What You Need to Know Before Scheduling A/C Maintenance Repairs

The key to keeping your air conditioning system working at optimum levels throughout the summer months is to have a regularly scheduled maintenance program in place. This will prevent expensive repairs and ensure that you’re A/C unit has a longer lifespan. HVAC contractors have the expertise and experience to care for the many different elements such as ventilation, heating and air flow operations in your air conditioning system. To remain in top condition, it makes sense to schedule a professional A/C tune-up once a year.

Why Regularly Schedule Preventative Maintenance Is Important

Even the most advanced air conditioning systems still rely on regular maintenance from the owner as well as from a heating and cooling professional. Over time the different components in the system accumulate dirt, lubrication dries up and wires become loose. When a system is allowed to deteriorate without care, problems can occur that will reduce the efficiency of your system and ultimately cause premature aging from excess component wear.

With regularly scheduled maintenance you can ensure that minor issues will be detected in time to take care of them in a quick and inexpensive way. Regular cleaning and lubrication will ensure that the system runs smoothly and air vents do not become blocked. Neglecting to care for your system will result in early breakdown and expensive replacement of parts, even a complete replacement of the entire system. Not all problems display obvious symptoms and that is why it is important to have a professional HVAC technician perform a system check regularly even when the system seems to be in good working order.air conditioning

What Can You Expect from A Professional Maintenance Check-up

The best time to schedule a maintenance check is towards to end of winter, before summer arrives to ensure that any problems are detected early and dealt with.

While there are some basic maintenance jobs that you can take care of yourself to keep the air conditioning system running smoothly in between your scheduled check-ups, there is no substitute for a trained and experienced technician who has the knowledge and tools at his disposal to tune-up the system and detect any inherent problems that need attention.

Some of the routine tasks a technician will carry out include:

  • Cleaning the condenser coil by removing all debris and checking for any damage.
  • Cleaning the evaporator coil which is a delicate component that can be affected by even a thin layer of dust. A technician has the expertise to remove even stubborn dirt without damaging the coil.
  • Testing refrigerant charge and checking for any leaks or damage. An over- or under-charged air conditioning unit runs less efficiently.
  • Cleaning the condenser drain, which is prone to blockages and mould growth, with precision tools and special solvents and adding a time-release fungicide to prevent the risk of future mould growth.
  • Check lubrication levels and add lubrication to moving parts such as the compressor and the air handler to prevent excess wear and tear.
  • Testing the thermostat controls and calibration and make necessary adjustments. This ensures that the system will turn on, run and shut down as programmed.
  • Cleaning and replacing air filters.
  • Cleaning and removing any blockages from the grills and duct-work.

A clean and well maintained air conditioning unit will give you good service and last a long time. It will also ensure the general health of your family with less allergies and breathing problems. Keep your environment comfortable, clean and healthy by having a regular maintenance contract in place for your air conditioning unit.

If you are hiring an air conditioning company for the first time, be sure to check that they are insured, bonded and licensed to carry out air conditioning work. This will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.