If you speak to any KS heating and air specialist about your AC, they’ll tell you one of the most important things you can do as a homeowner is to provide regular maintenance for your air conditioner. So, you may already know the value of maintenance. But what is it that happens during a maintenance call?
Do You Really Need to Know What Goes on with Your HVAC?
To start off, you might be wondering why you would even want to know about HVAC maintenance. You probably know that it’s not a DIY task and that you can hire a professional to handle all of your maintenance needs. Therefore, you may not understand why you need to even worry about what happens during routine maintenance.
In truth, you don’t need to know how to perform AC maintenance. But you should know what goes on during regular residential HVAC service. Your AC is an integral part of your home, and you should have a basic knowledge of how to care for it.
The more you know about your air conditioner, the better you can care for it. More importantly, you can know when someone else isn’t giving your cooling system the care it deserves. If you don’t pick the right HVAC company, they may not be thorough in their maintenance. By knowing what routine maintenance entails, you can find out whether or not your HVAC company is doing its job.
What Maintenance Should You Do?
There is some routine maintenance that you should handle on your own. Well, there’s at least one thing you should do by yourself – change your filters. During a maintenance call, an HVAC technician will change or clean your filters. But most people don’t receive maintenance every three months.
You should be changing your filters at least once every three months. If you have a home with pets, excess dust, or other particles in the air, you need to change your filters even more frequently. Failing to do so clogs up your air filters and makes your system works much harder than it should.
If you really want to look after your air conditioner, you can also keep an eye on the space around your exterior unit. When leaves, tall grasses, and plants approach the condenser, clear a path. Your exterior needs clear space, or air flow will be an issue. Every few days, inspect the area around your condenser and clear away debris.
Other than that, it’s up to the HVAC technician. The best you can do is follow the two maintenance tips above and pay attention to your AC. If you notice anything unusual, call your favorite HVAC company for help.
What Does an HVAC Technician Do During Maintenance?
When an HVAC technician comes out to perform maintenance, they have a long checklist of things to do. While the process varies slightly based on the technician and company, you can expect a few basic services.
All of the following are parts of routine maintenance. They keep your system working well and efficiently, saving you money on repairs and energy bills.
Check the Condenser and Evaporator Coils
The coils on your AC are responsible for the transfer of heat. If your coils are dirty, they won’t work well, and your home will be too warm. A technician cleans off the coils without causing them damage.
Look for Refrigerant Leaks
Your technician will check your refrigerant levels. Because the refrigerant is in a closed loop, it shouldn’t deplete. But there could be a leak in the line, and this results in low refrigerant. Unfortunately, your system can’t function without enough refrigerant. An experienced technician looks for leaks, repairs them, and tops up your refrigerant.
Tighten Electrical Connections
Over time, the electrical connections in your HVAC system could loosen. Your technician not only checks the connections but tightens them as well.
Clean Drain Lines
It’s normal for an AC to have condensation. To make sure leaks don’t occur, your HVAC system has drain lines that take the water outside. But the lines could become clogged and result in poor drainage. During a maintenance call, your technician will check the lines and clear any blockages.
Lubricate Motors
The fan and compressor motors of your HVAC system work hard. In order for them to continue using to work, your technician needs to lubricate the motors.
Check the Thermostat
If your thermostat doesn’t properly read the temperature in your home, your AC won’t work the way it should. It might run when your home is cool enough or fail to kick on when your home is hot. As a technician works on your HVAC system, they will consider whether or not the temperature is right. They may need to recalibrate the thermostat.
Do You Need AC Maintenance
Everyone who owns an air conditioner needs AC maintenance. Without it, your system can’t withstand the months of use. It will break down frequently and fail you just as the temperature gets to the hottest point.
For every year you fail to get air conditioner maintenance, your system loses efficiency. This results in high energy bills and unnecessary energy use. In addition to having higher repair costs, your system will cost you hundreds of dollars a year on wasted energy.
If you think about all the wear and tear your AC goes through, you might realize why maintenance is so important. Your air conditioner is a complex system that works all day and all night. If you don’t give it the proper care, your system can’t keep up the hard work. Eventually, your air conditioner will completely fail you.
Multiple Savings
People often skimp on AC maintenance because they want to save money. However, the real savings is in getting annual or biannual maintenance. First, you save on energy bills. Secondly, you save on repair costs.Finally, you save on getting an extended lifespan from your air conditioner. Would you rather replace your AC in 10 years or 16 years? The best way to extend the life of your air conditioner is through regular maintenance.
Call Us for KS Heating and Air
Don’t wait to receive air conditioner maintenance. Here at Eck Services, we can help you. Call us the next time you need KS heating and air maintenance.