November 10, 2011

Freezing in Naperville

It's the first really cold day in Naperville!   You need a coat, in case you did not notice.  That cold is biting and all those leaves swirling around are a little crispy!


I hope your furnace started up!  One of mine did not this year, but luckily, it wasn't too serious!   Have your HVAC person come out once (some say twice) a year to keep everything running smoothly and cleanly.  Here are some tips:

o       Every 90 days, install a new one-inch pleated furnace filter. Families with shedding pets should replace the filter every month. Expect to pay $10 to $25 per filter.  (Consult with your HVAC person—different filters have different schedules!)
o       Always maintain at least two feet of clearance around outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps.
o       Weekly in summer, brush or blow off fallen debris from top and sides of outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps. Do not allow the lawn mower to discharge grass clippings onto the unit.
o       Monthly, inspect insulation on refrigerant lines leading into house. Replace if missing or damaged.
o       Annually, ensure that outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps are on firm and level ground or pads.
o       In summer, shut off the water supply to the furnace humidifier. In fall, replace the humidifier wick filter, set the humidistat to between 35% and 40% relative humidity, and turn on the water supply.
o       Never close more than 20% of a home’s registers to avoid placing unnecessary strain on the HVAC system.
o       Each spring, wash and dry filters and vacuum condenser coils on all window air conditioning units placed into service.
o       Annually, replace the battery in your home’s carbon monoxide detector.

Tips from HouseLogic.com

1 comment:

Bev Tracy said...

Great tips, LeeAnn. When my A/C was installed, the technician said that I should check my filter every time the electric bill came. It is a great way for me to keep track of that chore.