Do-It-Yourself Home Preventive Maintenance

To avoid trouble later in the year, Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing recommends including your indoor comfort systems on your checklist. "Routine maintenance on these systems now will save you on costly repairs later," suggested Andrew Culberson, Geisel President. "Annual check-ups will keep your plumbing, furnace and air conditioner in top working order." 

Schedule your heating system clean and check restoration service, just $84!

Geisel suggests including these do-it-yourself items in your maintenance checklist:

Have leaky faucets fixed or replaced. An average leak wastes up to 5,000 gallons a year, at an estimated cost of $40 a year. Repair your leaky toilet tanks as well. Geisel's professional service technicians can provide you with quality faucets and toilets as well as installation or help you solve the problems with your old ones.

Check to see if your water heater is functioning properly by draining a bucket or two of water from the valve at the bottom of the unit. Turn the valve on and off in rapid succession when draining the water to stir up the sediment settled at the bottom of the heater. Examine the valve for any water leakage.

Check the flame under the water heater. It should appear blue with yellow tips. If it's mostly yellow or if you see a layer of soot and carbon, the flueways may be clogged. Don't try anything yourself at this point. Call Geisel to investigate the situation.

Have a Geisel professional service technician check your heating-cooling system on an annual basis. A Geisel professional will be able to detect and eliminate inefficiencies, which can reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. We can also make sure the inside surfaces are clean and operating safely.

Remember to clean or replace hot air furnace filters when they become dirty with lint or dust. Dirty filters not only restrict airflow; they can also contribute to equipment breakdown.

Make sure your heat pump unit is ready for a heavy winter workout. Check the shrubbery around the outdoor condenser and do a little trimming if necessary. Accumulated dirt, leaves and other debris increase electricity consumption and decrease efficiency.

Check closely for air leaks in ductwork, especially at connection points. Leaks can be repaired with duct tape. Ductwork exposed to outside or attic air must be insulated for additional reduction of heat transfer.

Check your sump pump to make sure it's in working order before the spring rains. Keep the sump pit debris-free by scooping out the accumulated sediment. A build-up of sand or other debris can jam the pump and burn out its motor.

Make sure the discharge pipe is not clogged. Hook up a garden hose to the connection point. If water runs through the other end, the pipe is OK.

Clear your home's rain gutters and downspouts of leaves and other debris so that excess water does not collect around the home's foundation and seep into your basement.

Remember to check your humidistat, which powers and regulates your home's automatic humidifier. Chances are you will need it during the winter months. Now is also a good time to service your humidifier, replace the orifice and water panel and check it for proper operation

If your home is equipped with flood control devices (such as an ejector pump) in case of sewer backup, have them checked by a Geisel professional to make sure they are working properly before the heavy spring rains.

"Preventive maintenance tips such as these go a long way to avoid bothersome repairs later on," added Culberson. "Now is the perfect time to make sure your home's plumbing, heating and cooling systems are in top shape. And when you need additional service from a professional, we're here to provide trained, PROTECS certified services to help keep your home safe, comfortable, and efficient."

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