When to Schedule a Tune Up?
With the winter season gone, it’s a good time to begin preparing your air conditioner for summer. If you ran regular maintenance on your HVAC equipment and did not have any breakdowns last summer, it is most likely safe to turn on your air conditioning once or twice during the summer time. However, you should have your system checked by a professional contractor in order to prevent any unintended breakdowns.
Changing your Air Filters
Usually during a maintenance visit the unit is cleaned and the filters are changed. If you have a central heating and air-conditioning system, the same filters work for both the heating and the cooling. They are used to knock outs dirt, dust, and debris from the air inside your home. It is important to have these changed regularly in order to keep the air inside your home clean and to prevent extra strain on your air conditioning system.
The kind of filter you’re using will determine whether you need to change your filters as often. In general, pleated air filters should be replaced every 90 days. Low-maintenance, throwaway fiberglass filters should be replaced every 30 days.
Damaged or clogged equipment in an HVAC can cost a significant amount of money to repair or replace. Changing air filters is a great way to increase the life expectancy of your machine.
Cleaning of your Air Conditioner Unit
The outside unit, whether the device is a heat pump, a condensing unit, or a package unit, activates when in cooling mode for the summer. It is essential that the area surrounding your equipment is free from debris, lawn clippings, or trash. Such obstructions may prevent the system from functioning effectively. Possibly the most important element of a heat pump is its compressor. These are large machines that work by compressing refrigerant. The refrigerant flows through pipes to cool your home.
Organic matter, such as dust, grass, and leaves can accumulate in and around your unit. This matter can hold and bread bacteria that can find their way inside your home if left in the vicinity. Leave at least a foot and a half clearance around your outside unit to secure the area, and make sure to have your unit cleaned regularly.
Steps to check your unit
It is crucial to prepare air conditioning equipment for the summer just like you’re preparing your vehicle for a long trip.
The following steps will help you determine if your AC is really ready for summer:
-Turn on the system in AC mode and allow it to run for 15 minutes.
-Put a thermometer in the supply register vent, which is pushing cool air into the room.
-Choose a vent close to the unit.
-Hold the thermometer there for 4-5 minutes, note the temperature.
-Find the nearest return vent, which is drawing air from the room, leave the thermometer there for another 4-5 minutes, note the temperature.
-The temperature from the supply vent should be 14 to 20 degrees cooler than the return vent.
Technicians deal with an entire checklist to prepare your system for summer, including checking your connections and the operation of the condenser coil, compressor, condenser fan motor, and refrigerant. Such as if you hear a humming sound from your unit’s compressor, the humming noise is probably caused by the fan motor. If so, it should be replaced.
By scheduling a tune-up ahead of the soaring temperatures, you are more likely to avoid an emergency service call during the hottest days of summer.
Contact Us Now, Your local experts at Heat & Air Controllers will ensure your Air Conditioner will keep your family cool all summer long!
