Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Introduction l
Chapter 1 What to Expect from This Book? 3
1.1 Safety 3
1.2 Basic troubleshooting took: eyes, ears and nose 4
1.3 Communicating with your HVAC contractor 5
1.4 Pricing Structure 5
Chapter 2 Recognizing Your Central System Type 7
2.1 Split Central System or Package Unit Central System 7
2.2 Electric Heat 8
2.3 Heat Pump 10
2.4 Natural Gas 12
2.5 Propane Furnace 12
2.6 Oil Furnace 13
2.7 Refrigerant Types 13
2.8 Understanding your systems components 14
Chapter 3 Leaking Water 17
3.1 Condensate drain lines 18
3.2 Condensate Pump 19
3.3 Auxiliary drain pan (overflow) 19
3.4 Primary drain pan rusted or cracked 20
3.5 Icing/Freezing up 20
Chapter 4 Unit Doesn't Come OnWhat to check? 21
4.1 Circuit breaker/fuse 21
4.2 Service disconnect 22
4.3 Gas furnace blower compartment door 23
4.4 Auxiliary drain pan (overflow) 23
4.5 Thermostat 24
Chapter 5 Evaporator Coil Icing/Freezing up 25
5.1 Dirty air filter 25
5.2 Dirty evaporator coil 26
5.3 Indoor blower motor not running/operating 26
5.4 Low on Freon 27
5.5 Thermostat temperature setting too low 27
Chapter 6 Unit Not Cooling 29
6.1 Dirty condenser coils 29
6.2 Condensing unit not running/operating 30
6.3 Furnace/Air Handler not running/operating 31
6.4 Improperly sized system 32
6.5 House not insulated 33
6.6 System aged and inefficient 34
6.7 Overcbarged/too much freon 34
6.8 Dirty air filter (see chapter 5.1) 34
6.9 Dirty evaporator (see chapter 5.2) 34
6.10 Low on freon (see chapter 5.4) 34
Chapter 7 Unit Not Heating 35
7.1 Blowing cold air 35
7.2 Auxiliary heat failed (Heat Pump Only) 36
7.3 What type of furnace do I have? (see chapter 2) 37
7.4 Low on Freon (Heat Pump Only) (see chapter 5.4) 37
Chapter 8 Thermostats 38
8.1 Digital Thermostats 38
8.1.1 Non-programmable Digital Thermostat 39
8.1.2 Programmable Digital Thermostat 40
8.2 Analog/Mercury filled Thermostats 40
Chapter 9 Ducts/Airflow 41
9.1 Flex Duct 41
9.2 Fiberglass duct board 42
9.3 Sheet metal 42
9.4 Return air 43
9.5 Duct cleaning 43
Chapter 10 Preventative Maintenance 45
10.1 Semi Annual/Annual check-ups 45
10.2 Typical routine, minimum check-up 46
10.3 Things you can safely do between servicing 48
Chapter 11 Warranties (how they work) 49
11.1 Manufactures warranty 49
11.2 Labor warranty 50
About the Author 51
