Homeowners Information - Lennox Merit Series Installation Instructions Manual

Homeowners Information

CAUTION
Before attempting to perform any service or maintenance,
turn the electrical power to unit OFF at disconnect switch.
In order to ensure peak performance, your system must
be properly maintained. Clogged filters and blocked air-
flow prevent your unit from operating at its most efficient
level. The system should be inspected and serviced be-
fore each cooling and heating season by a licensed pro-
fessional HVAC service technician (or equivalent).
Heat Pump Operation
Your new Lennox heat pump has several characteristics
that you should be aware of:
• Heat pumps satisfy heating demand by delivering large
amounts of warm air into the living space. This is quite
different from gas- or oil-fired furnaces or an electric fur-
nace which deliver lower volumes of considerably hotter
air to heat the space.
• Do not be alarmed if you notice frost on the outdoor coil
in the winter months. Frost develops on the outdoor coil
during the heating cycle when temperatures are below
45ºF (7ºC). An electronic control activates a defrost cy-
cle lasting 5 to 15 minutes at preset intervals to clear the
outdoor coil of the frost.
• During the defrost cycle, you may notice steam rising
from the outdoor unit. This is a normal occurrence. The
thermostat may engage auxiliary heat during the defrost
cycle to satisfy a heating demand; however, the unit will
return to normal operation at the conclusion of the de-
frost cycle.
Homeowner Maintenance
The following maintenance may be performed by the
homeowner.
• Contact a licensed professional HVAC technician to
schedule inspection and maintenance appointments for
your equipment before each heating and cooling sea-
son.
• Check the indoor unit filter each month and replace the
filter, if necessary.
• Have your Lennox dealer show you where your indoor
unit filter is located. It will be either at the indoor unit
(installed internal or external to the cabinet) or behind
a return air grille in the wall or ceiling. Check the filter
monthly and clean or replace it as needed. Disposable
filters should be replaced with a filter of the same type
and size.
• Check the indoor unit drain line for obstructions month-
ly. The indoor coil is equipped with a drain pan to collect
condensate formed as your system removes humidity
from the inside air. Have your dealer show you the loca-
tion of the drain line and how to check for obstructions.
(This would also apply to an auxiliary drain, if installed.)
• Check the area around the outdoor unit monthly and
remove any obstructions that may restrict airflow to the
outdoor unit. This would include grass clippings, leaves,
or papers that may have settled around the unit.
• Trim shrubbery away from the unit and periodically
check for debris which collects around the unit.
• During the winter months, keep the snow level below
the louvered panels.
NOTE - The filter and all access panels must be in place
any time the unit is in operation. If you are unsure about
the filter required for your system, call your Lennox dealer
for assistance.
Sprinklers and soaker hoses should not be installed
where they could cause prolonged exposure to the
outdoor unit by treated water. Prolonged exposure
of the unit to treated water (i.e., sprinkler systems,
soakers, waste water, etc.) will corrode the surface of
the steel and aluminum parts, diminish performance
and affect longevity of the unit.
Thermostat Operation
See the thermostat homeowner manual for instructions on
how to operate your thermostat.
If your system fails to operate, check the following before
calling for service:
• Verify room thermostat settings are correct.
• Verify that all electrical disconnect switches are ON.
• Check for any blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
• Verify unit access panels are in place.
• Verify air filter is clean.
If service is needed, locate and write down the unit model
number and have it handy before calling.
Extended Power Outage
The heat pump is equipped with a compressor crankcase
heater which protects the compressor during cold weather
operation.
If power to your unit has been interrupted for several hours
or more, set the room thermostat selector to the EMER-
GENCY HEAT setting to obtain temporary heat without
the risk of serious damage to the heat pump.
In EMERGENCY HEAT mode, all heating demand is sat-
isfied by auxiliary heat; heat pump operation is locked out.
After a six-hour compressor crankcase warm-up period,
the thermostat can be switched to the HEAT setting and
normal heat pump operation may resume.
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IMPORTANT
Pre-Service Check