Owning a home comes with the responsibility of maintaining the major systems of your house. One of the biggest investments you need to care for is your HVAC system. In Florida it’s not just for comfort, it’s vital to life here. Day in and day out your air conditioning is expected to function. The day it doesn’t is the day you panic.
Since your air conditioning system is a big part of Florida life, many homeowners make sure it’s working when they buy property. Or they may invest in a new one just to be on the safe side. But then they forget about it, having put the money where it needed to go for their family to be comfortable.
But not maintaining your AC unit can cost you later. It can diminish the investment you’ve wisely made if your equipment isn’t serviced regularly. To ensure your system is properly taken care of we’ve answered the most common questions about AC unit maintenance.
What Is Included in AC Maintenance?
An HVAC service plan includes a professional, comprehensive inspection of every working part, both exterior and interior, as well as the functionality. This servicing should be conducted by an experienced, licensed technician who knows how each part should function. They are also trained to spot wear and tear and know when each part should be replaced to avoid operating problems.
A 24-point checklist is the best way to stop small issues from becoming big, expensive ones. Our checklist includes checking and cleaning:
- Refrigerant
- Compressor and Fan Amps
- Condenser Coil
- Capacitors
- Contactor Points
- Electrical Cabinet
- Caps & Valves
- Thermostat
- Blower Amps
- Heat Strip Amps, Blowers & Safeties
- Evaporator Coil
- Blower Wheel
- Electrical Connections & Wires
- Filter
- Temperature Splits
- All Moving Parts
- Vacuum Drain Line
- Float Switch
- Equipment Exterior
- Performance
- Reversing Valve Operation
- Excessive Vibration
- Condenser Level
- Air Handler
Your AC unit has many intricate parts that must all function optimally to give you the cooling you need at the best value. If just one part of the system isn’t running properly it can affect overall performance as well as the lifespan of the entire system.
How Often Should You Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced?
AC professionals often check just the basics of your system once a year. But to properly maintain your AC unit every one of its functions should be tested and checked to prevent any problems from developing. Our service schedule is every 6 months for that very reason. It’s these extra inspections that catch small problems before they become expensive ones.
The optimal time for servicing is once in the spring to check the AC function and once in the fall to inspect the heating function.
What Happens if AC Is Not Serviced?
Homeowners sometimes think if nothing is wrong, why worry about it. They tell themselves if it breaks down that’s when they’ll have their system serviced. This is not the kind of preventative maintenance that will save you money in the long run. If left without servicing too long it can even cost thousands of dollars for an entirely new system.
In Florida, dust, sand, and dirt are constantly blowing around along with leaves, dead bugs, and other debris. All this debris ends up inside your AC unit no matter how well you think it’s protected. Before you know it, the debris ends up clogging or damaging the interior causing breakdowns or at the very least lowered efficiency. This results in higher energy bills.
Other working parts require cleaning or lubricating to function optimally. Only a licensed technician knows what to look for and which parts need extra care to avoid breakdowns.
Regular maintenance of your air conditioning system is key to your unit running optimally all year long. While servicing your AC unit regularly will keep it functioning properly, neglecting it can cause the following issues:
– Diminished dependability
– Small problems turning into bigger, costly ones
– Higher energy bills due to lessened efficiency
– Shorter system life-span
– Potential for unsafe operation
– Increased chance of breakdowns at night or holidays when service calls are more expensive or not available
Conclusion: Your air conditioning system is vital in Florida. To keep it functioning efficiently regular servicing is recommended a minimum of two times a year; once in the fall and once in the spring.
Each working part and function should be checked on the interior as well as the exterior. Parts with diminished functionality should be replaced earlier rather than later, to avoid causing costly problems later on.
If your AC unit isn’t properly maintained it can cost you money in higher energy bills, more service calls, or even having to replace the entire system.
Contact your local AC professionals today to hear more benefits of a regular AC maintenance agreement.