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Hints
for taking proper care of your Heating/Cooling System
Don’t
Ignore Your System | Finding a Good
Contractor
If your
current heating/cooling system hasn’t received maintenance
in a while, there’s a good chance that it’s not
running at peak efficiency. And a system that’s not running
in top shape is one that’s costing you money every month.
Getting a Hartman Inspection can actually lower your bills
by as much as 35%–that’s savings you can see all
year long.
Admit
it: You probably don’t think about your indoor comfort
system until it stops working and you become either too cold
or too hot. It’s human nature to put something in the
back of your mind as long as it doesn’t cause a problem
and stays in the background.
And you
might think of your heating and cooling system as just a “box”
that can be turned on or off in order to control your temperature.
But your system is a lot more than that. It doesn’t just
control temperature. It has an impact on the air that you
breathe, on moisture and mold growth, the amount of energy
that you use and money that you spend, and most importantly,
on you and your family’s health.
Don’t
ignore your heating and cooling system.
Your HVACR system is a great big (and expensive)
mechanical system just like your automobile. You know that
you need to keep your car tuned up and get your oil changed
every 3,000 miles. So why do so many assume they can just
ignore their comfort system?
You can
ignore it, and it will break down more, need replacement sooner,
COST YOU MORE MONEY throughout its shortened lifespan, and
most importantly, it might impact your health.
Here’s
more important information about your indoor heating and cooling
system.
It’s
the Design! A heating and cooling system is not just a
box to be stuck in your house. It’s an intricate system
that needs to be designed properly from the very beginning.
Watch
Your Water A well-designed system will control the humidity
in your home for maximum comfort.
The
Air You Breathe Think your air is clean? You might want
to think again. Control your indoor air with high-quality
filtration methods.
Preventive
Maintenance = Savings Ignore your HVAC system and you
will wind up spending a lot of money on it. Have basic maintenance
performed and you can keep that money for yourself.
 Look
for the NATE Patch! Learn about NATE certification and
why it matters to you, your home, your indoor comfort system,
and your family.
 Ask
About ENERGY STAR Energy-efficient equipment will save
you lots of money in the long run – while protecting
the environment at the same time.
Finding a Contractor
Here are the basics of what you should know. How to Find
a Quality Contractor All contractors are not created equal.
Use this checklist to make sure you’re using a quality
contractor.
Most
people take for granted the comfort provided by their central
air conditioner, heat pump or furnace until something goes
wrong and the unit needs to be serviced or replaced.
When
this happens, you need a quality heating, ventilating and
air conditioning/ refrigeration (HVACR) contractor who is
knowledgeable, skilled and qualified to do the job. A
Quality Contractor:
• Complies
with state and local codes and regulations and carries
the
proper business and workers’ compensation insurance
• Is
prompt, courteous and provides fast, reliable service
while
attempting to perform service at your convenience
• Has
the skill and knowledge to not only service your
equipment,
but if necessary, to design and install the right
system for you
• Is
up to date on the newest developments in equipment,
technology
and design procedures in order to choose and install
a system which will be the most efficient and most
reliable system
for you A heating,
ventilating and air conditioning system is designed to suit
your needs. Your contractor selects each part of the system
individually so that everything works at top efficiency to
provide the comfort you need. All the system components are
matched-the furnace, the condensing unit, fans and blowers,
air conditioning coil, the duct work-to produce a heating
and cooling system that will work best for you.
A
quality contractor listens to your problems and cares about
your comfort ...
...
While attempting to find out if any rooms are too drafty
or dry during the winter, or too hot or damp in the summer.
A
quality contractor can help determine if your home or building
is prone to indoor air pollution problems ...
...
Which can be caused by organic resins or vapors, poor air
turnover or high humidity. If allergies are a problem, a
quality contractor can service your heating and air conditioning
system and recommend system accessories that may prevent
conditions that adversely affect health and comfort. A
quality contractor is concerned about protecting the environment.
Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC¹s) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC¹s) used as air
conditioning and heat pump refrigerant, have been linked
to the destruction of the earth¹s ozone layer. A quality
contractor won¹t release the refrigerant into the atmosphere
and is trained and certified in the proper techniques for
recovering, recycling, reclaiming and disposing of used
refrigerant. A
quality contractor will show you how to care for your system
on a day to day basis.
For
example, how to change the filter and how to operate the
thermostat. He or she will advise you about symptoms which
could signal that there might be a problem with the equipment.
After servicing your equipment, he or she will let you know
when it should be serviced again. If
a new system is necessary, a quality
contractor will perform
a Manual J® load calculation ...
...
And explain any changes which might be necessary in your
duct system, and present options to help you make the best
decision regarding replacing your old system. A
quality contractor offers planned preventative maintenance
service ...
...
To maximize the life of your equipment. A
quality contractor honors the terms of the warranty on the
equipment throughout the warranty period.
A
quality contractor does not offer price as the only consideration.
While
it is a major factor, there often are valid reasons for
price differences. A
quality contractor will follow up with you to make certain
that you are satisfied with the service and with your new
system.
When
Consulting an HVACR Contractor:
Ask
the contractor for references. Find out if other customers
were satisfied.
Ask
the contractor about his or her license. If a license is
required in your area, ask for the license number.
Don’t
forget to ask about ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling
equipment!
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Troubleshooting
Tips
Air
Conditioning | Heating
There
are numerous cooling, heating problems that don’t require
professional service! By working very carefully and with a
little elbow grease, you can save some money and get a better
idea of what makes your system work. That’s why we’ve
put together some useful fix-it-yourself tips.
These
tips cover some of the most common problems that occur with
air conditioners and furnace systems.
Air
Conditioning Troubleshooting Tips
If these
Quick Tip solutions do not solve your problem, please call
to schedule an appointment with Hartman Heating and Air Conditioning.
For emergency service please call 1-801-264-8300 (Park City
435-615-1857).
Air
Conditioning Problems Discussed here:
The
Air Conditioning System is Not Cooling or Working Properly
The
Readout on the Thermostat Display is Blank
The
Thermostat Continues to Post the Same Message
The
Air Conditioning Timer Does Not Work
The Air Conditioning System is
Not Cooling or Working Properly
Be
sure power switch on furnace or blower is on.
Check
that blower compartment door is properly aligned and secure.
Check
for blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
Check
the thermostat setting. Make sure that it is set to a low
enough temperature.
Was
the air conditioning unit turned off for an extended period
of time?
Make
sure the thermostat is set on “COOL”.
Is
your filter clean? A blocked filter can reduce your unit’s
performance. Also, check and replace your filter on a regular
basis to allow your unit to perform at peak efficiency.
Quick
Tip: Keep the air conditioning unit set at a comfortable
temperature during the entire day. Many times, people turn
off their systems when not at home. The system may take some
time to begin circulating properly cooled air when it has
been shut down for a while.
The Readout on the Thermostat Display
is Blank
Check
to see if your thermostat indicator is switched to “COOL”
to activate the display. If this doesn’t work, remove
the existing batteries and replace them with fresh ones.
Some
digital thermostats have a “reset” button on the
pad. Press this button to restore the original settings
and-in some cases-the readout.  Quick
Tip: If you find yourself replacing the batteries more
than the recommended number of times per year, a short could
exist in the control panel that should be checked by a Hartman
Technician.
The Thermostat Continues to Post
the Same Message
Make
sure your system has not been set to the lowest possible
temperature. (A system turned all the way down doesn’t
cool any faster than one that’s set to a comfortable
temperature.)
Was
there a power outage that acted as a reset feature? Quick
Tip: Many times a more serious problem has occurred due
to a power outage or a lightening strike. If everything else
seems normal (room comfort, run time, etc.) and resetting
does not restore normal function, the best solution is to
call a Hartman Technician
The Air Conditioner Timer Does Not Work
Make
sure that your control unit is properly programmed to the
correct temperature and on “COOL”. It’s not
uncommon for different systems to be programmed differently.
Use the owner’s manual to make sure the correct procedures
are being followed.
If
the problem persists, try replacing the batteries in the
control unit.
Finally,
are you on load management through the utility company?
Check to see if the green light is displayed on the load
management box. If a green light is present, the system
should be working. If a red light is displayed, then the
system might have been turned off by the utility company.
If there is no light displayed, then you need to call the
utility company and a Hartman Technician. Quick
Tip: Many times the batteries need to be replaced for
the system to properly function. If replacing the batteries
and checking to see if the settings are properly set do not
work, consult a Hartman Technician. Also, if your utility
company provides load management, consult them with any problems
that you might be experiencing.
Heating
Troubleshooting Tips
If
these Quick Tip solutions do not solve your problem, please
call to schedule an appointment with Hartman Heating and Air
Conditioning. For emergency service please call 1-801-264-8300.
Heating
Problems Discussed here:
The
Central Heating System is Not Heating or Working Properly
Furnace
Thermostat Continues to Post the Same Message
The
Readout on the Thermostat Display is Blank
Furnace
Does Not Work
The Central Heating System is not heating
or working properly
• Be
sure power switch to furnace is on.
• Check
that blower compartment door is properly aligned and secure.
• Check
for blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
• Is
your thermostat set to the “HEAT” position?
• Is
your thermostat at the proper setting? (Not the highest
possible temperature!)
• Was
the furnace turned off for an extended period of time?
• Check
the filter to see if it needs replacing or cleaning.
• Check
the fuel source. Quick
Tip: Keep the furnace set to a comfortable temperature
during the entire day. Many times, people turn off their systems
when not at home. The system takes some time to begin circulating
properly heated air when it has been shut down for a while.
Remember that the furnace will not heat your home faster by
setting the temperature to its limits! Set the thermostat
to the proper temperature for efficient heating.
Furnace Thermostat Continues to Post the
Same Message
Make
sure that your system has not been set to the highest possible
temperature. Remember that a system set to a comfortable
temperature will heat just as quickly as one set for maximum
heat!
Was
there a recent power outage that may have caused the system
to reset itself? Quick
Tip: Many times a more serious problem has occurred due
to a power outage or a lightning strike. If everything else
seems normal (room comfort, run time, etc.) and resetting
does not restore normal function, the best solution is to
call a Hartman Technician.
The Readout on the Thermostat Display
is Blank
Check
to see if the thermostat indicator is switched to “HEAT”
to activate the display. If this does not work, replace
the existing batteries with fresh ones to see if the display
functions properly.
Some
digital thermostats have a “reset” button on the
pad. Press this to restore the original settings and-in
some cases-the readout. Quick
Tip: Many times when the thermostat display flashes a
repeating message, the batteries need to be replaced. If you
find yourself replacing the batteries more than the recommend
number of times per year, a short could exist in the control
panel.
Furnace Does Not Work
Make
sure that the control unit is properly programmed to the
correct temperature and on “HEAT”. Many times
systems need to be programmed differently. Use the owner’s
manual to make sure the correct procedures are being followed.
If
the problem persists, try replacing the batteries in the
control unit.
Finally,
are you on load management through your utility company?
Check to see if the green light is displayed on the load
management box. If a green light is present, the system
should be working properly. If a red light is displayed,
the system might have been turned off by the utility company.
If there is no light displayed, then you need to call the
utility company and a Hartman Technician. Quick
Tip: Many times the batteries need to be replaced for
the system to properly function. If replacing the batteries
and checking to see if the settings are properly set do not
work, consult a Hartman Technician. Also, check with the utility
company if the system is not working due to load management.
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