SUMMER TIME TIPS
- Do not set your thermostat below 20C
- Check your furnace filter to ensure it is clean and remember to change it every 3 months.
- If your A/C is frozen, turn it off and let it thaw before calling a technician. They cannot perform any work on the unit while it is iced up!
- Book in advance! -Check your power switch and breakers
GAS FURNACE MAINTENANCE
Your gas furnace should be serviced annually, before the heating season begins. DO NOT attempt to perform maintenance yourself. Contact your Carrier dealer instead. He or she will thoroughly examine all parts for damage and recommend if any need to be replaced.
Remember: only certified professionals, like your Carrier dealer, are qualified to service or replace furnace parts.
ELECTRIC FURNACE
Your electric furnace should be serviced annually, before the heating season begins. DO NOT attempt to perform maintenance yourself. Contact your Carrier dealer instead. He or she will thoroughly examine all parts for damage and recommend if any need to be replaced.
Remember: only certified professionals, like your Carrier dealer, are qualified to service or replace furnace parts.
EXTERNAL AIR FILTERS
Your residential filter could be one of three types: disposable, washable, or electronic. Before you clean or replace your filter, you must switch off your system. Replace disposable filters as needed with a new filter of the same proportions. If you own an electronic filter, consult your owner’s manual for maintenance tips.
If during your inspection you notice any cracks or water damage in the drain line, do not operate the heater. Contact your Carrier dealer for servicing.
BLOWER CARE
Blower wheels and motors should be inspected for dust. The entire blower should be inspected annually.
Remember, only certified professionals, like your Carrier dealer, are qualified to perform maintenance. Your furnace’s gas supplies should be switched off before servicing.
SPLIT AIR CONDITIONER OR HEAT PUMP MAINTENANCE
The heat pump for these systems must be inspected, cleaned and serviced regularly. Contact your Carrier dealer for maintenance services or tips.
THE COIL
Make sure that there is nothing obstructing your outdoor unit’s air flow, including grass, leaves, plants, or paper. To clean the coil, you may vacuum it or wash it down with a garden hose after switching off the main disconnect. Keep the fan motor and control box as dry as possible. After cleaning the coil, flush any dirt from the base pan.
Caution: You should contact your Carrier dealer to have your coil installed, serviced, or replaced.
FAN MOTORS
Normally, your motor should not need oiling for years. If it does, check your unit for motor lubrication ports first. Use 10-15 drops or ¼ tsp of SAE 20 non-detergent electric motor oil or automobile oil ONLY to lubricate each bearing. If you have an add-on type system, you should do the same for the furnace blower motor.
HELPFUL TIPS
Disposal Units Drains Freezing Furnaces Air Conditioning Avoiding Disasters Frequently Asked Questions
Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it and you save almost 6,000 gallons a year.
Put a bit of food coloring in each toilet tank. Without flushing, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It's not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. And that's more than 30,000 gallons a year!
Try this simple, natural way to keep your drains running freely: pour in one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of vinegar. Repeat every month.
AVOIDING DISASTERS IN YOUR HOME
Over the last 40 years we have been called out to many household disasters. Many of these could have avoided by a doing a few simple things; the most common are listed below.
Get to know where your main stopcock is and label it along with other isolating valves in your home. Turn these valves on and off about twice a year to make sure they work!
Have your Boiler serviced regularly, to avoid faulty functionality and the production of poisonous carbon monoxide. Most heating engineers are very busy in the winter months so we suggest you get your appliances serviced before the cold weather sets in.
Have some controls fitted to your heating system. A system that is more than 10 years old it is probably not as efficient as it could be, resulting in higher heating bills!
Re-washer taps rather than let the family turn them off tighter to stop them dripping; this causes more wear and shortens their lifespan.
Keep your heating system clean inside by adding some corrosion inhibitor; this will add years to the life of the system and will improve functionality.
Your water heater is one of the most important household appliances. Over time sediment builds at the bottom of the heater, which can hamper performance. A good professional will check this on an annual basis. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion.
