General maintenance for your Hydro-Temp system.

 

Hydro-Temp corp. recommends that you have your system checked at least once a year by the installing dealer.  This should be done to keep everything running efficiently and prevent down time during the coldest or hottest part of the year.

 

With the exception of preventive maintenance checks done by a trained professional there are only a few things to be done by the homeowner.

 

Set the thermostat.  In some cases programmable thermostats will mistakenly be programmed to set the temperature back when not desired.  Check the programming and insure the correct time of day and desired temperature is programmed or set the thermostat on hold which will stop the programming and allow a constant setting.  Programming instructions for thermostats used by Hydro-Temp can be found on this website.

 

Check and keep air filter clean. Filters commonly should be replaced/cleaned once a month.  If the filter is an electrostatic filter it should be back flushed with water once a month. (Vacuuming an electrostatic filter will not properly clean the filter) A clean filter will keep the air coil from getting clogged up.  If the coil gets clogged a service call will be required to clean the coil with acid.  The Hydro-Temp system should not be ran while the house is under construction.  If you must run the unit extra filters may be required and cleaned more frequently.

 

Keep the Condensate drain clear, All air conditioners have a condensate drain that drips water outside or into a sewer / floor drain.  Due to the increased amount of Dehumidification a Hydro-Temp system will normally condensate twice as much as a standard cooling system.  If possible, it's a good idea to check this drain before starting the system in cooling.  The best method is the pour a few gallons of water into the condensate pan inside the unit.  Pouring a 1/2 gallon of bleach or drain opener would be even better.  Self dissolving tablets are available from most hardware stores to put in the drain pan to do the same thing.  If you don't wish to remove the system cover to access the drain pan look and see if your condensate drain has a vent installed just outside the unit.  Liquid poured into the vent should go down the condensate drain.  If the pain or vent is not easily accessible blow backwards up the condensate line to dislodge any deposits in the line.  (This is something that should be done by your service company during their annual checkup.)

If the system is a closed loop, check the auto purge tank mounted next to the system.  This should be a plastic tank that is designed and strategically placed to automatically purge air from the ground loop and keep positive pressure on the loop pump.  If this tank gets low enough on water / anti-freeze the system will shut down.  The tank should be checked periodically and kept between 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full.  Hydro-Temp normally recommends to wait till the tank is 1/2 full then fill the tank 3/4 of the way full.  Never fill the tank over 3/4 of the way full.  Normally the auto purge tank only needs attention during the first few months after installation, but it should be checked monthly just in case stubborn air pockets take a while to purge out.  In some rare cases it can take a couple of years for all the air to be purged out.

If the system is a well water system often times a water strainer will be installed on the water in line.  This strainer can become clogged and need cleaning.  Contact your installing dealer to learn more about strainer cleaning, each system installation can be a little different.  Along with the water strainer some systems may have a pressure reducer installed to reduce your well water pressure to 25 psi entering the Hydro-Temp system.  The pressure reducer also has a built in screen that can get stopped up, it requires removal from the water line to be cleaned.

 

Ultra-violet Light: If the system is equipped with an ultra-violet light the bulb will need to be replaced every 18 months.

 

System lockout. Systems equipped with a control board have a lockout feature.  If the system kicks a protective limit switch 3 times in a row the system will lockout.  If the system locks out power will need to be turned off and back on to reset the lockout.  Before resetting the lockout you should always repair the problem that caused the lockout, damage to the system could occur if the problem is not repaired.