We’ve recently written a reminder that spring is when you should schedule your annual inspection and tune-up for your home’s air conditioning system. This preventive maintenance service is the best way to see that the air conditioner is up to the challenge of the coming summer. An HVAC technician will check the system to locate places where it may need repairs, and also handle routine tasks that will reduce wear, tear, and stress on the unit, helping it not only to operate at higher energy efficiency, but also to extend its service life.
To give you a better understanding of why maintenance is so helpful—and indeed essential—for air conditioners, we’re going to highlight some of the important steps that occur during maintenance:
- Check and clean the condenser coil: The condenser coil is where the unit releases heat to the outside, and if the coil is coated with grime, it will be much less effective. Your technician will clean off the coil if it is too dirty.
- Lubricate motors if necessary: The motors that run the compressor and fans will wear down over time. A visual check will tell the technician if they require lubrication.
- Change the air filter: This is a job that you will need to do on your own during the rest of the summer, usually every other month, so have the technician show you how to do it if you don’t already know.
- Check operating pressure: This involves checking on the refrigerant in the system. If the refrigerant level has dropped, it indicates a leak somewhere that will need to be fixed, followed by recharging the refrigerant.
- Thermostat recalibration: If a thermostat check shows that the unit is reading inaccurate temperatures, the unit must be recalibrated.
- Tighten electrical connections: Loose electrical connections are a common cause of electrical issues in an AC. The technician will do a general inspection of all the wiring in the AC.
These are only some of the steps. The whole process should take around an hour, and afterwards you’ll have an air conditioning system that’s in the best possible shape for the summer.
Contact Bud Matthews Services in Durham, NC to arrange for preventive maintenance this spring—and for your heating system in the fall.
