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5 Ways to Help Maintain Your Leonard, TX Air Conditioner

Air Conditioner Maintenance in Plano, TXJust like any other mechanical system, your Leonard, TX air conditioner requires regular maintenance to improve performance and efficiency. There are many tasks homeowners can perform to keep their air conditioners running smoothly all season long – make these 5 air conditioner maintenance items a part of your household to-do list this season.

Schedule a Preventative Maintenance Tune-Up

Preventative maintenance tune-ups for air conditioners are typically performed in the spring by our licensed HVAC technicians. During a maintenance tune-up, we perform a number of tasks that reduce wear and tear to components and improve overall air conditioner performance.

Preventative maintenance helps prevent breakdowns during cooling system, sparing you the hassle and discomfort of repairs. By improving system performance, your air conditioner will consume less energy, helping lower your energy bills. A well-maintained air conditioner lasts longer than a neglected one, helping you keep your AC in service longer and sparing you the unexpected and expensive need for air conditioner replacement.

Change Your Filter

Air conditioner filters should be changed regularly to improve airflow through the system and improve air quality. Change your filter based on the manufacturer’s recommendations; this can be anywhere from one month to a year, depending on the type and quality of filter you are using. It’s smart to check your filter monthly to determine if early replacement is needed. In homes that use the air conditioner frequently, have pets, or smoke in the home, the filter media may fill up at a faster rate, requiring an earlier change.

Clean Your Condensate Drain

Your air conditioner creates condensation as it operates. This moisture is caught by the unit’s drip pan and is expelled by the condensate drain line. Moisture and debris that accumulate can cause clogs in the drip pan or condensate drains, causing mold growth that both diminishes indoor air quality and causes water damage to the surrounding area.

Inspect your HVAC’s condensate system regularly and clean the drip pan of debris. If you find clogs in the line, you can disconnect the line and flush them out with a hose. If you need help clearing condensate line clogs, don’t hesitate to call us!

Remove Debris

Your exterior condensing unit should always be kept free of items and debris to ensure proper airflow. Never store outdoor items around the unit. When you install the air-conditioning unit, make sure to leave at least 2 feet of clearance around the device to prevent interference. Regularly clear away sticks, vegetation, and grass clippings from areas surrounding the unit to make sure they don’t accidentally get sucked in.

Uncover Vents

Regularly, take a walk through your home and make sure all vents are open and unblocked. Blocking or closing vents is not an effective strategy for saving energy and can hinder airflow through the air conditioner, causing damage.

Call All Service Heat and Air today to schedule your air conditioner’s preventative maintenance tune-up. We are here to assist you with all your AC maintenance needs.

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Checklist for what you need to do before you turn on your A/C

Air Cleaners and Filtration in Plano, TX

Air Cleaners and Filtration in Plano, TX1. Check your filter(s) & your drain line. 

Your filters need to be changed every 3-6 months depending on your filter type.  There are a few filters that last a year.   If your filter is not changed and is dirty your AC will have to work much harder to cool and most likely will not be able to because of the lack of airflow through a dirty filter.  A dirty filter basically suffocates your system.  You should It is recommended that you put one cup of Clorox in your drain line to prevent clogging which could lead to ceiling damage should it.

 

Air Conditioner Maintenance in Plano, TX2. Clear your outdoor unit

Your outdoor condensing unit is prone to get leaves and debris inside the unit.  You should clean the leaves out and wash the coils with water to clear any dirt that could have been sucked in. Why? Your outdoor unit’s main job is to collect all the heat that was removed from the air inside your home. Then, the unit “dumps” all that heat into the outdoor air.

BUT if the outdoor unit is covered in dirt or stifled by dirt and debris, it will struggle to dump all that heat. Think of this as trying to cool off a hot bowl of soup but there’s an airtight lid over the bowl. Doesn’t work very well does it??  The accumulated debris can significantly reduce the efficiency of your air conditioning unit and dramatically raise your utility bills.

 

Thermostats in Plano, TX3. Check your thermostat settings.

Make sure that you switch your thermostat from “heat” to “cool”.  You would be surprised at the amount of calls we get for this very reason.  You should also have the fan setting on “auto”. Setting your thermostat fan to ON means that it will run constantly—even when your A/C isn’t.  This will make your electric bill higher and will make your home humid.

 

4. Schedule your routine maintenance.

 “But why would I get maintenance now? I haven’t even run my A/C yet!”

We know and that’s the point. When you schedule A/C maintenance before the heat gets here, you’re making sure that any small problems are resolved before the A/C starts running non-stop. Scheduling a maintenance visit before you use you’re A/C prevents those small problems from turning into larger problems and compromising your comfort when it need it most – in the  middle of the Texas summer!

Call us now to schedule your maintenance!