If you want your AC system to work well and last for as long as possible, it’s important to keep up with regular maintenance. This can help prevent major repair needs and expensive breakdowns down the road.
When you hire a professional HVAC technician to tune up your system, they check all the important components for wear and tear. They also test the refrigerant level to ensure there are no leaks, and they clean out the coils to prevent the buildup of dust.
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Do home AC units need to be serviced?
Home AC units are an important part of a comfortable home environment. They produce warm or cool air to help make the inside of your house a pleasant place to be, and they work to eliminate humidity from the space as well.
But like any other major equipment, an air conditioning system requires maintenance to run efficiently and safely. Getting it serviced at the proper intervals will increase its lifespan, prevent unexpected repairs and keep your energy bills low.
Ideally, you’ll have an AC technician come out to your home to perform this maintenance at least once per year. Some homeowners are able to perform some of this maintenance on their own, but it’s best to have a professional do it for you.
A professional will be able to check for refrigerant levels, make sure the unit is operating properly, and ensure all electrical components are working smoothly. They’ll also be able to lubricate the parts and inspect the ducts for debris.
In addition, a professional will be able to spot any potential problems before they balloon into something more serious or expensive to repair. This will allow your HVAC company to fix them before they lead to other problems or cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Another benefit of having an annual maintenance tune up is that you’ll avoid any warranty issues. Many manufacturers require that you have a service done on your air conditioning system in order to stay covered under their warranty.
This means that if you skip out on your annual AC service, you could void your warranty coverage and be left paying for expensive repairs or even a full system replacement.
It’s also important to note that not all air conditioning services are created equal. Some will only look at your filter and leave it alone, while others will take a more comprehensive approach and evaluate all of the mechanical parts of your system.
If you’re not sure how to choose a good company for your AC maintenance, ask around and look at their reviews online. Oftentimes, the most reputable companies will be those with years of experience and a proven track record of excellence.
When should an air conditioner be tuned up?
An air conditioner is a complex piece of equipment that needs regular maintenance to operate efficiently. Like your car, it can run longer and more reliably when it is properly maintained. The EPA recommends scheduling an AC tune up once a year and your local utility company may require you to do this too.
A typical AC tune up includes cleaning the evaporator coils and condenser coils and checking for any internal problems. These components can become contaminated with dirt, dust, and microbial growths during normal operation, which can shorten system life.
This kind of maintenance can be done by homeowners, but it is better to hire a professional who has the tools and knowledge to do this work properly. During the tune up, the technician will open the indoor and outdoor units, clean vital components, check cooling temperatures, and look for any other issues that may be causing your AC to fail.
Another important part of an AC tune up is changing or replacing your filters. A dirty filter will not allow air to flow through your home and it can also affect your energy costs.
Other parts of the AC that should be tuned up include the blower motor, fan belt, and fans. A technician will check the motors for wear and tear, clean the fans, and lubricate them to help prevent them from breaking down too quickly.
The AC unit is one of the biggest investments in your home, so you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. An annual AC tune up can extend your system’s lifespan and help it run more efficiently, so you can save money on your utility bills.
In addition, a professional HVAC contractor can identify small problems before they turn into big issues, which means you can prevent more expensive repairs in the future. An AC tune up costs about $135 to $325 for an annual service contract, but it is a much less costly alternative to more serious repair or replacement of your AC.
You can schedule your next air conditioner tune up by contacting your local AC technician or by filling out the contact form on this page. A qualified technician will be able to answer your questions and provide you with the best air conditioning solution for your home.
Why is the AC not cooling?
If your AC is not cooling, there are a number of possible reasons. Some of these are technical, while others are non-technical.
The first and most obvious reason is a problem with the thermostat itself. If the thermostat is not working properly, then your air conditioning will not cool properly. This could be because the thermostat is not able to send signals to the unit or because it is faulty.
Another common reason is that your air filter is clogged. This can be a result of a lot of different things, including dust, pet dander, pollen, or other contaminants that can clog your AC unit’s air filter and cause it to work inefficiently.
It is a good idea to check your air filters every 30 days or so to ensure they are clean. If you don’t change them, then your AC will struggle to get enough air circulating throughout the home to cool it down properly.
Next, you should also look at your outdoor condenser coil to see if it is clogged. This is the coil that wraps around the outside of your AC’s condenser unit.
A clogged coil can prevent your AC from working properly, which can lead to higher energy costs and reduced comfort. This can also lead to a system shutdown, so it’s best to call an HVAC professional to take care of this issue as soon as possible.
Lastly, the condensation drain hose in your system may be clogged with mold and algae growth. If this is the case, it will block the flow of water from your AC to a floor drain or to the outside of your home.
This is a common problem that will require a service technician to take care of, but if you do it yourself, there are a few steps you can follow to clear out the clogs.
You may also want to check your breaker box and see if one has tripped. You can try resetting it but, if it keeps tripping, you should call an HVAC pro to fix the problem.
How often does AC unit Need coolant?
An AC unit requires a special chemical to cool your home. This chemical is called Freon, and it lowers the temperature of the air that passes through your system’s coils. Without it, your air conditioner would not be able to cool your house properly.
Most homes with a central AC only need to recharge their Freon once every two to five years, though there are some exceptions. If there is a leak in your system, you might have to recharge it more often.
You can usually tell when your AC needs more refrigerant if it isn’t cooling as well as it used to. If your house takes longer to cool down, if you notice warm air coming out of the supply registers, or if the air is much warmer than it normally is, these are all signs that you have low Freon levels.
When you have a leak in your Freon, it’s important to address it quickly before it becomes serious. Leaking Freon can lead to expensive repairs down the road, so it’s best to fix it as soon as possible.
If your Freon is low, it’s a good idea to have a professional technician assess your AC for leaks. A trained professional will be able to find and isolate your leak, making the system sealed and closed once again.
In addition, a professional HVAC technician can help you recharge your Freon if needed. They’ll know how much Freon your unit requires and what kind of refrigerant is needed.
The technician will then check your refrigerant levels using special gauges to see if they’re accurate. They will also look for other problems that could be causing the readings to be inaccurate (a dirty air filter, frozen evaporator coils, etc.).
If the technician finds that your Freon is low and you haven’t had any leaks recently, they will add enough Freon to restore your unit to optimum conditions. This can be done by adding 2-4 lbs. of Freon per ton of your AC’s cooling capacity.
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