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HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS |
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Mechanicals
AIR CONDITIONING
Your air-conditioning system should give you many years of reliable comfort if properly maintained. The following information can help you receive the most out of your system.
PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS
Programmable thermostats should be set according to the manufacturer’s recommendations which can be found in the owner’s manual.
REGISTERS
Registers regulate the flow of air in each room and help maintain the desired temperature. By adjusting the registers, you can regulate the amount of cool air that enters a room. Closing doors to rooms and registers that are not in use is helpful in reducing cooling costs.
In addition, your home is equipped with one or more return registers. Please do not obstruct any of the registers with Drapes, Furniture, or other objects.
FILTERS
The filters in your HVAC unit are designed to clean the air in your home of dust, lint, and molds. In order to keep the system running efficiently and effectively, it is important to clean or replace the filters on a regular basis.
Permanent filters can be vacuumed or shaken to loosen dirt or lint, then washed with warm water and a mild detergent.
Disposable filters should be replaced at least twice a year and possibly up to every 2-3 months depending on the conditions.
REDUCING COOLING COSTS
Open doors, windows, and dirty filters can negatively impact the effects of the insulation and cause inadequate cooling. Make sure that the weatherstripping on all exterior doors is in place and in good shape. It is also important that all caulking around doors and windows is in good repair. Run heat-generating appliances such as ovens, dishwashers, etc… in the evening and raise the temperature of your thermostat at night. By following these simple steps, you should be able reduce the amount of work your system has to endure and in turn, save you money on your cooling bills. For more information on making your home more efficient, refer to the HVAC Service Manual.
TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE
A slight temperature difference should be expected from room to room. The reasons for this could be associated with any of the following:
1. The size of each room
2. Ceiling height
3. Orientation to the sun
4. Changes in outside weather conditions
5. Heat’s tendency to rise
The differences should not be drastic. If the difference is very noticeable, your system may need to be balanced or the registers may need to be adjusted.
OVERSIZED HVAC UNIT
It is not necessary to upgrade the size of your HVAC unit. Each home is equipped with the proper size unit based on the size of the home.
2-STORY HOMES
With 2-story homes, it is best to run the downstairs and upstairs systems no more than 5 degrees apart.
It is not recommended to turn the system completely off during the day or at night for long periods of time because this increases the recovery time and the cost of cooling your home.
HEATING
Heating systems, methods, and installations vary widely. The design of the system in your home has been carefully matched to the size of your home. Learn everything you can about the installed system in your home: how it functions and operates. If you have questions regarding your heating system, contact the heating contractor.
The heating system will maintain an inside temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit under normal winter conditions. The system is allowed 72 hours to reach this temperature. If and when the temperature drops below 22 degrees for sustained periods of time, the temperature in your home may fall below 70 degrees.
Temperatures may vary from floor to floor and even room to room in a home, especially when it is very hot or cold outside. Setting the thermostat at a higher temperature will not heat your home faster. The registers help regulate the flow of air throughout your home. Once adjusted, the registers and thermostat will work together to maintain the desired temperature.
As the heating system operates, it is normal to hear some popping or pinging sounds. These sounds are the natural result of ductwork heating and cooling in response to the airflow. There is no necessary maintenance for this situation.
Most heating systems have filters that are used for removing dirt and dust from the air. To maintain efficient heating, it is recommended that you replace the filter every 3 months during the heating season.
WATER HEATERS
Your home is equipped with either an electric or gas water heater. Please read the instruction manual to determine recommended temperature settings, how to re-light the pilot light, energy saving tips, as well as cleaning and draining instructions.
It’s a possibility that sediment may collect in the bottom of the water heater causing it to rust over time. In order to remove these deposits, it will need to be drained on occasion. Please read the instruction manual to learn how to drain the water heater properly.
All water heaters have a control mechanism that governs water temperature. Your families individual preference should determine the temperature of the water heater. Hot water temperatures should not be set too high, especially when children or elderly live in the home, as scalding could be possible.
There is a safety valve on the heater that monitors pressure build-up. If the pressure rises to unsafe levels, the valve will open allowing the pressure to ease. If this occurs, we recommend calling a plumber to check the system.
Combustible items such as oily rags, clothing, chemicals, brooms, and dust mops should not be stored near the water heater. These could be potential fire hazards.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Your home is equipped with an electrical system that is designed for normal residential use. To prevent damage to the system, each circuit has a breaker that will trip when there is a power surge or an overload of some sort. There is also a main power line coming into your home which has it’s own breaker, called a disconnect, which can turn the power off to the entire home.
Outlets that are placed in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens have safety devices called GFCI’s (ground fault circuit interrupters) that can prevent electrical shock. GFCI’s are usually connected in a series, so one circuit may control multiple outlets. Also, bath outlets may overload if more than 1 heat generating appliance are used at the same time. This is to prevent an electrical overload.
Power surges are unpredictable and unavoidable. If you have sensitive equipment (such as computers, TV’s, stereos, etc…), always plug those devices into a surge protector.
There is an electric meter installed outside your home by the local utility company so they can track the amount of power usage. If you have questions regarding your usage or power bill, please contact your power company.
Telephone and cable T.V. wiring are pre-wired to your home. You will need to contact the local provider to have these devices connected. Patrick Malloy Communities is not responsible for burying these cables. Please contact the service provider for information about buried lines.
MOTORS
The motors that are used in some of the major appliances such as air conditioners, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, etc… may require periodic servicing. Consult your appliance’s manual for information about the care of these motors.