Tips on Maintaining a Water Heater

Valuable tips and general information are revealed for checking, flushing and maintaining a home's water heater.

Give the water shut-off valve a twist to keep it from seizing.

If it is a gas water heater, set the gas valve to "Pilot" to prevent the burners from coming on throughout the flushing process. If electric, turn off the circuit breakers.

For gas water heater, make sure the flue is draining air properly by lighting a match next to the bell housing and watching the smoke. The smoke should be going up the flue.

Test the temperature relief. To test it, put a bucket below the extension pipe and open the valve. Water should flow when it's open and stop when it's closed. Set the thermostat to the recommended setting of 120 degrees F.

Check the pilot light on gas units; it should be burning blue and steady. Instructions for re-lighting the pilot are usually written on the side of the unit.

Check the burner operation by removing the flame shield, moving back and turning up the thermostat. Look at the flames to make sure they are burning blue and steady.

Drain the sediment from the tank by attaching one end of a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the unit and put the other end outside or near a basement floor drain.

Safety Tip: Be careful because the water can be scalding hot.

Turn the thermostat down and shut off the cold water supply to the unit and then open the drain valve.

Open the temperature/pressure relief valve at the top of the tank by lifting the lever. Leave the valve open.

Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater allowing the water to flow out of the garden hose. When the water out of the hose is running clear the flushing is finished. Close the drain valve, turn on the cold water supply and set the thermostat to the recommended setting.

Open a hot faucet in the house and let it run until no air bubbles come out. Turn the heater back on.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

How to Maintain an Air-Conditioner System

Step 1: Remove Debris and Straighten Fins

Trim back plants and debris around the condenser. Remove bushes, trim branches, and make sure that everything is out of its way so the condenser can readily breathe. Bushes should be kept at a distance of 2' around and 4' across the top.

Make sure the fins on the coil stand up true. If these get bent, they'll block airflow. Using a piece of flatware or a fin comb, carefully straighten any fins.

Step 2: Check and Level the Condenser

Check and make sure the condenser is level.

If the condenser is off level, put a piece of pressure-treated lumber underneath one side to bring it back level.

Disconnect the power and rinse the condenser thoroughly with the garden hose, making sure to remove all loose debris that might have fallen on the unit.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Maintenance Checklist

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

     Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.

       Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

       Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.

       Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

       Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific

       Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

       Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

       Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

       Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself

       Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Summer HVAC Maintenance Tips to Save Energy and Money

The average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills, and nearly half of that comes from heating and cooling costs. With the summer heat ready to peak, homeowners across the country are turning their air conditioning up to full blast. But you can save electricity and avoid hefty repair bills by giving your HVAC system an annual check-up.

The best time for HVAC maintenance is right before extreme temperatures hit, so try our energy-saving tune-up tips today.

DIY Maintenance

• Clean/change the air filter. If you only make one tune-up this season, clean your air filter – doing so can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by up to 15 percent. In the summertime, you should wash your reusable filter or replace your disposable one once per month. 
• Clear the area around the outdoor unit. Keep vegetation at least two feet away from the unit so it is free to pull in air. This  includes raking up leaves in the fall.

Calling in a Professional

Some parts of a thorough annual check-up require disassembling an AC unit, so you'll have to call a service technician for a quick, professional check-up that usually costs around $50. The technician will:

• Clear the drain. A clogged drain can waste nearly as much energy as a dirty filter because your unit has to work harder to send out even less cool air.
• Clean the outdoor and indoor units. The technician will keep the outdoor condenser fan running efficiently by cleaning the fan blades, and will maintain the unit's ability to cool the air moving through it by removing dust and other buildup from the indoor evaporator coil.

 

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com