Tuning your air conditioner is an essential part of keeping it running smoothly and avoiding expensive repairs. During a tune up, your technician will make adjustments and improvements to ensure that your air conditioner works as it should. This includes replacing air filters, adjusting electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, cleaning the condensate drain, and much more. The most important maintenance task that will guarantee the efficiency of your air conditioner is to replace or clean your filters on a regular basis.
Dirty, clogged filters reduce the amount of air flow and significantly reduce system efficiency. In addition, when air flow is obstructed, air can bypass the filter and deposit dirt directly on the evaporator coil, which impairs the heat absorption capacity of the coil. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can reduce air conditioner energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Check for dirty or loose electrical connections, leaks, or broken safety devices.
Change the fiberglass, polyester, HEPA, or UV air filter. However, if you require additional services, such as a ventilation inspection or refrigerant refill, you'll likely pay several hundred dollars more. Since much of the cost of getting your air conditioner set up comes from hiring a professional, you can save a lot of money if you adjust the air conditioner yourself. When the air conditioner tune-up is complete, your HVAC professional will provide homeowners with a report on the status of the system.
Due to the fact that air conditioning problems are often caused by carelessness, regular air conditioner maintenance can significantly extend the life of the system, prevent breakdowns, and reduce utility bills. In addition to hiring a professional to perform an annual air conditioner tune-up, there are a few tasks you can do to extend the life of your air conditioning unit. To ensure that lint from the dryer does not enter the air conditioning unit and restrict air flow, watch where the dryer is vented and make sure that it is not tilted toward the air conditioning unit. An air conditioner tune-up saves money by avoiding extensive repairs (if not all repairs), which almost always cost more than preventive tune-ups.
You'll also feel less stressed because an AC set-up can help extend the life of your system by detecting small problems before they become big problems. The main factors that influence the cost of an air conditioning set-up include the size of the air conditioning unit and the type of service you need. The heating and air conditioning share the same condensation line, so it's also important to adjust the heating before winter. The duration of the cooling setup depends on the degree of maintenance being carried out and the general condition and cleanliness of the air conditioning system.
If you have an older air conditioning unit, an air conditioner maintenance visit will reveal its age and general condition. Get your annual air conditioner ready just before the cooling season starts to avoid having to repair it during peak times. An HVAC professional will clean and tighten all of the thermostat wires, replace the filter, and clean the air conditioner condenser and condenser coil. During an AC set-up, an air conditioning specialist ensures that all components of the system are working properly.
For example, regular maintenance can extend an AC's life by up to 15 years while neglecting it can cause it to fail 5 to 8 years after installation. During an AC tune-up, an HVAC professional eliminates common factors that contribute to short cycles in the system.