We talk about maintenance because of how important a service it is. Homeowners often think this is just a sort of “luxury” service that only a few select people can afford. But maintenance is a preventative measure that actually helps you save money.
It does this, first, by enabling our technicians to locate small, wear-and-tear issues within your cooling system before they have a chance to grow into much bigger problems. In turn, this helps your system operate smoother and last longer, which is great news for your budget! But, what actually occurs during AC maintenance? What exactly does this service provide? Read on to find out!
The Power of Professional Maintenance
Generally speaking, maintenance tasks should ever only be completed by trained and experienced professionals. That said, there is one task that you can, and should, do on your own–changing or cleaning your air filter. Our technicians will be happy to show you how to do this if you’re unsure.
Changing a clogged air filter will improve airflow and AC performance overall, so that your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job. With this out of the way, our HVAC professional can tackle the rest of your air conditioner maintenance, which includes:
- Checking the coils–evaporator and condenser–to make sure that they are unobstructed, clean, and able to both absorb and release heat as needed.
- Checking to ensure you don’t have a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant runs in a closed-loop system, and if your system is losing any of this chemical, it means there is a leak that must be repaired.
- Checking the electrical connections, and tightening them where needed.
- Cleaning the condensate pan and drain–this is where moisture exits your system, and if it gets too clogged up that moisture can hurt your air conditioner, or back up on your property.
- Cleaning and lubricating the fan and compressor motors. This is important in preventing friction. Too much friction can cause the motors to overheat and stop working, therefore leading to an AC breakdown.
- Checking that your thermostat is correctly reading the temperature, and recalibrating it if this is not the case.
- Replacing or cleaning the air filter as needed (as we mentioned before, this is a task you should do on your own–every 1-3 months depending on the type of filter and level of particulates in your home–but we will still check on it for you!
These steps and more are essential to the functionality and even the longevity of your air conditioning system. Without professional maintenance, you could find yourself facing a number of issues with your cooling system, such as:
- Inefficient Performance: Your air conditioner comes with a set SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. Maintenance helps your system retain 95% of that original rating!
- Increased Repair Needs: Professional maintenance can prevent up to 85% of the repair needs your system might ever need.
- Shortened Lifespan: When professionally maintained, the useful service life of the average air conditioner is 10-15 years. Without routine tune-ups, this lifespan can be cut in half.
For professional New Lenox, IL air conditioning service, look no further than Comfort First Heating and Cooling, Inc. Contact us today!