[univmd]

I get it twice a year, every year, spring and fall. I have two units/zones in my house. My system never breaks down, but sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who gets PM, and whether I should just save the money for a new system when it does break down! --James

 

[mrs reb77]

Perhaps the maintenance is why you don't have breakdowns?
Maintenance HVAC equipment as per manufacturer's recommendations just as you have your car serviced as per your service manual.

 

[pstu]

For a long time I have been getting spring and fall checkups too. Always sounded like the thing to do, and at certain times we were wondering whether our old furnaces would make it another season -- and trusted the pro to tell us. Upon reading this board I was a little shocked that this appeared to be the exception rather than the rule. One of our pros had us on a pre-paid maintenance contract, it promised a small discount on needed repairs, it seemed like a good business practice if you ask me. Another minority opinion.

Best wishes -- Pstu

 

[Sterling1]

Trane Clean Air Effects

I just replaced my old system with a brand new HVAC system, all Trane equipment. I also got something I really love: Trane Clean Air Effects. It has totally exceeded my expectations -- the air is so clean in my house I cannot smell anything -- and I have cats! No litterbox smells, nothing! I clean regularly anyway, of course, but there were still telltale smells that you'll have if you have cats. No more! The dealer who installed my system recommended I get four checkups annually instead of the usual two to keep the system really clean and running at its best. It makes sense to me. I would like to get some other opinions.

Thanks.

 

[AIR PRO]

I just replaced my old system with a brand new HVAC system, all Trane equipment. I also got something I really love: Trane Clean Air Effects. It has totally exceeded my expectations -- the air is so clean in my house I cannot smell anything -- and I have cats! No litterbox smells, nothing! I clean regularly anyway, of course, but there were still telltale smells that you'll have if you have cats. No more! The dealer who installed my system recommended I get four checkups annually instead of the usual two to keep the system really clean and running at its best. It makes sense to me. I would like to get some other opinions.

Thanks.

4 a year is too much IMO, it will fall apart in a few years from being taken apart and put back together so much!

 

[Sterling1]

4 a year is too much IMO, it will fall apart in a few years from being taken apart and put back together so much!

Are you being serious? When I say 4 checkups a year I don't mean they're going to take the whole system apart. Normally what they do is check to make sure there is enough puron and that everything is functioning normally. With the Clean Air Effects they would clean the filter also, which I would think would keep the system running better. In my case, I have cats, litterboxes, dander, plenty of cat hair, etc., so I would think cleaning them two more times a year would make sense. I would do it myself but my furnace is in the attic and I'm scared of heights.

 

[catmanacman]

i would have it checked and the cells .n the cleanefects cleaned 1 spring 1fall by a pro and clean the pre filters monthly my self

 

[skippedover]

Our company high recommends 2 visits per year and our agreement clients all get that included. As far as the Trane Clean Effects, it has an electronic air cleaner. Read the EPA info on electronic air cleaners. They do a great job the first 30 days and then tank quickly as time goes on. The only way to rejuvenate them is with chemicals, a thorough rinse & dry, then reinsert the cells. Most people don't want to pay the freight for monthly visits so Trane is recommending 4 times a year. The problem is, there's only one company out of 100 that actually carries the chemical to properly clean an EAC. Oh I know, the manufacturer says you can put the cells in the dishwasher and clean them. Hey, wake up. If the EAC is really doing it's job, it's baking the residue onto the cells just like food spilled in an oven. Ever try to clean an oven with soap and water? Doesn't happen unless you're talking about a self cleaning oven. I doubt you've got a 600^F dishwasher with a 3 hour cycle on it like a self cleaning oven. Chemicals are the only way to clean the oven and likewise the only way to clean the average EAC. The manufacture says use the dishwasher because they'd never sell the highly profitable EAC if they told the truth. Okay, so what to do? We use the Dynamic EAC. It's 1-inch thick, replaces the existing air filter and for servicing, you take out the inner element, vacuum off the rock stopper frame and insert a totally new cell as often as you like. I have one in my home as well as having installed them in hundreds of other homes. Everyone loves them and we sell them a new 4-pack of elements (cells) every year.

 

[Sterling1]

What pre-filters? To my knowledge there is only one filter in the clean air itself. If you are talking about filters in the returns, it doesn't require that you have them.

 

[Sterling1]

If you have the Dynamic filters would 4 x a year be enough to clean and change the filter? I am afraid of heights and cannot get up to the attic to do anything with the equipment up there, and I know I don't want to pay for monthly visits. Does the Dynamic lose its effectiveness after 30 days? I am so loving this clean air I would hate to see it deteriorating after just 30 days!

 

[AIR PRO]

Our company high recommends 2 visits per year and our agreement clients all get that included. As far as the Trane Clean Effects, it has an electronic air cleaner. Read the EPA info on electronic air cleaners. They do a great job the first 30 days and then tank quickly as time goes on. The only way to rejuvenate them is with chemicals, a thorough rinse & dry, then reinsert the cells. Most people don't want to pay the freight for monthly visits so Trane is recommending 4 times a year. The problem is, there's only one company out of 100 that actually carries the chemical to properly clean an EAC. Oh I know, the manufacturer says you can put the cells in the dishwasher and clean them. Hey, wake up. If the EAC is really doing it's job, it's baking the residue onto the cells just like food spilled in an oven. Ever try to clean an oven with soap and water? Doesn't happen unless you're talking about a self cleaning oven. I doubt you've got a 600^F dishwasher with a 3 hour cycle on it like a self cleaning oven. Chemicals are the only way to clean the oven and likewise the only way to clean the average EAC. The manufacture says use the dishwasher because they'd never sell the highly profitable EAC if they told the truth. Okay, so what to do? We use the Dynamic EAC. It's 1-inch thick, replaces the existing air filter and for servicing, you take out the inner element, vacuum off the rock stopper frame and insert a totally new cell as often as you like. I have one in my home as well as having installed them in hundreds of other homes. Everyone loves them and we sell them a new 4-pack of elements (cells) every year.

I think you are VERY misinformed about the clean effects, Trane does NOT recommend cleaning the cells in the dishwasher.....nor do they recommend cleaning them 4x a year. Are you a Trane dealer?

 

[AIR PRO]

Are you being serious? When I say 4 checkups a year I don't mean they're going to take the whole system apart. Normally what they do is check to make sure there is enough puron and that everything is functioning normally. With the Clean Air Effects they would clean the filter also, which I would think would keep the system running better. In my case, I have cats, litterboxes, dander, plenty of cat hair, etc., so I would think cleaning them two more times a year would make sense. I would do it myself but my furnace is in the attic and I'm scared of heights.

No, I wasn't really serious.....unless you were talking about 4 full fledged tune-ups per year.

 

[AIR PRO]

What pre-filters? To my knowledge there is only one filter in the clean air itself. If you are talking about filters in the returns, it doesn't require that you have them.

There is only one pre-filter in the clean effects. That is the one you clean, the cells get cleaned by your contractor 2x a year.

 

[Sterling1]

Where is pre-filter?

The installers of my Air Clean told me there is nothing I need to clean -- they will come twice a year to clean the filter. They didn't mention a pre-filter that I need to clean. But they know I am afraid of heights so maybe that is why they didn't mention it? I'm not in the HVAC field so I'm not sure what you mean by cells that they clean? Are they in the filter? Pre-filter? Sorry, I don't mean to sound dense! One of the employees told me I really should have the filter cleaned 4 x a year to get the best performance. I do want to keep it clean. When HVAC folks come out twice a year to do a "tune up," as you say, what exactly should they do? I can remember them coming out and basically just checking the freon and splashing some water on my compressor. They didn't even go up to the attic! I wonder if it would be possible for them to come out to do the complete tune-up twice a year and just come out to clean the filter the other 2 x?

 

[robertc65]

The installers of my Air Clean told me there is nothing I need to clean -- they will come twice a year to clean the filter. They didn't mention a pre-filter that I need to clean. But they know I am afraid of heights so maybe that is why they didn't mention it? I'm not in the HVAC field so I'm not sure what you mean by cells that they clean? Are they in the filter? Pre-filter? Sorry, I don't mean to sound dense! One of the employees told me I really should have the filter cleaned 4 x a year to get the best performance. I do want to keep it clean. When HVAC folks come out twice a year to do a "tune up," as you say, what exactly should they do? I can remember them coming out and basically just checking the freon and splashing some water on my compressor. They didn't even go up to the attic! I wonder if it would be possible for them to come out to do the complete tune-up twice a year and just come out to clean the filter the other 2 x?

Uninformed People like you are good for the economy. I used to have a neighbor who had a plumber come out on a Sunday night to unclog his kitchen sink because he was afraid something bad would happen if he did not get someone out there right away to fix it. He paid a lot of money to get his trap cleaned on a Sunday night. Keep it up........ Do you maintain all of you stuff this way? Do you fill out those little warranty cards that come with products and mail them in thinking that your warranty will not be granted if you fail to do so. Seriously I think your fears are costing you a lot of money. Sorry to be blunt, but I don't like to see people being taken advantage of.

 

[BigJon3475]

Just curious but how can anyone say how many times the cleaner needs to be cleaned in that house if you haven't ever been in that house?

"In my case, I have cats, litterboxes, dander, plenty of cat hair, etc., so I would think cleaning them two more times a year would make sense."

Especially when you don't really know how many cats. Maybe the company has a little more info to recommend 4 times a year than us sitting back in internet land.

 

[Sterling1]

Uninformed People like you are good for the economy. I used to have a neighbor who had a plumber come out on a Sunday night to unclog his kitchen sink because he was afraid something bad would happen if he did not get someone out there right away to fix it. He paid a lot of money to get his trap cleaned on a Sunday night. Keep it up........ Do you maintain all of you stuff this way? Do you fill out those little warranty cards that come with products and mail them in thinking that your warranty will not be granted if you fail to do so. Seriously I think your fears are costing you a lot of money. Sorry to be blunt, but I don't like to see people being taken advantage of.

It's not that you're BLUNT -- it's that you're INSULTING! And no, I do not mail in the warranty cards! So far you are the first individual on this list to answer my post giving me absolutely NO information. If all you can do is hurl insults, please refrain from responding to my posts.

 

[pstu]

It's not that you're BLUNT -- it's that you're INSULTING! And no, I do not mail in the warranty cards! So far you are the first individual on this list to answer my post giving me absolutely NO information. If all you can do is hurl insults, please refrain from responding to my posts.

RobertC may have been undiplomatic, may have been blunt, but I do not regard his message as hostile or insulting. For one thing I would never have imagined mailing in warranty cards to be an issue of contention. On the internet you cannot see nuance, people have a tendency to read a message in the worst possible way. I think the degree of disrespect here has been small compared to what it might be, if you will accept my plea then cut the other guy some slack and read (and write) the messages a little friendlier.

Best wishes -- Pstu

 

[Sterling1]

RobertC may have been undiplomatic, may have been blunt, but I do not regard his message as hostile or insulting. For one thing I would never have imagined mailing in warranty cards to be an issue of contention. On the internet you cannot see nuance, people have a tendency to read a message in the worst possible way. I think the degree of disrespect here has been small compared to what it might be, if you will accept my plea then cut the other guy some slack and read (and write) the messages a little friendlier.

Best wishes -- Pstu

And also please try to be helpful! Isn't that why we submit posts to this group? It's one thing to criticize if you're also giving some information, but the criticism by itself, IMO, is rude. That is my take on it. You can agree or disagree. I have no wish to be contentious -- I just want to learn.

 

[pstu]

I have seen a few posts that are... unhelpful. And worse. The moderators try to curb the extremes but most of the time we just shrug and move on. This is a lot more productive than making etiquette the subject of the thread.

Regards -- Pstu