Welcoming spring and the fresh, warm air is an exciting time in Raleigh, NC. Flowers blossom, trees and grass turn green, and outdoor activities become a lot more comfortable. However, you need to think about the comfort inside your home this summer as well. Your air conditioner brings needed relief from the blistering heat, but this powerful system requires a little TLC every year. With routine maintenance, you can keep your home cool and comfortable season after season.
When to Schedule and Why
Professional air conditioner maintenance is necessary every year to keep your system in top condition. Through professional maintenance, your system is more reliable and less prone to unexpected breakdowns and failures. Keeping the system maintained means greater efficiency, which translates into lower cooling costs throughout the summer. Finally, you can get more years of cooling from your existing air conditioning system when you schedule maintenance every spring. Now that you understand the importance of the service, read on to learn how our air conditioning service technicians perform annual maintenance.
Cleaning the Outside Condenser Unit
The equipment that sits outside your home is called the condenser. This unit faces the elements all year long and requires some cleaning and clearing before summer. Our technicians remove all leaves, twigs, and debris from the top of the unit. We clear an area around the unit for proper ventilation. We may also spray the unit lightly to remove dust and dirt.
Cleaning the Condenser and Evaporator Coils
Coils inside your system are subject to dust and dirt as well. These coils are delicate and require careful washing to promote greater efficiency and prevent breakdowns. Our technicians carefully wipe the condenser coils and evaporator coils for better operating conditions. This cleaning also allows us to inspect the coils and look for signs of damage that can compromise the operation of your air conditioner.
Inspecting Belts, Motors, and More
As we work through the system, we visually inspect all the components of your air conditioner. This includes parts in both the indoor and outdoor unit. We look at belts, motors, and other components to spot excessive wear and tear, faulty operation, and other damage that could put your system out of service. The importance of this visual inspection is to ensure that all necessary repairs are made before you need the AC for summer cooling so that it is ready for the upcoming season.
Checking the Refrigerant System
We look at the refrigerant lines and reservoir during inspection. We are particularly interested in making sure there are no cracks or holes that allow refrigerant to leak out. Leaking refrigerant is extremely harmful for the environment and can cause health issues if it comes in contact with your skin. If needed, we may also refill the AC refrigerant during annual maintenance. An air conditioner without refrigerant is unable to create cold air.
Inspecting the Condensate Drain Line
During operation, your air conditioner creates condensation, which turns into water. Water is harmful to the electrical components inside your system. The condensate drain line prevents damage by providing a proper channel for this water to run out of the machine. We look at the condensate pan to ensure it is not cracked or damaged. We check the condensate drain for leaks as well. We also flush the drain line to prevent clogs that can cause the water to back up into the system.
Inspecting Electrical Wiring and Connections
Your air conditioner connects to your electrical system for the power needed to operate. We inspect all wiring inside your air conditioning system, looking for signs of faulty or hazardous connections. We make sure all wires are securely connected and not frayed or otherwise damaged. Bad wiring prevents your system from getting the power it requires and can lead to power surges, shocks, and electrical fires.
Testing Safety Controls
Most air conditioning systems feature safety controls that prevent the system from operating under hazardous conditions. These controls power down the system until necessary repairs are made. We test these safety controls to make sure they respond as they should. If the safety tests fail, your system is not safe for operation until repairs are performed and tests respond as designed.
Testing Airflow
Once we’ve cleaned, tuned, and adjusted the air conditioner, we turn it on for a test run. During this test run, we check for proper airflow. This means checking all the vents in the home and making sure you get even airflow throughout the house. We also make sure the cooling from your system is sufficient to reach the desired temperature. Uneven or insufficient airflow could be caused by a malfunction inside the system. However, these problems can often be attributed to the ductwork instead. Our technicians will assess the situation and decide which repairs you need for optimal airflow.
Checking for Noises and Smells
While running the air conditioner, we also listen for strange noises. Your air conditioner should be relatively quiet during normal operation. Any loud noises of banging, popping, crackling, or whistling are abnormal and require further investigation. Similarly, your AC should blow air without odors under normal conditions. If we smell anything from the unit or vents during operation, we need to take a closer look. These strange sounds and smells could indicate a problem with the air conditioner or with the air ducts. Our expert technicians will inspect the system and figure out what is causing these problems so you can schedule the necessary repairs.
Calibrating the Thermostat
Your thermostat helps you control the climate inside your home. This device reads the temperature in the room where it is mounted and sends signals to the air conditioner to start and stop. We manually check the temperature in the room and compare it with the reading on your thermostat. If they match, great! If not, we may need to calibrate the thermostat until it accurately reads the temperature. During this time, we may also look to see that the thermostat is in an ideal location for the greatest accuracy and control.
Thermostats should be located on the main floor as near to the center of the house as possible. Your device should be on an interior wall away from doors and windows. It’s also important to make sure there are no vents or heat-producing appliances near the thermostat. If placement is an issue, our technicians can find a better location and move the thermostat.
Schedule Your AC Maintenance With Local Experts
As trusted heating, cooling, and home service professionals in the Fuquay-Varina area and beyond, we understand the importance of home comfort, and we serve customers throughout the Greater Raleigh area. Our experts perform comprehensive maintenance for both heating and cooling systems, ensuring your home stays at an ideal temperature throughout the year. We also offer AC and furnace repairs and installations. The HVAC technicians on our team are backed by extensive experience and advanced knowledge of heating and cooling systems, making them the best to provide all your home comfort services.
Get ready for the summer season in your Raleigh home by calling us at Dawson's Electric & Air today and requesting air conditioner maintenance.
