If you follow our blog, you’ll see us mention maintenance… a lot. There’s a good reason for this! Maintenance is a vital service for both your cooling and your heating systems. Too many homeowners see it as a “luxury” service they’ll just get when they can afford. But in reality, maintenance is a necessity, and one that will save you money in the long run.
Professional air conditioning maintenance enables our technicians to find small problems with your air conditioner before they progress into much bigger emergency repair needs. This helps your cooling system perform better and last longer. This is fantastic news for your budget! Still though, maybe you’re wondering what actually happens during maintenance that makes this all worth it? Keep reading and we’ll answer!
The Importance of Professional Maintenance
Before we get into what professional maintenance entails, we will mention that there is one maintenance task you can and should be doing on your own–cleaning or changing your HVAC system’s air filter. There’s a still relatively common misconception that the air filter that comes with the HVAC system is in place to protect your indoor air quality. This isn’t the case, however.
This air filter is in place to protect the cooling system itself from being pummeled with dirt, dust, and other debris, and you need to be changing, or cleaning if it’s a permanent filter, the filter every 1-3 months.
Beyond this task, you’ll want to leave the rest of maintenance up to the pros. And during your AC maintenance we will:
- Inspect the condenser and evaporator coils to ensure that they are not obstructed, they’re clean, and they can effectively absorb and release heat.
- Check the refrigerant level. Your air conditioner is supplied with enough refrigerant upon manufacturing that it should last your entire systems’ lifespan. If the levels drop, it means you have a refrigerant leak that must be located and adequately repaired.
- Inspect all the electrical connections and tighten them where necessary.
- Clean the condensate pan and drain so moisture from the evaporator coils doesn’t overflow and cause system and property issues.
- Clean and lubricate motors for the compressor and the fan to relieve any mechanical stress that could eventually lead to burnout.
- Check the thermostat to see that it’s reading the temperature correctly, and we recalibrate the component if it isn’t.
- Check the air filter. Even though this is a task you should be doing on your own, we check just to be sure it’s not too clogged up and potentially creating problems for your cooling system.
Professional Maintenance Prevents:
Inefficient System Operation: By thoroughly cleaning your air conditioner and checking for repair needs to mitigate natural wear and tear, your system will operate more efficiently. In fact, it’s estimated that a well-maintained air conditioner will retain up to 95% of its original energy efficiency.
Increased Repair Needs: During professional maintenance, we check for small repair needs that can crop up due to nothing more than simple wear and tear. But by noticing and managing these repairs right away, you help avoid bigger emergencies later on, reducing your systems need for repairs by 85% over the lifetime of the system.
For professional AC maintenance in Roanoke, VA contact W.C. Butler Heating and Air Conditioning.