Time to Clean Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps (cleanac) 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 your YORK® Contractor to see how much you can reduce your utility bills with today’s more energy-efficient equipment.) 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. how to clean outdoor ac unitConsider using a dedicated ventilation system to introduce filtered outside air to create positive pressure with clean air.office air handling unit Examine ducts around the air handler for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might leak air.air handling unit sale Replace your air handler filter once a month to reduce airflow restrictions and wasted energy.

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. Make sure the condensate line is clear to allow liquid runoff. Set up an annual checkup of your system. 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.Air filters are almost always dirty, and it’s by design. The purpose of an air filter is to collect all of the dirt, dust, and debris. The air filter in your home is meant to clean the air as it passes through, making the air you breathe cleaner. It stands to reason with anything designed to collect dust, dirt, and impurities – it might need to be cleaned occasionally. If it’s not cleaned occasionally, it can’t do the job it’s designed to do.

Air forced through a dirty air filter can release dust and dirt into the home that has accumulated for weeks or even months. A dirty filter can also clog, reduce air flow, and contaminate the air. Many of us don’t put enough time or thought into changing the filters in appliances, HVAC systems, air conditioning units, etc. You know the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind”? The filters may be hidden from view but they should be on your mind. Clean air filters = a clean home. First, let's take a look at some of the different filter options you have to look at: These types of filters are probably the most economical of the disposable filters. They are very inexpensive and capture larger particles of lint and dust protecting the heating and air system. Pleated filters are made of a more dense tight material and will remove more impurities from the air than the fiberglass filters do. Pleated filters help to maintain cleaner coils resulting in a cleaner house, and protects from:

Some pleated filters can last up to 90 days of protection. For the best air quality, this filter features an electrostatic charge and will attract large and microscopic contaminants. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, this might be the filter to consider using. Pleated and electrostatic filters also have a MERV rating on the label for the filters effectiveness. The standard rating is 10. The higher the number, the fewer micro-particles are allowed through to linger in the home. Washable air filters have a static charge which will attract dust, dirt and other particles. These filters are more effective than disposable ones and more environmentally friendly. They do, however, require a little more work to maintain them and they can be more expensive. If you are not sure your filter needs to be cleaned, take it out and hold it up to a good source of light. If the filter is still see-through – it’s clean. If you can’t see through it – it’s dirty and should be cleaned.

For best results when cleaning your washable filters, follow these guidelines: Take the filter outside and gently spray down with the garden hose. Do not use a full force of water, you don't want to damage your filter. Depending on the time of year and where you live - you can also rinse the filter in the shower. Some filters require a specific side to be sprayed so as not to push the dirt deeper into the filter; check for instructions on the frame. If your filter is super dirty and clogged with pet hair, grease, smoke residue, etc. you can do the following: These instructions can also apply to cleaning the filter in a window mounted unit. Your average disposable filters are typically made of fiber mesh in a cardboard frame. These filters are designed for one time use and they are not that expensive to buy. Depending on the environment you live in, the time of year, and the type of disposable filter you purchase will determine how often you should change it.