If you’ve ever talked to an HVAC professional, you’ve probably been told that your air conditioner needs a maintenance tune-up every once in a while. Maybe you brushed off this suggestion, but the fact of the matter is AC maintenance is really important!
Many homeowners see this as a “luxury” service, one that only people who can really afford it get. But professional air conditioning tune-ups actually help homeowners save money. It’s safe to say that you can’t afford not to have a tune-up done, especially when you live somewhere as warm as Tallahassee.
Professional tune-ups allow our technicians to find problem areas within your air conditioner before they grow into much bigger emergency repair needs. Maintenance also helps your air conditioner function more efficiently and last longer. This is all good news for your budget!
But what actually happens during maintenance. What do we do when we come out for a tune-up?
The Power of Professional AC Tune-Ups
Let’s first start by saying that comprehensive maintenance tune-ups should only be completed by trained and experienced professionals.
Sure, there are a couple of small maintenance tasks you can do by yourself, and we encourage you to do so. First, you should change out the HVAC air filter every 1–3 months during periods of system use. Second, before you turn your air conditioner on for the first time each season (let’s face it, we use our air conditioners every season, right?) you’ll want to inspect the outside unit and clear it of debris. This can include lawn mulch, leaves, tree branches, and more.
Doing these tasks on your own will help improve your air conditioner’s airflow and performance. Actually diving into the interior components of your system, however, to adjust, clean, and repair them, takes a trained technician. So what do our technicians actually do?
- We inspect the condenser and evaporator coils. We make sure that they are unobstructed and free of dirt and grime. If they’re dirty, then they cannot properly absorb and release heat as they should, and then your air conditioner can’t do its job.
- We look at the AC’s refrigerant level. If your system loses refrigerant, it means there is a leak and this can lead to a complete system breakdown. The leak must be located and repaired, and the refrigerant needs to be refilled—what we refer to as recharged.
- We inspect the electrical connections of your air conditioner and tighten them where necessary.
- We clean out the condensate drain pan and condensate drain to ensure that moisture from the evaporator coils doesn’t overflow them and lead to property damage.
- We lubricate and clean the compressor and fan motors so that they don’t have as much mechanical stress. Losing lubrication is a natural part of wear and tear, but not wear and tear that should ever lead to a system breakdown.
- We ensure that your thermostat is reading the temperature correctly, and we recalibrate the component for you if it’s not.
- We check the air filter! Yes, we mentioned you can and should be doing this on your own, but that doesn’t mean we will ignore a clogged-up air filter.
Just like we’re sure you do, we want your cooling system to last a long time and operate as it should over its lifespan. So make sure you invest in routine AC tune-ups once a year. Except if you have a heat pump system! This is a year-round HVAC system and needs to be professionally maintained twice a year. Give us a call!
To schedule your next air conditioning tune-up in Tallahassee, FL, contact Parker Services Inc today!