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 Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning. For emergency service please call 1-801-505-9460 (Park City 435-571-0505).

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 Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning. For emergency service please call 1-801-505-9460.

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.

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!

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 (CFC’s) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s) used as air conditioning and heat pump refrigerant, have been linked to the destruction of the earth’s ozone layer. A quality contractor won’t 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. 

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.

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.