Maintenance Can Keep an Air Conditioner Running Smoothly
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, so do the warmer temperatures. It may soon be time to switch on the air conditioning unit, but before a homeowner does this, they may want to ensure that the unit is ready to operate. It is better to have AC maintenance than AC repair.
Make Sure the Air Filter is Clean
Air filters are an essential and hard-working part of any HVAC unit, but they are a double-edged sword. Because the filter catches pollutants before they can get into the unit and ducts, it can make it harder for the air conditioning unit to pull in air. At the very least, a system’s filter should be cleaned before turning on.
The filter in a unit needs to be replaced at least every six months when biannual maintenance is done, but many recommend replacing it every three months. This will ensure that the system is not using more energy than necessary to pull in the air, which can cause extra wear on the blower and can cause an increase in energy bills.
Verify the Function of the Thermostat
One of the simple truths that homeowners sometimes forget to acknowledge is that the AC unit may be working perfectly well, but it may not cool the house properly without a working thermostat. The thermostat is the rudder that controls the course of the entire HVAC ship.
A malfunctioning thermostat can be the result of several different problems. There are more problems than one might imagine that can come from this small electrical unit on a wall. Here are just a few of the things that can cause problems for a thermostat:
- House Dust: A person may not think about dusting their thermostat or using canned air to clean its surface, but a dirty sensor cannot work properly.
- Broken Sensor: A malfunctioning sensor will never get the temperature right, leaving a room either too cold or too hot.
- Loose wiring: If a connection has been knocked loose, the thermostat may cease to function entirely.
- Misplaced Unit: If the thermostat has not been centrally located, there may be a discrepancy in temperature throughout the house.
- Settings: Some thermostats can be locked at a certain temperature. If a homeowner is trying to adjust the temperature, they should verify that no locks are on.
Remember A Maintenance Plan
While cleaning or replacing a filter may be a step that a homeowner can do themselves, there are many other parts to an air conditioning unit that may need to be repaired or replaced over the machine's lifetime. Hiring a professional to perform a maintenance check is a way to prevent the call to the HVAC emergency line later.
Homeowners can make their luck and prevent an expensive air conditioning repair by calling a professional for regular maintenance visits. Below are some of the tasks performed during a typical HVAC maintenance visit.
- Changing or cleaning the air filter
- Cleaning cooling coils
- Draining and replacing coolant
- Checking blower
- Checking the thermostat
- Checking drain pan for cracks
- Removing debris from the unit
- Tightening electrical connections
About Gresham Heating and Air Conditioning
For the past thirty years, Gresham Heating and Air Conditioning have been offering excellent HVAC service in Gresham, OR. They are licensed, fully insured, and offer competitive, upfront pricing. Call today with any kind of HVAC question, from maintenance to installation.