3 Important Maintenance Tasks That Keep Your HVAC Working Efficiently In The Summer

To extend the life of your HVAC and keep it from breaking down in the middle of summer, you should have it serviced annually by a qualified contractor. The contractor checks all the parts of the unit and replaces old parts so it is set to go for a full season of cooling. Here is more info on the important jobs done during an annual service call.

Check The Refrigerant

The refrigerant in your air conditioner needs to be at a specific level for the unit to work properly. When the level is low, your air conditioner will blow air, but it won't be chilled. This can cause your AC to run all day in an attempt to lower the temperature and that will drive up your power bill. A contractor should handle the refrigerant because the old refrigerant needs to be disposed of properly according to regulations. Also, if the refrigerant is low, that means it has leaked out since the level wouldn't change otherwise. That signals the need for repairs to fix the leak before the refrigerant can be filled.

Clean The Coils

Another important maintenance task is cleaning the coils on the outdoor condenser and the indoor air handler. Of the two, the outdoor coils are most likely to be coated with dust, dirt, and debris. When the coils are dirty, your air conditioner won't run efficiently. Dirty coils can cause your AC to ice over, and when that happens, it won't blow cold air at all. Ice on the coils is a common problem with air conditioners and many times it can be prevented by keeping the coils clean.

Service The Fan

If your AC fan is driven by a belt, the belt should be checked and serviced just like you keep an eye on the belts in your car. When the belt is worn, your AC might make squeaking noises or the fan might not work properly. Also, the blades on the fan can be bent sometimes, and this causes clicking noises in your air conditioner. The fan is important for moving air through the system, so your contractor makes sure it is lubricated and working as it should.

In addition to replacing worn out parts in the fan, the contractor checks the electrical system as well as other parts of the HVAC in order to catch problems early. While these maintenance chores are important and need to be done by a contractor, there is one important maintenance task you should do and that's to change the filter regularly to keep dust and clogs out of your system.


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