Maintenance

Without regular maintenance an air conditioner looses about 5% of it's original efficiency for each year of operation. This means that the 13 SEER unit that you bought just a few years ago may be functioning like a 9 SEER unit today! The good news is that you can recover most of that lost efficiency through regular maintenance. Studies show that with regular tune-ups a unit will maintain up to 95% of it's original efficiency. This means that the cost of an annual tune-up is recovered very quickly in savings on your monthly electric bill and reduced repair costs.

The service check should include cleaning the condensing unit coils, checking the amp draw of the compressor, oiling the fan motors, checking that belts are well adjusted, and checking the system operating pressures and temperatures against the manufacturer’s specifications. One of the most important items to check is the refrigerant level (commonly know as Freon) in the air conditioner. A system that is only 10% low on refrigerant will cost about 20% more to operate! The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) recommends that refrigerant levels be checked every year.

As a matter of fact, good warranties can make you complacent about the need for regular inspections for your heating equipment. However, if your equipment is not regularly inspected and maintained, the lack of service history will nullify your good warranty! Below is a checklist of common maintenance procedures All Service Heating and Air include in their routine maintenance checks and a list of some basic tips that homeowners can do themselves to help maintain their air conditioning systems.

Air Conditioner Maintenance Check List

• Check for proper refrigerant levels. Low levels indicate a leak that needs to be found and repaired immediately.
  Low refrigerant levels can burn out your compressor, resulting in the most costly repair when it comes to air
  conditioners.
• Check all electrical components and controls to make sure they’re working properly.
• Clean evaporator and condenser coils. Dirty evaporators and coils reduce the energy efficiency and cooling ability
  of your unit.
• Oil motors as needed.
• Calibrate thermostat to make sure your air conditioner isn’t working overtime.
• Check the condenser for any possible problems.
• Check, clean, and/or replace filters.

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Basic Tips for Homeowners

• Before turning on your unit make sure the condensing unit located outside is not covered up. This unit needs to draw air into the system in order to have something to cool and blow out inside, but the process will be hindered if it cannot pull enough air from the outside.
• Clean obvious obstructions such as newspaper, leaves, etc. from around the exterior of the unit.
• A thoroughly cleaned air conditioning unit will operate at top efficiency. Homeowners are strongly discouraged from using a hose and water to try to clean it themselves because of the very serious risk of electrical shock and possible shorting of electrical components. You should contact your licensed HVAC professional.
• Inspect temperature drop
• Run your air conditioner for a few minutes now, before you need it. If you wait until the first hot day to discover it isn’t working, you’ll find yourself on a waiting list, sweltering sometimes for days before an air conditioning specialist can come to fix it.
• Change the filters regularly. Dirty filters restrict airflow, reducing efficiency and worse case, can cause the evaporator to ice up. Disposable fiberglass filters should be replaced. Electrostatic or electronic filters need to be washed regularly.
• Be sure all access panels are secure, with the screws in place.
• Be sure the thermostat is set in the cooling mode. Just setting the dial below room temperature will not activate the air conditioning if it is set in the heat mode.

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