FAQ’s

Should I have regular (or preventative) maintenance? And how often should it be performed?

Your heating and cooling systems work incredibly hard to perform their functions for your home and business everyday. The constant stopping, starting and continual operation can wear down any machine if proper and maintenance is not performed. By performing regular maintenance, you can maximize the lifecycle of your heating or cooling unit and prevent many common equipment failures.

Preventive maintenance inspections performed on a regular basis can uncover leaks, rust, rot, soot, frayed wires and corroded electrical contacts that may not be easily detected. You should have maintenance done on your heating and cooling systems regularly to ensure maximum efficiency, and to prevent possible problems that may occur in the near future.

What equipment requires regular (or preventative) maintenance?

Every six months heat pumps and air conditioners require a professional tune-up. Because gas-fired equipment functions with greater efficiency, they only need to be serviced every 2 years. Inspections on boiler and furnace systems should include ductwork, pipes, dampers, valves, the chimney, registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines, the gas meter, oil tank and all parts of the actual furnace and boiler.

Heat pump and air conditioning unit inspections should also include inspections of the fan, compressor, indoor coils, outdoor coils, line kits and refrigerant lines.

Why should I have a programmable thermostat?

Being electronic, programmable thermostats are more accurate and efficient than thermostats that contain mercury. Programmable thermostats can control the temperature in your home or business at different times of day without ever touching your thermostat. Because everything is automatic, you will never forget to change the setting on your own.

What type of air filter should I use? And how often should I replace it?

Standard filters work to keep your system and its ductwork clean, but they don’t improve indoor air quality that much. To do that you need a media filter. The media filter is located between the main return duct and the blower cabinet and will improve dust and particle removal by several times that of a standard filter. However, upgrading to a pleated media filter will remove everything from insecticide dust to airborne viruses from the filtered air.

Always choose a filter that matches your blower’s capacity. For optimum efficiency and filtration, we recommend that you replace your disposable filters at least once a month.

What can I do before calling ProTemp Mechanical Services for a heating issue?

Before calling us you may try one or more of the following troubleshooting tips to correct a problem yourself:

  • Make sure emergency shut-off switch is in the on position
  • Make sure circuit breaker is on
  • Check power connection
  • If outdoor unit isn’t working, press reset button (if unit has one)
  • Try turning unit off and then back on
  • Check for proper thermostat setting
  • In cases of indoor water leakage, look for clogged drain or rust-damaged drain pan and check drain line positioning
  • Check filter and change if needed
  • Make sure vents and dampers are open

Call ProTemp Mechanical Service Today

Call 519.436.0736