Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

Filters, vents, condensate paths, outdoor condenser coils and thermostat settings on central forced-air heating and cooling systems.

Common failure modes

• A filter left in place long past its interval
• A filter installed against the airflow arrow
• Supply or return vents blocked by furniture
• A condensate drain blocked by algae or debris
• An outdoor condenser coil packed with grass and leaves

Procedures

• How to bleed a radiator that is cold at the top and warm at the bottomA radiator that is cold at the top and warm at the bottom almost always has air trapped inside it. The air collects abov
• How to clean the outside AC unit / condenser coil before summerThe metal fins on the outside of your air conditioner or heat pump collect dust, pollen, grass clippings and leaves over
• How to clear a blocked condensate drain on a central air conditionerWater pooling near your indoor air conditioning unit is almost always caused by a clogged condensate drain line. As your
• How to change the air filter in a furnace or central air conditionerChanging the air filter is the one maintenance task on a central heating and cooling system that a householder can do wi

Where this stops

Anything inside the equipment cabinet, any work on a gas connection, and any handling of refrigerant is outside this repository. Those tasks need a licensed technician, and in most jurisdictions refrigerant work requires certification.