What Professional AC Maintenance Really Does to Protect Your System

Your air conditioner works incredibly hard each summer. Normal comfort demands an average of 2 to 3 cooling cycles per hour. That means your air conditioner will experience between 9,000 and 13,000 cycles per season. Admittedly, this is plenty of work, and any hard-working mechanical system needs AC maintenance. For this reason, it is not surprising that everyone involved with the air conditioning industry calls for regular inspection and cleaning.

5 Major Benefits of Professional AC Maintenance

Isn’t your air conditioner pretty stable? What could possibly happen that would require professional help?

1. The air filter needs to be changed. A blower motor pushes cool air into the home and, at the same time, draws it back through an air filter and through the air handler chamber. While the air in your home seems clean, the air filter reveals that it contains dust, pollen, and dander. After a few months, the entire surface of the filter will be covered with these airborne particles. This covering will eventually restrict airflow and hamper the cooling process, so it is important to change the filter regularly, about every three months.
2. The air conditioner has two coils: the condenser coil outdoors and the evaporator coil indoors. The coil is a collection of tubes, covered with very thin aluminum fins, allowing the ready transfer of heat. Dust, pollen, and other airborne particles collect on the tubes and fins and act like an insulating blanket, reducing the amount of heat that transfers. A garden hose and a gentle cleanser will wash these particles away. The evaporator coil gets cold. Hot, moist air is blown across the coil, and the excess moisture condenses, drips down to a pan, and is drained away. Cool, dark, wet surfaces promote the growth of algae, and the algae can clog the drain line, so the technician will make sure to clean the drain pan and drain line.
3. The whole system relies on a refrigerant compound. When it is compressed and the pressure is suddenly released, the compound gets cold, the source of the cooling. This compound is constantly under pressure, and if any of it leaks, the whole system struggles. The struggling system will work so hard, it will eventually fail catastrophically.
4. The whole air conditioning system is powered and controlled by complex sensors, switches, and control mechanisms. Each part relies upon other parts, so if one switch is weakened, it stresses surrounding components. An inspection with an electrical tester can uncover any weakness. The main switch for the air conditioner is called a thermostat. The technician will replace the batteries in the thermostat and calibrate it as needed.
5. Other parts may exhibit general wear. The blower motor is usually moved by a belt, and the belt may show signs of wear. Connections may become loose. Ductwork may vibrate and work loose, and leak air. A trained technician will look closely at the system and make these small repairs.

What are the results of an inspection and AC maintenance visit?

• The whole air conditioning system will cool better, remove more humidity, and clean more particles, making the home more comfortable.
• The air conditioning process will require less energy and cost less to operate
• Small issues will be caught before they become major (and expensive) problems
• Regular AC maintenance generally adds five years of useful life to an air conditioner, which is an additional cost-saving

Why Professional AC Maintenance is a Must

Give your hard-working AC the essential care it deserves to keep it running efficiently and reliably. Stop small issues like coil dirt and algae before they cause catastrophic system failure and huge repair bills. Scheduling your professional AC maintenance visit now will help you restore efficiency, lower your energy costs, and add years of life to your investment. Call our team today to book your inspection and ensure worry-free cooling all season long!

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our AC maintenance College Station, schedule an appointment or visit our AC repair and maintenance information page.