During the summer, the average temperature in Glen Mills, PA, and the surrounding area is close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit—and this isn’t accounting for humidity.
To ensure that your home is comfortable as the temperature climbs, it’s advised that you get an HVAC tune-up.
The last thing anyone wants is to have their air conditioner go out during the hottest part of the summer. You can prevent that from happening by maintaining your air conditioning unit.
Read on for three things that a professional must do during an AC tune-up.
1. Test Refrigerant Levels
One of the most important things an HVAC technician can do when tuning up your air conditioner is to test the refrigerant levels.
Refrigerant is a necessary component when it comes to cooling the air that is pumped into your home. Over time and through use, it can get low.
In addition, it’s possible that leaks can develop in the refrigerant lines. Should either of these happen, your air conditioner won’t work as effectively as it should, and you may find yourself sweating through the hottest part of summer.
2. Check the Electrical Components
When you call to have HVAC maintenance done, it’s imperative that the technician check all of the electrical components.
There are a lot of things that could wear out or break that will have an impact on how well your AC runs. Some of the things that should be checked during an AC tune-up include the following:
- Thermostat – Making sure this is working properly ensures that the AC unit is keeping your home at the desired temperature.
- Contactor – This switch tells your air conditioner when it needs to turn on and pump cool air into your home. If this doesn’t work, neither does your air conditioner.
- Capacitors – These components are necessary to keep the AC motor running. If these fail, the motor won’t turn on, which means you won’t have cool air circulating through your home.
- Condenser fan motor – The fan moves the cold air from your air conditioner into the rest of your home. Should this component go out, then the cool air won’t be blown out of the air conditioner, and you’ll be sitting in a hot house.
- Tighten electrical connections – Since so many parts of your air conditioner rely on electricity, making sure the electrical connections are tight will keep the unit running the way it should. If any of these get loose and the appliance doesn’t get the power it needs, this could lead to total air conditioner failure.
3. Clean the Housing and Check the Drain Lines
Some of the other tasks that must be done when you call in a professional for AC service is that the technician needs to check the housing of the unit and the drain lines.
If dirt and other debris are allowed to build up on the outside of the unit, this could impact how well the coils work. These are necessary components that cool the air to make you and your family comfortable, and if they have to work overly hard, this could overheat the system.
In addition, it could also have an impact on your cooling bill.
While they are checking the outer housing, it’s also helpful if the technician checks the drain line.
The excess moisture that builds up during the air-cooling process has to go somewhere, and that is usually through a line and into a drain.
On occasion, the lines or the drain will get clogged, and then the water will drain into your home. This can cause a lot of damage. A technician doing your HVAC service can prevent this from happening by inspecting and cleaning out the lines and the drain.
Not only can lines get clogged, but they can also be a place where bacteria and mold grow. Since these can be a health hazard, getting them cleaned on a regular basis is beneficial.
When you call an HVAC technician to your home for an AC tune-up, they’ll be able to clean these lines to ensure your air conditioner is running optimally. This will keep your family cool and healthy.
When to Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up
Most professionals recommend getting HVAC service during the spring. Since the temperatures at this time aren’t usually too hot or too cool, you shouldn’t be running your air conditioner or heater.
Having them come out and do a tune-up ensures that your air conditioner will be able to run effectively and efficiently when the summer heat comes around.
They can also check your furnace to ensure that it’s ready to be shut off. By doing maintenance in the spring, your heater will be ready to turn on when winter rolls around again.
How to Tell You Need a Tune-Up
In addition to having a regular tune-up schedule, your air conditioner will also give you some signs that it needs HVAC repair services. These include the following:
- It will make a loud, wailing noise
- The coils will be frozen
- Water from the drain line or the drain will be leaking into your house
- It won’t circulate cool air through your home
- It won’t turn on
Dealing with any of these issues can be frustrating and may even require a visit from an HVAC technician.
If you have a tune-up done on a regular basis, the technician will be able to catch minor issues and fix them before they become major problems. This can save you a lot of money and keep your air conditioner running when you need it the most.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Right now is the best time to call for an HVAC tune-up and get your air conditioner ready for summer. At Sperr’s Fuel and Heating, we have the skills and ability to make sure that your air conditioner is in good working order. We can also make sure your furnace is shut down properly and maintained so that it runs the way it should.
Don’t wait until your air conditioner stops working and you and your family are sweating. Stay cool and comfortable all summer long. Call for your AC tune-up today!
