Before you call Aerco, here are a few things that you can check in order to potentially save yourself some time and money.

1. If the unit plugs into a socket, check to see if it is plugged in all the way. The plug may have accidentally been dislodged.
2. Check the breaker box to see if the breaker that the piece of equipment is on has tripped. This happens when the load on the circuit increases due to a power surge or from the equipment pulling in more power than normal. If the breaker continually trips, you will want to call someone to look at the equipment as there may be something wrong with the unit.
3. Check the thermostat settings. It is possible that the settings were accidentally altered. If the settings are wrong and you don’t know how to change them, most manufacturers have online manuals and some offer free support for changing the settings.
4. Check to see if any of the fans are obstructed at all. If the fans are even partially blocked, this can interfere with the unit’s ability to remove the unwanted heat.

If none of the above suggestions fix the problem, here’s what to do:

1. Gather up the information below. This will give the technician an idea of what the problem could be and they will be able to bring the proper parts and equipment to resolve the situation.
   • What temperature does your thermostat read?
   • Is the thermostat blank or are there just dashes (—)?
   • Have you checked to ensure that your A/C unit is turned on? (There is a disconnect switch at the base of the HVAC unit)
   • What area does the air conditioner service (office, front desk, etc.)?
   • Have you tried changing the battery in the thermostat?
   • What type of thermostat do you have (i.e. t7300)?
2. Give Aerco a call at 1-800-663-0401.

In some cases, no, the problem you discover at 3 pm must be dealt with immediately. For example, when you need to shut down the restaurant because your exhaust fan isn’t working.  But if you believe that the issue can wait until morning, you can avoid overtime charges by calling immediately to schedule a service call for first thing the next morning.

Before changing filters or inspecting fan belts, turn off the disconnect switch at the the unit.

Why is changing filters on my HVAC units important?
Filters protect HVAC units from dirt that will coat coils and other parts inside the units. A proper filter change program will go a long way to ensuring that coils transfer heat efficiently allowing the HVAC unit to use less energy and keep other components such as compressors from failing.

Why is it important to have the coils on my HVAC units cleaned regularly?
Even with a good filter program coils in any HVAC unit will require annual cleaning. Units with dirty coils do not transfer heat effectively which results in the machines working harder and longer to do the required amount of heating or cooling. When the unit works harder it uses more energy and stresses the equipment leading to expensive repairs. Coil cleaning will save money in both energy and repairs.

Why does my air-conditioning inevitably fail on the hottest days?
When HVAC systems are not properly maintained, they have to run harder than they were designed to run.  Throw in an extra hot summer’s day which likely pushes the equipment beyond its specified capacity (even when it is at peak performance and efficiency) and the equipment breaks down.

The cooling coils that transfer heat from the inside of your building to the unit’s refrigerant are like the radiator of your car. If they get covered in dirt, they cannot transfer heat efficiently. Therefore, less heat is transferred, so to give the same amount of cooling the unit must run longer.

Similarly, if the coils that transfer heat from the refrigerant to the outside are dirty, less heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the outside. This means the refrigerant stays hotter. Hotter refrigerant cannot absorb as much heat from the inside of the building. This means again that the system must work longer. Soon your equipment is working much harder and longer than it was designed to do.

What is the advantage of programmable thermostats?
Programmable thermostats allow you to set your HVAC equipment to only condition your space when it is occupied. This saves energy (money).

Should I set my thermostat to “On” or “Auto?”
When the thermostat is to On, the fan in the HVAC unit will run continuously whether the unit is heating, cooling or doing neither. Setting it to Auto means that the fan will only run when the unit is either heating or cooling.
Most people assume setting to Auto will save energy by having the fan run less. However, many commercial spaces are designed to bring the fresh air required by building codes in from outside through the HVAC equipment. If the thermostat is set to Auto, fresh air will only be brought in when heating or cooling takes place which is a violation of the building code. In these cases the thermostat should be set to On to ensure continuous supply of fresh air.

Regular maintenance will save you money in operating costs as well as provide a better comfort level for your customers and employees.

Check off each procedure when it has been performed.

Checklist:

• Air Filter Replacement – Monthly
• Outdoor Filter Washing – Monthly
• Exhaust Grease Trap Cleaned – Quarterly
• Blower Fan Belt Checked – Quarterly
• System Inspection – Quarterly by Service Agent