 2006 for central air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models are 12 SEER or more. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy provides tips for buying energy-efficient furnaces, boilers, AC units, and heat pumps on its website.
• Purchasing a Priority One Maintenance Agreement from Fox Service Company can help you with your system maintenance needs. Contact our Priority One coordinator at 442-6782, for assistance and additional information.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
• During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
• $ Long-Term Savings Tip: Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78 percent AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR models on the market that exceed 90 percent AFUE.
• $ Long-Term Savings Tip: For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 10 SEER, increasing to 13 SEER in January 2006 for central air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models are 12 SEER or more. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy provides tips for buying energy-efficient furnaces, boilers, AC units, and heat pumps on its website.
• Purchasing a Priority One Maintenance Agreement from Fox Service Company can help you with your system maintenance needs. Contact our Priority One coordinator at 442-6782, for assistance and additional information.