I guess he felt guilty for the checkup. If you get spring and fall checkups, this sounds like overkill. He may agree.
Digital does not need accurate leveling. Even a mechanical stat just needs to be close.

I've been lurking this forum for the past 3 years and I just became a member today to be able to ask the question about the serviceman checking the thermostat level and loudly announcing it was level.
It's been eating at me about how what was done / not done during the spring maintenance checkup and the "bubble check" seems to have hit a nerve!
Signing-up for this maintenance does give you a 10% discount on all parts installed, regular rates on holidays and weekends,and preferred customer status on all calls in addition to the equipment checking,cleaning etc.
This is a $150 yearly contract. I was convinced it was worth the price tag but after the skimpy job they did this spring I am reconsiderating.
Any additional comments or suggestions? Thanks Ollie

At $75 a pop and the extra benefits you are probably in good shape. A normal checkup could be over a hundred easily for summer and then again for winter. You may have had an inexperienced tech. Did you call the company? (I was not real impressed with the items he was checking and felt like he was doing a cursory job)- your words.

Perhaps you could do him and the company a favor. A heat pump should be checked over to avoid possible future problems (hence maintenance agreement), and the coils and filters should be checked/cleaned/replaced as needed. Temps and pressures are also items to be checked as well as a thorough checking of wires, contacts, etc. There are other things common to be done on a service checkup. It varies by companies and by techs. Good companies have a checklist as part of the bill and good techs fill it out. Lazy ones don't bother figuring most homeowners won't understand it.

You are right about the tstat. That was a giveaway. I would call.

I think the $150 per year is designed to make you feel like you're doing something to prevent major breakdowns . . . . which I seriously doubt is the case. Did the 'technician' with the level open up the evaporator compartment and clean the fins?

On the other hand, ten years of paying the $150 per year could probably buy you a complete new condensing unit, not to mention easily cover the cost of 90% of the breakdowns you might encounter over that same period of time

I've lived in the deep south for 35 years and we use the A/C about 9 months of the year - I've never paid for any 'maintenance' and have never had any serious breakdown which wasn't covered by a warranty. At $150 per year, I'm about $5K to the good at this point

Don

It may not be necessary to clean the blower or indoor coil every time he comes out and that depends on the type of filter you have and it's replacement. However these things should always be looked at closely and done as needed. The drain should always be cleared on every check and the outdoor units coil cleaned. The freon checked and controls, and the general list they provide done. Doing the check twice a year means a little less to do on some appointments, until something needs addressing. This is a good thing.
Since it takes a lot less time to check a well serviced unit, the tech just wants to spend a little more time there to make you feel better about getting your $$ worth.

ollie24018, if your thermostat has a mercury bubble in it, it is very important that the thermostat be perfectly level.

He checked and that says he was paying attention to details.

Ollie24018:

For a service contract of $150.00 per year, I would give you free labor for parts replacements, amp draw checks every year, freon pressure tests every three years, full regular charges if you or anyone else punctures or blocks up the outside condenser, fan lubrication every year, outside condenser cleaning every three years. Service calls made outside the contract would continue to apply. Call backs for the same problem or a replaced part that failed again within the standard one (1) year warranty would be free for parts, service call, and labor.

If you cause a problem in the system by not changing filters or cleaning them regularly, I would charge you regular rates for cleaning up the mess.

That was my procedure before my knees self destructed. If you are getting that or more, $150.00 per year is good. Ten percent (10%) off parts don't amount to squat.

Fairyprincess

On a Trane unit the outside coils get 'gunked' up with dust, debris, and cottonwood stuff. I recommend a good spring washing of the coil, even removing the fan and washing from the inside out as well as the outside in. Clean is good for the transfer of heat. Dust alone interfers with this heat transfer. Then a good wash from the outside in mid summer and a final wash in the fall before the winter checkup. That would be my plan. All homeowners should know how to wash a coil........

On a heat pump I would want some temperature measurements to see what the temp rise/ temp drop is. If it is not within specs I would grab the guages and superheat/subcool charts depending on the metering device. To do it only at a specified time period would negate a preventive maintenance plan. Oiling of motors (if oil ports are present) would be good to do twice a year as long as one does not overoil either time.

Just my 2C.

"ollie24018, if your thermostat has a mercury bubble in it, it is very important that the thermostat be perfectly level.

He checked and that says he was paying attention to details. "

Not exactly.
All the level does for a mercury thermostat is try and make sure the settings are correct on the dial. If you set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature (no matter what the actual numbers say) it will work just fine.

Digital thermostats do not use a mercury switch and do not need to be level.

So much for detail.

I'm a little confused. You said you have a heart pump with electric heater, how is that so? Heat pump uses refrigerant going in opposite direction to make heat, evaporator becomes condenser and vice versa.

@Michael Paxton.

This discussion is 13 years old.

Anyway, heat pump systems typically include either a gas or electric furnace (as part of the air handler) which provides auxiliary heat to 1) boost the heat pump in very cold conditions, 2) provide (emergency) heating in case of a compressor failure, and 3) operate during heat pump defrost cycles to boost the indoor air temperature which would otherwise be cold (air conditioning/cooling) from the defrost process.

Again at least you liked your answer.

However, the correct answer is, "Leveling is an esthetic issue only on your digital thermostat!"

PS "The square or rectangular thermostats are easy to make nice and level. But how do you make a round thermostat level?"

You actually level the wall mount/bracket which causes the mercury switch to be correct - if required.