Air Conditioner Maintenance
It’s the onset of summers, the most active yet exhausting time of the year. Have you had your garden put in order, the sprinklers set to keep that heat down? How about the cooling system in your house? Ready yet to beat the heat. Not sure?
Let me give you an easy checklist to be right on track. Maintenance is usually a job done well in routine and not only once in a while. It is always a great idea to set a regular time interval for a deep dive into your air conditioning system, preferably before the summer heat takes its toll on you.
If you are based in Georgia, services from professionals like Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning are always at your disposal for a quality inspection, cleaning/replacement of the parts. They would know each nook and corner that could possibly cause trouble in the season if left unclean and also be more knowledgeable about how best to handle the service requirement.
Knowledge is power and the checklist should help you know your air conditioning system and its maintenance requirements better for both AC heating and cooling service.
Which parts need I be concerned about?
1. De-clog the Unit Filters
Whether you like to believe it or not, a lot of times your cooling unit stops performing is when its filter is badly clogged. As a result, not only does the AC/HVAC use more energy consumption and an eventual system breakdown.
The best thing to avoid the break down is a quarterly de-clogging of the filters approachable from inside the house. For the filters in the outdoor air handling unit, best to engage a professional service provider for filter replacements.
2. Condenser & compressor cleaning
These are the key units that enable the air conditioning system to function by taking in the warm air, linking it with the coolant in air handling system. Any dirt or debris on these resulting in a functional failure would mean a shutdown of the heart of the system, especially if you reside in a very dusty area.
Usually a multi-step process, it has to begin with the compressor being turned off, the cleaning cannot happen with the unit turned on. A gush from the vacuum cleaner or a blower should do the next job of removing the debris, only ensure your hands and face are well covered against any sharp objects or poisonous plants that may have made their way into the unit.
The fins around the air intake area might need straightening too to allow for better air inflow, make sure that has been handled well to and you are good to move on once the unit has been reassembled.
3. Cleanse the air ducts
If you haven’t heard of the air ducts being a prey to pest infections, slime, water damage or breakage caused by corrosion, well this is an eye opener for you. It is quite common for this part to be overlooked by the users of air conditioning systems, a sign of knowledgeable repair/maintenance service provider is not missing out on it, unlike the usual, run-of-the-mill air conditioning repair companies.
4. Those refrigerant tubes
Several times, you would be assuming issues with the key and most visible parts of the cooling system whereas the problem might really lay in the minutest details. The tubes, for instance, that regulate the building temperature by carrying the coolant/refrigerant between the air handling unit and the condenser. Possible holes in any of these caused by use over time would be a key cause of the coolant’s leakage and hence, while all other bigger units would be functioning at their best, you would still be experiencing poor cooling performance.
5. Evaporator coil & drain pan
Not to miss this essential part which might have some amount of discoloration in any case resulting from routine use. Look out for any dirt collected which might need to be cleared off with special solutions meant for the purpose. Don’t forget clearing off the drain pan later on.
How to opt for the best maintenance partner?
Air Conditioner Maintenance – Maintenance is not a cleaning job alone. After a season of running or even in the middle, there might be some damages caused to any of the parts that need an expert’s eye and hand to be fixed. The internet is rampant with service provider options that might claim of their experience and expertise but have little to offer in practice. Word of caution, a one-time negligent servicing or repair might cost you an entire cooling system, which is a lot bigger work and costs heftier. You might as well spend some time in picking the best AC service company.
- Look for length of experience
- Research reviews and customer testimonials; get in touch with a few people for recommendation
- Go by a local air conditioning company and service provider for better approachability. An AC cooling or heating servicing provider nearby is also more likely to know the weather and other natural conditions in your locality
- Choose value over cost- never compromise work quality for lesser price,
While it might sound time taking, always schedule a regular round of inspection at least once a season and of servicing, every 3-4 months. Trust me, recurring bits of expenses are way better than a huge expenditure resulting from sheer lack of responsibility for regular maintenance.
How often do you schedule servicing for your air conditioning systems? Have any AC heating & cooling repair service companies become your favorite? Tell me which and why, they must a valuable resource.
