The best time of the year for annual air conditioner maintenance is spring or early summer. But, if you skipped your tuneup this year, don’t worry; it’s not too late. You can still slash your cooling bills with correctly performed maintenance. Two tasks that should be checked every year are precision checks on airflow and refrigerant charge.
- Airflow – Airflow should be one of the first things your HVAC contractor checks because it tells you about the overall health of your system. The coil fin, blower, motor, fans, ducts and return registers all affect the airflow and, if there is a problem with one, it affects the others. An insufficient supply of air in any part of the system causes strain on the parts and can result in increased wear and frequent breakdowns. Quality contractors have advanced tools for testing airflow, and they can help you find and fix any problems.
- Refrigerant – Contractors usually check the amount of refrigerant but a full tuneup goes beyond that. The pressure in the line must also match the manufacturer’s specifications so the fluid can cycle between the evaporator and condenser efficiently. If the pressure or amount of refrigerant is off, heat will not be removed from the air at the correct rate, which means you will have to run your A/C longer. If either level doesn’t match the specifications perfectly, the entire system must also be checked for refrigerant leaks. Any issue must be fixed immediately before it becomes an environmental hazard.
The sooner you get your airflow and refrigerant charge checked, the sooner you’ll save on energy costs. Next year consider moving the annual tuneup to spring so your system is prepared for the increased demand of summer before the temperatures rise.
If you want to keep your energy bills under control and make your home more comfortable at the same time, contact Ace Hardware Home Services Inc.With over 30 years of service in Dayton and the surrounding area, we have the expertise to perform your tuneup fully and help you avoid surprise breakdowns.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
