Your HVAC system running smoothly may be masking looming problems beneath the surface. Your air conditioner is a sophisticated system with various mechanical components.
Neglecting one of its components can impact the entire AC system. Ensure every part of your air conditioning unit undergoes routine upkeep to avoid system breakdowns and costly damages.
Preventative maintenance tasks include cleaning your AC filters and duct system to protect internal components from contamination, which can build up quickly.
It leaves us with questions regarding air conditioning system maintenance, how often it is too much, and how often is not enough.
Find out just how much you need to service your air conditioner below.
How Much Have You Searched for “How Often Should AC Be Serviced?”
Air conditioner maintenance promotes peak efficiency by preventing minor concerns from turning into significant ones.
That is where the question of its timing matters. You might think that the AC maintenance you enlisted two years ago was enough to sustain your air conditioner for years to come. We assure you, it’s not.
Air conditioners need routine maintenance to the tune of once a year. An annual AC service is the bare minimum frequency. Missing your annual maintenance may already be detrimental to your HVAC system, as well as your health and safety.
However, an air conditioner may need more than an annual inspection for some components. Refrigerant levels and air filters may need replenishment, replacement, or cleaning more frequently.
Once every few months, it is best to enlist professional maintenance to clean out your air conditioning system’s dirty filters and condensate drain. They may sound simple, but they aren’t as cut dry as you think.
In fact, an AC technician does plenty to service your air conditioner to ensure energy efficiency without compromising any components.
Below, we uncover the conventional and more innovative tools of the trade.
Maintaining Your Air Conditioner
Are you suddenly wondering, “how do HVAC professionals service my air conditioner?”
Well, depending on your needs, your annual service may consist of more than just cleaning your air filters. Annual servicing may include minor repairs and tune-up services.
You may hesitate to spend on an annual AC maintenance cost. However, it helps you save money in the long run.
Reliable routine maintenance and upkeep for your AC System
Regular maintenance work is fairly affordable and cost-efficient for what you are getting. Each maintenance task benefits your air conditioners, stabilizing electrical wiring and lowering energy bills.
Ensure you leave your air conditioner in capable hands, which will prioritize your comfort and convenience. You might find an HVAC tech with cheaper upfront costs and find out they are just trying to pull a fast one on you to turn a profit.
A reliable HVAC contractor helps you save money on electricity bills and AC maintenance services.
When was the last time you had your air conditioner serviced?
…by a professional…
Cleaning the external air filter doesn’t count as giving your HVAC system the necessary maintenance service. Your cooling system may already struggle from more than dust and debris build-up.
It may be more challenging to notice when your coils overheat or when refrigerant levels spring a leak. However, trained HVAC technicians may be able to tell when your air conditioner is malfunctioning much faster than you can.
The Importance of Professional AC Maintenance
Professionals can carefully dismantle your cooling system to examine each component thoroughly. It may save your air conditioner from compounding problems that may have stemmed from something much simpler.
A professional air conditioner service includes more than just securing electrical connections. Experts can clean the condensate pump, which is an often-overlooked component.
Did you know any excess from the condensate drain can seep into the pump? You may not know it now, but problems with your condensate pump often lead to total system failure.
That’s not the only part of your air conditioner that most of us overlook. By not knowing the importance of all your AC components, we underestimate their impact on your air conditioning unit.
Get to Know Your Air Conditioning Unit
We all see the indoor air handler and the outside unit. However, some of us need to be savvier about what’s on the inside of our air conditioning units.
The lesser-known components of your HVAC system include more than just the condensate line and evaporator coil. You can find more critical components of your cooling and heating systems below.
Parts of Your Air Conditioner
The Condenser (the outside unit)
That large mechanism stationed in your backyard or rooftop is called the condenser. Your air conditioner’s condenser houses various critical components for heating or cooling your home.
Inside the condenser cabinet, you will find these vital components:
- refrigerant storage
- compressor
- condenser coil
- blower fan
- motor and control panel
We know that certain how-to articles teach you how to buff a condenser coil of residual refrigerant. Why would you need someone else to do that for you?
You may have overlooked the various disclaimers against refrigerant hazards in that article.
Refrigerant is responsible for heat transfer and may cause first-degree burns to exposed skin. It can also irritate your eyes, nose, and throat. Air conditioner maintenance is best left to the experts who know how to protect themselves against potential injuries.
The Compressor
The compressor facilitates the refrigerant distribution, pumping, and circulating coolant through coils. Over time it collects residue, which may develop into guck or sludge, clogging pumps and motors.
It is the beating heart of your entire AC unit. Like a heart, you can kiss air conditioning goodbye if your compressor is clogged. No medium will circulate from one coil to another, making heat transfer impossible.
Don’t let that make you panic. It might impair your judgment and get you rushing to handle your compressor. If you notice your air conditioner performing poorly, call an expert for advice instead of jumping to conclusions.
Additionally, if you get your air conditioner serviced annually, the chances of stumbling upon a malfunctioning compressor are slim to none. Relax; your lackluster air conditioning may be thanks to simpler problems.
However, if you regularly forgo routine inspection and maintenance, your compressor may very well be the problem. A malfunctioning compressor may be the most costly AC repair your air conditioning needs.
Always keep up with scheduled maintenance services to avoid problems with your compressor and its attachments.
The Indoor and Outdoor Coil
Most air conditioning systems have two coils. An air conditioner might have more than two coils if it has multiple air handler attachments. The condenser will only have one coil, but an evaporator coil is an indoor coil situated in all air handlers.
Evaporator Coils
We already know about condenser coils; let’s jump right into your indoor coils. Did you know that, based on thermodynamics, cool air cannot cut through hot air?
In fact, heat penetrates air particles. Room temperatures depend on the number of heat particles present in the area.
Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil is responsible for absorbing hot air indoors to allow cool air in more easily.
Dirt, dust, corrosion, and other residues can saturate your evaporator coil, making it more challenging for cold air to make its way indoors. A saturated evaporator coil will require more energy to alter indoor temperature, especially during the hot summer months.
You can thank the summer heat for brushing up on thermodynamics through your electric bill. Regular tune-ups and professional air conditioner servicing can also boost your home’s air quality!
Air Filters
Whether you have a cooling or heating system home, your AC unit will have internal air filters. Air conditioning isn’t exclusive to temperature alteration; it includes filtration, affecting air quality in more ways than one.
Your AC unit may struggle against particle and residual build-up. Any saturation may contaminate your HVAC system. Remember, you won’t have to wait for a system failure to call the pros! You can call for an air conditioner service just to handle dirty filters.
Service your air conditioner as soon as you smell odors, hear unusual noises, and spot leaks to avoid instigating a domino effect.
The Condensate Drain
A condensate drain holds condensation before draining through condensate lines. The drain pan may overflow due to clogged lines, causing hazardous backflow.
The worst problem you might not know you could have with your HVAC system is mold and mildew. Clogged drain lines may leave standing water in your pan, which may breed mold.
You may breathe in hazardous mold particles through your air conditioner without knowing it. Routine AC service saves you from looking through different areas of your home, searching for mold growth, without knowing your air conditioner is responsible for harboring them.
Are You Looking for a Reliable HVAC Technician in Mukilteo, Washington?
If you are still asking yourself, “how often should I service my HVAC system?”
The answer is: service your air conditioner at least once a year. However, it would be best to clean air filters once every three months or as much as needed.
If you are also thinking, “should I service my air conditioner before the summer months?”
The answer to that question is: ONLY if you want to stay cool without it costing you an arm and a leg.
Besides keeping up with yearly and pre-season maintenance, our final advice regarding your HVAC system is only to entrust it with reliable professionals. Trust us, hiring reliable professionals to conduct regular maintenance services is a system that works!
BelRed Energy Solutions
BelRed Solutions is a prominent company that provides comprehensive services for your HVAC system. The next time you need Air Conditioning Maintenance, reach out to our experts!
We can also help you integrate a newer system for increased energy efficiency. Before you ask, “how often should I service innovative heating and cooling systems?”
Our experts offering Heat Pump Installation and Maintenance Services will help you take care of any questions you may have on that front.
