Save $$$ - Maintain your Heat Pump

There are a number of things that homeowners can do to maintain their heating and cooling system that saves money in energy bills and to keep the system running longer. 

The most important task is to know where the air filters are located and Change Them! Too many times at Servco, we have been called to work on systems that failed to find the only problem is the filter is plugged solid. It does not matter if it is hot or cold, when the filter plugs the airflow there is a huge strain on all the working components. Often after this happens we will get calls for the blower motor failing or making “strange grinding noises.” Or the compressor will fail in the outdoor unit. These are often expensive fixes and can indicate the life expectancy of the unit is nearing the end. The heating and cooling system should have an owner’s manual. This manual should show where the filter is located and what size to use.  Filters are sometimes added to the ductwork. When a duct system is installed, be sure to ask where the filters have been installed and make note of it in the owner’s manual if they are in your ductwork.

Another way the homeowner can help maintain their own heating and cooling system is to vacuum around the indoor unit and make sure dust and hair particles do not build up in the equipment room. Electrical components are very sensitive to heat buildup. Keeping the hair and dust at a minimum helps keep the components safe. If you decide to clean inside the unit, be sure to turn it off at the breaker in the electrical panel for the system.

Finally, the homeowner can clean the outdoor unit. The owner’s manual will often recommend a schedule and method for cleaning the unit. The outdoor unit will get filled with leaves during the fall and winter and may provide a home for bugs. Often the recommended method to clean the unit is to spray it with a hose, removing all the leaf and stick or grass debris. There are different brands of cleaner that will help remove the guck of the inside of the coils. (Yes, guck is the technical term we use to describe the grayish brown sludge that builds up). Again, before sticking a hand inside the unit, make sure it is turned off at the breaker panel.

These basic maintenance steps can extend the life of your unit and keep it operating efficiently. It will also shorten the time spent by a repair technician if there is a problem. 

Servco would be happy to maintain your heat pump for you. 

Give us a call! 541-451-5090

You can also make an appointment online. Just Click HERE.

Clean Ducts Help You Breathe Better

Clean air is only one component needed for overall wellness. Living in an environment where the air flows through dirty ductwork can cause a number of possible diseases. Symptoms caused by air contaminants, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), include headache, scratchy throat, cough, chronic fatigue, and sinus and lung congestion. Reports from the EPA show that over 50% of all “sick” buildings can attribute the spreading of the “sickness” to air contaminants spread through the building by the ducting and ventilation system. Businesses today are faced with lawsuits from sick employees who blame their upper respiratory disorders on working conditions where they are exposed to air pollutants including mold or bacteria in office buildings. At home, children are increasingly diagnosed with asthma or related diseases.   We are careful to wash our hands, clean our homes, and drink clean water, but are we careful enough with the air we breathe indoors. 

Many indoor pollutants come from common things like candles, smoking, cooking, cleansers, air fresheners, pets, dust, and pests. Homes built since the early 1990’s have been well-insulated and well-sealed.  These buildings are capable of trapping the common pollutants as well as other gases like radon. Remodeling and even small painting or sanding projects can produce contaminants that become trapped and pollute the indoor air. Duct systems should be cleaned after all remodeling projects. Dust and debris gather into corners of the ducts and during winter, provide warm places that invite bacteria, mold and insects to take up residence. People who suffer from allergies benefit from clean air.

Depending on the exposure to pollutants, ducts should be cleaned as often as bi-annually.  The EPA reports that indoor air can be over 50 times more polluted than outdoor air. Having a clean duct system and a properly balanced air intake and exhaust system will reduce the level of toxicity in the air indoors.  We cannot control the pollutants outside, but we can control the pollutants inside our homes and businesses.

Cleaning ductwork is a complicated business and should be done by professionals in order to be done correctly.  Look for licensed, bonded companies who use the proper equipment to clean the ducts all the way to the furnace. At Servco, we send out technicians who know about the equipment and duct system. They have been trained how to operate the duct truck vacuum and they can give a full report on the status of the whole system when they are done. Call Servco at 541-451-5090 if you have any questions about duct cleaning.