.: It's all about you...

Marty and the expert technicians at Emerald are committed not only to meeting your heating and cooling needs, but also to informing you about how the technology of our industry works. So we put together this comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section to make you an expert, too.

Questions:
What makes my home comfortable?
What kind of system is right for me?
How can I save money?
What maintenance can I do myself?
When should I have Emerald do my maintenance?

What makes my home comfortable?

The four biggest factors in your home's comfort are:

• Temperature
• Cleanliness/freshness of air
• Humidity
• System Control

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What kind of system is right for me?

The system that is right for you will depend on a number of factors: your budget, your comfort expectations, physical factors such as what type of system currently exists in your home, the unique features of your home, and more. Below, you can explore the system options available and some of the key factors that affect your choice.

• Types of systems
• Key Accessories
• System Control
• Key factors that affect your choice

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How can I save money?

Shopping for bottom line price is easy. But, will the lowest priced system end up costing you money in the long run with higher operating costs or by needing to be replaced sooner? Will the lowest priced system provide the comfort you expect?

Comparing energy efficiency of different brands of heating and cooling equipment is relatively easy. Although the rating systems are standardized, allowing you to make a fair comparison, there are three different rating systems used. Each rating is used for a specific type of product(in other words, all furnaces use the same system, heat pumps use a different system, an so on). They are:

• AFUE (gas heating)
• SEER (cooling)
• HSPF (heat pump heating)

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What maintenance can I do myself?

With the proper maintenance and care, your equipment will operate economically and dependably. There are a few simple, routine maintenance operations you can do to help ensure the best performance and comfort from your system.

Safety First
Before you perform any kind of maintenance, consider these important safety precautions.

1. Disconnect all electrical power to the unit before removing access panels to perform maintenance. Please note that there may be more than one power connection switch.
2. Check for sharp edges

Routine Maintenance
Check the air filter in your furnace or fan coil every 3 to 4 weeks. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. Replace your filter when necessary, or clean it if you have the reusable type. (If you have a reusable filter, make sure it's completely dry before you re-install it.) The prefilter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should be cleaned at least two or three times per year.

Clean dust off of your indoor coil. With a vacuum cleaner and soft-brush attachment, you can remove any dust from the top and underside of the coil. Make sure you only do this when the coil is dry. If you can't get the coil clean this way, call us for service.

Keep your outdoor condensing unit free of debris. If you keep grass clippings, leaves, shrubbery and debris away from your outdoor unit, it should only require minimal care to operate properly. Check the base pan (under the unit) occasionally and remove debris, to help the unit drain correctly. If the outdoor coil becomes dirty, use a brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to clean the surface. To clean dirt that is deep in the coil, contact Emerald.

Take special care of outdoor condensing units in waterfront environments. Although new units are made out of galvanized metal and are protected by top-grade paint, you can add life to your unit by washing all exposed surfaces and the coil approximately every three months. (Ask Marty about the appropriate interval in your area.)

Make sure your outdoor unit stays in a level position. If the support for your split-system outdoor unit shifts or settles and the unit is no longer level, re-level it promptly to make sure moisture drains properly out of the unit. If you notice that water or ice collects beneath the unit, arrange for it to be drained away from the equipment.

Inspect your furnace's combustion area and vent system before each heating season. If you find dirt, soot or rust, your system may not operate properly or at its peak efficiency. Call Emerald and do not operate your furnace until it is professionally inspected and/or repaired.

Have oil-fired boilers inspected annually. Call Emerald before each heating season to replace your oil filter cartridge and conduct a thorough inspection of the unit's operation.

Clean your humidifier at the beginning of every heating season. Review your owner's manual for the proper procedure to clean the external and internal components of your unit. The evaporator pad should also be replaced before each heating season. If the water in your area is hard or has high mineral content, you may need to clean or service your humidifier more frequently.

Clean the core and air filters on a ventilator at least every three months. You can vacuum the core of an energy recovery ventilator as long as it is dry and the outdoor temperature is between 60 F (16 C) and 75 F (24 C). Heat recovery ventilator cores can be soaked for three hours in a solution of warm water and mild soap and then rinsed. Ventilator air filters are washable: just use a vacuum to remove the heaviest accumulation of dust and then wash them in lukewarm water. Replace them after they are completely dry.

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What routine maintenance do I need help with?

Think about how you take care of your car. Sure, most people can handle the little stuff - checking and topping off fluids, keeping tires inflated to the correct pressure, changing the wiper blades. But, to keep your car operating at its best, you need an occasional tune-up from a trained professional.

Your heating and cooling system is no different. To get the most performance and longest life from your system, it's a good idea to have a professional perform routine checks in the spring and in the fall.

Spring maintenance
In the spring, Emerald can typically check a heat pump or air conditioner for all or some of the following:

• operating pressures
• refrigerant charge
• filter condition
• compressor
• fan motor
• capacitors
• belts
• crankcase heaters
• coils cleaning
• lubrication of moving parts

Fall maintenance
In the fall, you can expect Emerald to check your furnace in the following areas:

• burner and pilot assemblies
• cracks in the heat exchanger
• check the pilot thermocouple
• examine the filter and check vent piping
• test the electronic ignition
• test the fan
• test the limit switch
• burner adjustments
• measure manifold gas pressure
• measure temperature rise
• carbon monoxide test
• set the heat anticipator
• check and adjust belt tension
• examine the draft diverter
• lubricate the fan motor

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