Regular service by a trained technician will ensure that your central air conditioning system will perform when you need it most.
Enjoying cool temperatures indoors when it's unpleasantly hot outside is a luxury that's easy to take for granted.
A central air conditioning system is designed to provide this kind of comfort, but it requires regular maintenance in order to deliver reliable performance throughout the cooling season.
Because some of this maintenance work requires special equipment and up-to-date training, most people choose to call in a professional to complete cooling system maintenance tasks before hot weather arrives.
Replacing filters. In any central air conditioning system, there will be an air filter at each air handler unit. The filter's purpose is to remove dust, pollen and other particulates from the air so that they don't form dirt deposits on the evaporator or get circulated throughout the house. Once a filter becomes clogged with particulate matter, system efficiency suffers.
Some filters are reusable, while others must be replaced when they get dirty. An HVAC contractor can tell you which type of filter you have, and show you how to replace or clean the air filter. Note that filters get dirty more quickly in houses with pets that shed.
Cleaning coils. A central air conditioning system has an evaporator coil located inside each air handler, and a condenser coil located outside. Each coil contains a long run of copper tubing, as well as aluminum fins that promote good heat exchange. Dirt that collects on coils and fins will diminish the efficiency of the AC unit and possibly cause the system to overheat. To maintain good system performance and prevent damage, it's smart to have coils and fins professionally cleaned before the start of each cooling season. Your HVAC contractor or energy technician may also recommend that plants growing too close to the outdoor unit be cut back to promote good air circulation.
Cleaning & clearing condensate drains. In addition to cooling your interior air, an air conditioner removes excess humidity from the air. Moisture condenses in the air condenses and needs to drain outside or to an interior drain. During regular AC maintenance, the condensate drain will be cleaned and cleared so that obstructions don't create a water backup and leakage on finished surfaces. The technician may also flush the drain line with diluted bleach to kill any mold that may be growing there.
Duct sealing and duct insulation. If your ductwork system has not been checked for leaks or undergone leak-sealing improvements, it's a good idea to have this work completed as soon as possible. Leaks can diminish the performance of forced-air heating or cooling by as much as 40%. Another way to improve system efficiency is to have ducts insulated if they are located in unconditioned areas like crawl spaces or attics.
When your system is ready to be replaced, be sure it’s sized to your current needs. A high-efficiency unit combined with energy-saving improvements, such as insulation and air sealing, may mean that you no longer need the AC capacity you did in the past. Remember that an oversized unit performs worse than a correctly sized unit, even if the latter has less capacity.
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