Maggie's Farm

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Friday, August 7. 2020

Simple household tips that you already know

For northern North Americans: 


1. Get your a/c checked out etc in the winter
2. Get your chimneys cleaned in August
3. Get your furnace checked out in July.

Posted by The Barrister in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 17:00 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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We're jonesing out here for Friday's Links!
#1 The Distributist (Link) on 2020-08-07 17:47 (Reply)
No HVAC we’ve ever had would do maintenance on AC when not warm enough to test thermostat and cooling. Maybe better to do in September when you’re shutting down the pool and it’s still warm. Our guy does the generator Maintenance and check 2x a year -spring + AC and fall for + heat. We pay him 1x a year and he just schedules.
#2 Annie on 2020-08-07 18:42 (Reply)
Our experience is similar to yours in that we have semi-annual scheduled service calls, once each for furnace & a/c.

With either service call, the service guy asks us to turn the thermostat enough to kick on the furnace or a/c, according to what's being checked that day. When he's finished, we just reset the thermostat to where it was.

We've never gotten anything like, "Sorry, ma'am, it's too cold to test the a/c today."

If they're giving you the runaround, ask them why not just reset the thermostat to call for heat or cooling and test the system that way?

And Plan B is to line up another service company.
#2.1 PubliusII on 2020-08-07 21:55 (Reply)
...Just to add, servicing for us is usually in the hinge seasons (spring and fall) because, as noted below, in winter or summer all the service techs are out on repair calls.
#2.1.1 PubliusII on 2020-08-07 21:58 (Reply)
Tested my AC this morning. Open all the windows early in the morning and shut them by 8:30 am and house stays cool until 6 pm.
#2.1.1.1 OneGuy on 2020-08-08 00:08 (Reply)
We’ve had the same guy for last 10 years two properties and it’s worked for us. Never had a service call during “high” hot or cold season so sticking with what works. Usually leave the bulkhead or walkout door open The day he says tech is coming and often don’t see him except by the new filters.
#2.1.2 Annie on 2020-08-08 08:45 (Reply)
Don't forget the septic tank!
#3 snopercod on 2020-08-07 20:12 (Reply)
re Get your furnace checked out in July.

Problem here is that those people are heating AND air conditioning servicemen. That means they are busy in July working on a/c.

Fall works better.
#4 feeblemind on 2020-08-07 21:55 (Reply)
I've got a bad feeling about this coming winter!
#5 Apple Pie on 2020-08-07 22:08 (Reply)
What's cleaning a chimney?

When we started shopping for this house, the real estate agent asked, " Do you want a fireplace? " Both of us gave her a very hard look for about 15 seconds. She looked at her notes and said, " No fireplace. "
#6 barnhill on 2020-08-08 07:51 (Reply)
There isn't much to check until they stop working. Change the filter every month and clean the coils every year on the a/c. That's easy and only costs you the amount of the foam cans.
#7 Jack Walter on 2020-08-08 08:35 (Reply)

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