My building has halted fancoil maintenance, what should I do?
Many buildings have ceased entrance of contractors to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 for the safety of residents. If your building is no longer allowing seasonal service of the fancoils, here are a number of steps that you can carry out on your own.
Change filters. Each fancoil has a filter inside the access door. You can purchase these directly from us at our parts counter located at 2599 Eglinton Ave West, Amazon or big box stores such as Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Rona, etc. Many filters (with a cardboard casing) display the size on the leading edge. Filters changes are generally mandated twice per year and as frequent as four times per year. However you can use your own judgement by observing the amount of dust/particulate building on the filter. If the filter is black and fuzzy, it is time to change it. TIP: filters in fan coils are usually larger than the space that air goes through. You may note when inspecting the filter that 2/3 is dark and 1/3 is still white. You can extend the life of the filter by flipping it upside-down. Also note that for pleated filters, there is a direction noted by an arrow. Make sure the arrow points inwards to the fancoil in the direction of the air flow. There is a wire meshing on the back to ensure that airflow does not stretch of bend the shape of the filter material.
Ensure thermostat operability. Part of our maintenance diagnostic is to ensure seasonal heating and cooling functions. Ensure your thermostat is in the proper heat or cool mode. Turn the temperature up or down accordingly. Wait 2 minutes and then feel if the air is coming out of the supply grille which is generally above the thermostat. If only room temperature air is flowing, then you may need a service technician to inspect for a failed part. You can call our service line at any point and book an appointment. City bylaws require minimum (above) 21C after September 15th, and maximum (below) 26C after June 2nd. Despite your building may have general contractor restrictions, by law you cannot be denied a technician to service your fancoil unit to ensure that seasonal temperature requirements are met. You can read more on the City of Toronto page.
Summertime condensation. Our spring seasonal maintenance service is crucial for ensuring that condensate exits the unit into a drain riser correctly. Drain risers can become clogged and can overflow causing floods. If in the summer when cooling is on, if you hear any dripping sound coming from the fancoil, or you see water on the floor near the unit, call your superintendent and property manager immediately. You can also call us to book an appointment with a service technician.