Maintenance Tips

Keeping your air conditioning and plumbing equipment in good condition will help keep everything functioning longer, and prevent inconveniences and costly repairs down the road. Follow the tips below to maximize the functionality and life of your AC and plumbing units.

Heating and Air Conditioning

• Change filters on a monthly basis
• Clean and service heating and cooling equipment twice a year
• Subscribe to an annual service/maintenance agreement through a professional service provider to keep unit working better and longer
• Upgrade old inefficient equipment to Trane high-efficiency equipment

Faucets and Sinks

• Repair leaks immediately — even small drips can waste as much as 150 gallons of water every day, and lead to increased water bills and damaged fixtures and pipes
• Check under sinks periodically for moisture or small leaks
• Remove and clean faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water
• Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanity are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.

Water Heater

• Shut off the power and read owner's manual before do-it-yourself maintenance on your water heater
• Drain water from the tank at least once every three months to remove sediment, which can hamper performance
• Inspect your water heater burner periodically — the flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it's mostly yellow, or if it's sooty underneath, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Contact a professional to check it out.
• Have water heater, drain valve and anode rods inspected by a service technician at least once every two years

Toilets

• Check toilet for leaks at least once a year — add small amount of red food coloring to tank and check later to see if it seeps into bowl, indicating a leak
• Fix leaks immediately to avoid high water bills and water waste — replacing the tank ball usually takes care of leaks

Clogs

• Install strainers in bathtubs to catch hair and soap, and avoid clogs (clean strainer regularly)
• Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink — liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs
• Avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged — acidic ingredients become trapped in pipes and cause damage
• Use a snake to release clogs whenever possible, or contact a professional

Garbage Disposal

• Run a lot of cold water while your garbage disposal is on
• Do not overload garbage disposal
• Avoid disposing of things like bones or corn husks
• Never using a caustic drain opener