Springtime is not far away now, even if Punxsutawney Phil was right last month. It might seem like January and February lasted an alarmingly long time, but it won’t be long before flowers are blooming and you start to think about your air conditioner. It’s time to schedule AC maintenance, so you’ll be ready for the heat when it does arrive. Here’s what your air conditioning tune-up will include.
Cleaning
The first step in this process is to remove all the mess, dirt, and grime left by a summer’s hard work and a winter of collecting dust. While there are parts of this that you can do yourself—for example, raking leaves away from your outdoor unit and gently hosing it down—much of this must be done by a trained professional. Many components need to be disassembled for full cleaning and then put back together.
Lubricating
There are places in an air conditioner where parts move against one another, and a lot of friction can occur if those places don’t receive fresh lubrication each year. It only takes a very small amount, but your HVAC technician will know exactly where to put it to cut down on friction, reducing wear and tear and avoiding the risk of your system overheating like a scout rubbing sticks together to start a fire.
Inspecting
There are a lot of parts to an air conditioner, and each one needs to be checked carefully. Are screws tight? Is the fan blade secure? Are the coils tightly sealed so they won’t leak refrigerant? Have the motor’s bearings worn down? Your technician will catch these tiny issues and remedy them before real trouble starts.
Testing
Air conditioners are electrical appliances. Is the motor drawing the precise amperage of power that it should? Is the thermostat accurate, or does it need to be recalibrated? Are all wires and connections safe and secure, so there won’t be any risk of electrical fire? Electrical testing is a crucial part of the AC maintenance process.
Benefits
What will you get to enjoy once you’ve got your air conditioner properly maintained?
- Efficiency: Wear, lack of lubrication, misaligned parts, blankets of dust, and more cut your system’s efficiency and drive up your electric bills. Maintenance sorts that right out!
- Performance: After maintenance, it will be easier for your system to keep your entire space evenly cooled, rather than leaving you with hot spots in some rooms.
- Reduced Repair Needs: Imagine the repairs that an air conditioner would need without maintenance as a pie chart. Once maintenance is performed, you’ll be left with only 15% of the risk of repair needs. That’s a tiny slice!
- Increased Lifespan: An air conditioner can last twelve years or so if it has professional maintenance performed every single year. It won’t last as long if maintenance is spotty or occasional. It will only last about half as long if it never receives any maintenance!
- Warranty Compliance: You’re likely to find, if you consult your manufacturer’s warranty, that you will void it if you fail to have maintenance done by a qualified technician each year.
- Peace of Mind: You don’t want to spend the beautiful springtime worrying that your air conditioner might not work when you need it. Once maintenance is done you’ll have no worries.
Schedule your AC maintenance in Winnetka, IL right away!
Contact ServiceMax with any questions about your HVAC system.