quote:

If it's not too much of a drift, what about maintenance for the home HVAC?

Beyond changing the filters, is there anything that should, or can, be done to maintain optimum performance and longevity?

1) Condensate tray inside the house needs to have an unobstructed flow to the outside. Inspect the fins to make sure they have air flow. Aerosol foaming cleaner can be used on these fins.
2) Outside Condensor coils need to be cleaned. Disconnect electric supply. Remove top of unit with fan. Clean the coils from inside out with water. Make sure the drainage holes on the bottom of the unit are clear.

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
If it's not too much of a drift, what about maintenance for the home HVAC?

Beyond changing the filters, is there anything that should, or can, be done to maintain optimum performance and longevity?

I opt for 2x year "tune up" One for AC in spring and one for heating in fall, although they always check the AC part as it's not uncommon to need AC in December-Jan, but we never need heat March through October. Pressures and all that stuff is checked. The company I use charges about $80 (one time payment) for both services. I find it well worth the price for piece of mind.

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
If it's not too much of a drift, what about maintenance for the home HVAC?

Beyond changing the filters, is there anything that should, or can, be done to maintain optimum performance and longevity?

I opt for 2x year "tune up" One for AC in spring and one for heating in fall, although they always check the AC part as it's not uncommon to need AC in December-Jan, but we never need heat March through October. Pressures and all that stuff is checked. The company I use charges about $80 (one time payment) for both services. I find it well worth the price for piece of mind.

Around here, the annual tune up is used by a number of AC companies as an opportunity to scam the people who own the AC in question. They commonly recommend replacement if the unit is over 12 or 13 years old and find things that should be replaced that work fine. The technicians of the scam companies are also commissioned salespeople and that's where the problem comes from.

There are good, reputable companies but you've got to dig to find them.

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Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
If it's not too much of a drift, what about maintenance for the home HVAC?

Beyond changing the filters, is there anything that should, or can, be done to maintain optimum performance and longevity?

I opt for 2x year "tune up" One for AC in spring and one for heating in fall, although they always check the AC part as it's not uncommon to need AC in December-Jan, but we never need heat March through October. Pressures and all that stuff is checked. The company I use charges about $80 (one time payment) for both services. I find it well worth the price for piece of mind.

Around here, the annual tune up is used by a number of AC companies as an opportunity to scam the people who own the AC in question. They commonly recommend replacement if the unit is over 12 or 13 years old and find things that should be replaced that work fine. The technicians of the scam companies are also commissioned salespeople and that's where the problem comes from.

There are good, reputable companies but you've got to dig to find them.

Right you are, over the years I've run into some of those even to the point of stopping the yearly check ups. Several years ago I found a local, family owned business that I consider trustworthy. They have 24/7 service with no upcharge on the service call except on major holidays. Christmas etc. They've not pressured me yet. I did just buy a new system from them, but it was hard to call their replacement recommendations a scam as my old system was 18 years old, and had stopped running completely. I saw this coming but was trying to nurse the old system through the cooling season. I messed that by a bit. I've found that the companies that are constantly blasting you with radio, TV and print ads and have wrapped service vans with gaudy graphics are suspect.

I recently moved into a place with an aging unit. I knew the risks and simply set aside cash to replace it when it crapped itself. It did and when it did I had the cash on hand to simply call out a few companies and get quotes.

Fortunately, I got it all scheduled and done before the current heatwave we have going on and it is saving me about half on my bill so the efficiency jumped from my last system to my current system even though they are the same make (trane).

Long story short I'd simply set aside the cash either mentally or actually, to replace it and when it craps out you'll be ready. As stated by other folks sometimes these things last twice the forecasted life.