What maintenance can I do myself? 1. Safety first.
Before you perform any kind of maintenance, consider these important safety precautions. Call us if you have any questions or concerns before attempting to perform these maintenance procedures yourself.
Disconnect all electrical power to the unit before removing access panels to perform maintenance. Please note that there may be more than one power connection switch.
Although most manufacturers takes special care to prevent sharp edges in the construction of our equipment, it’s best to be very careful when you handle parts or reach into units.
2. Check the air filter in your furnace coil every 3 to 4 weeks.
Check the air filter in your furnace or fan coil every 3 to 4 weeks. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. Replace your filter when necessary, or clean it if you have the reusable type. (If you have a reusable filter, make sure it’s completely dry before you re-install it.) The pre-filter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should be cleaned at least two or three times per year.
3. Clean dust off your indoor coil.
With a vacuum cleaner and soft-brush attachment, you can remove any dust from the top and underside of the coil. Make sure you only do this when the coil is dry. If you can’t get the coil clean this way, call us for service.
4. Keep your outdoor condensing unit free of debris.
If you keep grass clippings, leaves, shrubbery and debris away from your outdoor unit, it should only require minimal care to operate properly. Check the base pan (under the unit) occasionally and remove debris, to help the unit drain correctly.
5. Take special care of outdoor condensing units in near-ocean environments.
If your unit is loca ted near a sea coast, you can help preserve its optimal condition with a little extra care. Ocean mist and sea breezes carry salt, which is corrosive to most metals. Although new Carrier units are made out of galvanized metal and are protec ted by top-grade paint, you can add life to your unit by washing all exposed surfaces and the coil approximately every three months.
6. Make sure your outdoor unit stays in a level position. If the support for your split-system outdoor unit shifts or settles and the unit is no longer level, re-level it promptly to make sure moisture drains properly out of the unit. If you notice that water or ice collects beneath the unit, arrange for it to be drained away from the equipment. Return to Questions List
Is it normal to see water around my outdoor unit during Winter? Yes, it is not unusual to see some water around your outdoor unit in the winter time. This can result when your heat pump goes through a defrost cycle and melts ice that my have accumula ted on the outside coil. If you have any questions about your particular unit just give us a call or e-mail us. We're happy to help. Return to Questions List
Will a dirty outdoor coil in during the heating season cause my heat pump to short cycle (run through the defrost cycle more often)? Yes it will. Call to have your unit serviced to ensure that your outdoor coil is clean and your unit is operating properly. Merritt Air also offers Preventative Maintenance Agreements to keep your unit running efficiently all year long. Return to Questions List
Is it normal to have a burning smell when I turn on my heat strips for the first time? Yes, this can be normal. During the year your heat strips can accumulate dust and particulates that were not caught by your filter from the previous cooling season. Once these particulates burn off that smell should dissipate. As always, Merritt Air will be happy to help you with any concerns that you have from your system operation to optimal filtration for your system. Click here to schedule service or request a call. Return to Questions List
If I put my unit into emergency heat on the thermostat, will I get heat faster? No, many homeowners believe this, but it is false. When the thermostat is moved to emergency heat what is really happening is that the outdoor compressor shuts off and your system is conver ted into an electric heater. This will cause a quick increase to your electric bill and you don't really get quicker heat. The emergency heat option is only intended to be used if you are experiencing a problem with your outdoor unit such as the outdoor unit tripping the breaker. In this situation you could turn on emergency heat to keep you warm while you are waiting for service help to correct the problem. Return to Questions List
It smells like dirty socks when my system is in the heating mode. This is often referred to as “Dirty Sock Syndrome”. When you are operating your system in the heating mode it normally runs through a defrost cycle to ensure that there is no build up of ice on the outdoor unit. To accomplish this, the hot gas that was heating the indoor coils is temporarily direc ted to the outdoor coils resulting in the indoor coils becoming cold. This change in temperature on an indoor coil that is not completely clean can cause a musty smell in the home. If the problem persist, call Merritt Air for help. We can clean your indoor coil as well as help you with options such as Preventative Maintenance and even UltraViolet (UV) Coil Lamps to prevent future problems. Return to Questions List
If I have a variable speed air handler should I put the fan in the on position? No, this will impede the removal of humidity from your home by keeping the evaporator coil dry. When your unit cycles off with the fan in the on position it has the effect of keeping your evaporator coil dry. Since a wet coil is better for removal of humidity, the result is that humidity removal from your home is diminished. Return to Questions List
Should my lights be dimming when the outdoor compressor comes on? No, your compressor may be pulling too much amperage and it's possible that you may need a hard start kit. A technician would need to evaluate this for you. Click here to schedule service. Return to Questions List
My unit is new, do I need a time delay? No, 99% of units have a five minute time delay built into the defrost board or the digital thermostat. The purpose of the time delay is to help prevent damage to the compressor by allowing the Freon to equalize in the system. Some examples of situations that the time delay would be needed include if the power is interrup ted or if the homeowner (using a mercury bulb thermostat) moves the temperature control up and down too quickly causing the unit to short cycle. Return to Questions List
Does my system have a reset button? Normally Carrier, Trane and most systems do not have reset buttons. However, a few models of Intertherm as well as most Rheem and Rudd units do. If your system does have a reset button it is typically an orange button loca ted near the bottom of the outdoor condensing unit between the two freon lines entering the bottom of the unit.
Is outdoor unit running…sys calling for cooling and fan running go to breaker box look for breaker labled AC or COND. Turn breaker off and immed turn back on if it does not reset or it immed trips off call for service. If it resets go outside to see if outdoor unit is running ( if trips again call for service) …If still not running then find button between 2 freon lines entering bottom of rheen outdoor unit.. Orange button pushe with finger. If unit comes on then just observe for problems.. In winter if this reset button check filter. When in doubt call for service. Return to Questions List
How good are the standard blue throwaway filters? In short, better than nothing, these throwaway filters that can be purchased for less than a dollar filter out about 15% of particulates (leaving 85% to go right on through to your coil and ductwork. However, if your unit is over 12 years old you may need to use these standard blue filters to ensure that there isn't too much reduction in air flow. The health of your system as well as your family are important to us. Give Merritt Air a call or email us, we would be happy to review your filtration options with you. Return to Questions List
When I leave in the morning for work should I turn the thermostat off? No. In the summer when you return home the temperature inside your home may have risen to 95/100 degrees. It will then take the whole night to remove all of the accumula ted heat from your home. It is best to set your thermostat at a something like 78 degrees and leave it alone during the day. Remember, it's okay to lower it at night before bed since the heatload is not on the house at night like it is during the day. These tips are just suggestions to help your unit function more efficiently. Programmable digital thermostats can help you manage keeping your energy consumption down while staying comfortable. Give Merritt Air a call or email us. We're glad to help. Return to Questions List
My indoor coil has a block of ice on it during the summer and my unit is not functioning. What's wrong? There are a few possible problems. The two most commom causes are a dirty air filter and/or insufficient freon. The first thing you should do is turn your system off at the thermostat and place the fan in the on position to let the hot air from the house defrost the ice slowly and then call for service. If your filter is very dirty and you suspect that is the problem, you can turn your system off for about two hours (allow sufficient time for the ice on the coil to melt) and put in a clean filter. Once the ice has completely mel ted , you can try restarting the unit. If the problem recurs you should call for service. Keep in mind that ice melting will become water so take precautions to soak up the water in order to prevent any water damage. Return to Questions List
Should I pour Clorox in a metal drain pan? No. The Clorox bleach will cause holes in the drain pan which will cause a water leak over time. Most new units have fiberglass drain pans in which case it is fine to use Clorox bleach.
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Water is leaking in my home from the airhander. What can I do? Very often water leaks result from the units drain line being clogged. Most blockages can be freed up very easily by backflushing the drain line. In order to perform this procedure follow these steps:
Put a garden hose in the drain line outside of the house.
Turn on water and depending on length of pvc run to the air handler it should take about 5 seconds.
Remove the hose and water should come back out into the back yard.
It is important to remember that some water could come inside into the drain pan and may overflow so take precautions to prevent water damage. Return to Questions List
How does my drain line become clogged? Residual water in the drain pan can become moldy as well as unfiltered dust and particles that collect and clog the line. Clorox bleach in the drain line will help as well as better filtration. With new installations, Merritt Air normally includes a PVC Tee with a cap to access the drain line in order to pour bleach in the line. If you don't have a PVC Tee and would like one simply give us a call or email us. Additionally, Merritt Air can help you with improving your filtration. Return to Questions List
What is Energy Star? The ENERGY STAR label stands for high-efficiency, energy-saving products. When the ENERGY STAR label appears on appliances, computers, and heating and cooling equipment, you can be assured that the product not only has the same features as standard products, but also has additional energy-saving components or technology. Return to Questions List
What is an Energy Star Product? There are minimum efficiency levels for ENERGY STAR Products. For central air conditioning it is 12 SEER or higher, Boilers 85 AFUE or higher, and furnaces 90 AFUE or higher. Return to Questions List
