HVAC specialists typically recommend scheduling maintenance visits twice each year: once in the fall before winter sets in and then once more before hot temperatures arrive.
Air conditioner maintenance is essential to prolonging its lifespan and helping avoid breakdowns at times of peak usage when they’re needed most.
For your air conditioner maintenance, get in touch with one of the members of River Valley Air Conditioning through this site.
Spring
As with your car, air conditioners require regular service to remain functioning efficiently. Servicing them annually ensures you’re ready for the intense summer heat while technicians check key components that could wear out before issues arise. Getting them serviced each spring ensures you’ll be ready for what may come!
At this time of year, HVAC companies tend to be less busy and can quickly get to work. They can also conduct tests and ensure all electrical and mechanical connections are tight and secure.
Moving parts like the fan motor and pulleys will be lubricated to prevent unnecessary wear and tear, while both condenser and evaporator coils will be inspected and cleaned to maximize energy use and prevent refrigerant leakage.
In addition, thermostat calibration will take place, with air filters replaced or cleaned as needed in order to improve energy use and prevent clogs that restrict airflow. However, you will need to keep on top of filter replacement between visits yourself to keep your system working efficiently, and you can source a 20x30x1 air filter(or whatever filter type you need) from hardware stores, or even have them custom-made if needed. Finally, a refrigerant level check will take place to assess whether a recharge is required.
Summer
Air conditioners require periodic servicing in order to operate like new ones. Air conditioners lose 5% efficiency annually and consume more energy; an annual service can help lower energy bills as well as extend their lifespan and keep warranties valid.
Aim to get your system serviced every spring to make sure it can handle the intense summer heat without fail. Plus, this provides peace of mind knowing that any problems have been identified early and addressed efficiently.
HVAC technicians may find themselves overwhelmed during the heat of summer with calls from homeowners unable to cool their homes properly or experiencing major AC problems. However, some companies, like Air 24/7 offer emergency repair all around the clock, no matter the time of year to help you avoid this issue.
Otherwise, availability may become unpredictable as more calls come in from distressed residents; by scheduling service for spring instead, you can be certain your technician will be available when the time comes for inspection and maintenance appointments.
Fall
An air conditioner that isn’t regularly serviced is likely to begin overworking itself, which wastes energy and shortens its lifespan. If you want your system to last as long as possible, it would be worth contacting a reputable repair and service firm such as Chicagoland Heating Cooling and Plumbing (or one similar in your area) once or twice a year in order to ensure that it functions as it should.
The more often your AC unit is used the more a service would be recommended, so book an annual service if you’re only using it for 3-4 months of the year and book in a bi-annual service if it’s seeing more consistent use throughout the year.
Service technicians will come out to your home and thoroughly clean out its filters and coils to eliminate dust and dirt that has collected over time while inspecting for leaks that could require expensive repairs in the future.
Heat pumps should also be serviced annually. While air conditioners tend to experience wear and tear over the year, heat pumps operate continuously both as a cooling source and a source of warmth, so their wear and tear can accumulate year-round.
While heat pumps tend to experience less breakdown during the hot months of summer than other AC models, annual service appointments still should be completed to maintain optimal performance and ensure peak performance.
Winter
As with any machine in your home, air conditioning systems require regular servicing to remain efficient and energy-saving – this can result in higher energy bills as well as shorten the lifespan of the unit itself. Without regular AC servicing, inefficiency may develop, which leads to greater use of energy than necessary and increases costs overall.
In the wintertime, professional HVAC technicians can easily clean your unit to ensure its fan blades are free from dirt or debris build-up, remove clogs from drain pipes, and lubricate moving parts within your AC to optimize efficiency while decreasing energy use. They will also add lubricant for the smooth operation of its moving parts – these efforts will increase energy savings over time and improve AC performance overall.
Fall and winter maintenance of an air conditioner requires you to regularly sweep away leaves, twigs, pinecones and other debris. (Of course this will depend on if you have snow in your region). Also, sweeping inside vents to remove dust or dirt is helpful too.
Regular filter replacement with an ideal MERV 13 filter can help eliminate allergens like pollen, pet dander, and mold from entering your home air. Of course, if you are scheduling AC repair during the winter, just be aware that while its an off-season for ACs many HVAC companies might be more occupied fixing heating systems.
