Heating & Air conditioning Maintenance Tips

Enjoy the full potential of your YORK® product, and extend its useful life with these helpful maintenance tips.

Although mechanical heating and cooling equipment is complex, here are some basic preventive maintenance procedures you can perform to keep your system running at its best. (If your air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old or your furnace is more than 12 years old, call Salt River Mechanical LLC to see how much you can reduce your utility bills with today's more energy-efficient equipment.)

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 your contractor 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 the condensate line is clear to allow liquid runoff.
• Set up an annual checkup of your system.

Gas Furnace Maintenance

• Confirm that the furnace runs completely through a normal cycle from startup to shutdown. 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 in 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.

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 the 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 the air handler for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might allow air infiltration.
• Make sure the air system is balanced to avoid negative air pressure from pulling pollens and allergens into your 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 the 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.