The summer season will soon be on head demanding the switching on of the air conditioner, which has hitherto been lying dormant. If you were thinking, you could simply start the first day of summer by switching it on the moment the heat becomes unpleasant to bear; you may be in for a shock. With the AC not being in use for a complete season, it has been sitting idle and accumulating dust. Also, it has been fully functional until the last day of the hot weather season. The parts inside the AC would have undergone some deterioration, which is a normal occurrence. It happens due to wear and tear and sometimes even due to corrosion. So when you start the AC after this period of dormancy, it might not start at all. If it does, you are forcing it to work under strain — consequently, the need for AC maintenance.
AC Maintenance
AC maintenance is the only way to ensure you get optimum performance out of your cooling system. Its purpose is to:
1. Identify the signs of wear and tear and reduce its impact.
2. Take steps to slow down the deterioration of internal components.
3. Ensure there is no corrosion-related damage.
4. Clean the system thoroughly to remove dust and other accumulations from all the surfaces inside the machine.
In turn, it serves the purpose of giving you an AC that:
5. Gives none to minimal problems even during the peak of the hot weather.
6. Has good efficiency despite its age and long hours of running.
With AC maintenance or tune-up, you get a dependable cooling system, which will not let you down even during the best and worst of the weather.
What Goes On During AC Maintenance?
Every homeowner needs to know what happens during AC maintenance. This knowledge will help you gauge whether the technician on-site is doing a proper job or not. Although, if you hire professionals, there’s nothing to worry about because they have to maintain the brand or company reputation through quality services.
Here are some of the things that happen during AC maintenance:
1. Changing The Dirty Air Filters And Cleaning The Fins – Dirty air filters cause airflow problems that hamper the AC’s efficiency. As a part of maintenance, the dirty air filters are removed. If you own a mini-split system, the air handler’s air filter and the fins behind are brushed and rinsed clean. This will remove dust, mold, and other accumulations from their surface. Once the fins are clean, new air filters are inserted. The air filters should always be of the same specs as recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Cleaning The Evaporator And Condenser Coils – The fins of the air handler are not the only place that attracts dust and dirt. The condenser and evaporator coils are equally susceptible to them. Therefore, their cleaning is equally essential. Clean coils mean the air comes directly in contact with the surface of the coils and not with the accumulations over them. This little cleaning job takes away a lot of strain from the AC and helps it work more efficiently.
3. Cleaning The Evaporator And Condenser Fans – The fan’s job is to circulate the air. They should be able to move freely, so the air passes with ease. Due to dust and general wear and tear, the fans often become sluggish. It results in the slow movement of air, which, in turn, makes the AC work longer to provide the same level of cooling. Cleaning the fan blades and checking their motor will help the fans move without any trouble.
4. Refrigerant Check – A critical part of the cooling process is the refrigerant. Without the refrigerant or the coolant, as some people call it, there would be no cooling. Hence, a hawkeye is to be kept on the refrigerant level. If it is low, it means there is a leak in the refrigerant line. The source of the leak is identified by the HVAC technician and plugged. After that, the refrigerant is topped to the requisite level.
5. Checking The Condensate Line – There should never be any water in and around the AC. To ensure that the condensate line, including the drip tray, is checked thoroughly. If there are holes or cracks in the tray, it is either patched or replaced, depending on its condition. If any blockage exists in the drain line, it is sucked out so that there are no chances of the condensate backing up and creating puddles indoors.
6. Complete Inspection Of The Unit – An assessment of the entire cooling system is also a part of the tune-up. In this assessment, all loose nuts, bolts, and wires are tightened, lubrication of moving parts is completed, and all the small components like the fan belt, safety switch, contactor, etc., are tested. If anything is found remiss, immediate corrective action is initiated.
7. Cleaning Of Indoor And Outdoor Units – Both the indoor and outdoor units are cleaned from top to bottom. The area around the condenser unit is cleared of any obstructions. It is also inspected for probable dangers like overhanging tree branches, loose boards, etc. The idea is to ensure that nothing near the outdoor unit can cause damage during heavy rains or a windy situation.
The Conclusion
AC maintenance is a time-consuming activity consisting of inspecting and cleaning the unit and taking remedial action against all shortcomings. Above, we have only given you a general idea of what happens. Nevertheless, the checklist is even more extensive, involving a lot more checks. You can ask the technician to give you a brief idea of what they will be doing.
The winters are almost towards an end. It is high time to start planning the maintenance of your AC. Try to schedule its maintenance before switching on the AC for the first time during the season. Residents of West Palm Beach, Florida, can depend on Aztil Air Conditioning for all their AC needs. In addition to repairs and maintenance, we also do AC installations and replacements. Our offices are open 24/7, so you may call us anytime at +1-888-729-8452 to book an appointment.
