Now that it’s summer time with hot and humid days you might ask yourself whether your HVAC system is up to the task. Does it need maintenance and tune-up ?
And the answer is probably yes. When did you change the filters the last time? Is the refrigerant level correct? Can the outside unit breath and transfer the heat uninhibited to the environment? Overall, is my system as efficient as it can be or do I loose extra money since the system has to work harder than it should?
Here are some tips you can check yourself.
- Check the indoor air filter and replace if need. Your blower motor will thank you by using less energy to operate. And as a side effect, you air inside the house will also be cleaner.
- Check your outside unit to see whether it’s overgrown by the great bushes you planted years ago. Cut the bushes back at least 2 feet from the unit, to allow the heat pumped to the outside unit ability to escape easier.
- Check your thermostat settings to see whether your set temperature meets your comfort need and whether the AC system is running unusually long to accomplish comfort. Unusual run time is a sign to call you HVAC specialist to check further.
- Listen for noise, unusual noise that is, since it’s a sign of wear what needs to be taken care of before the system breaks down.
- And last but not least you may want to check your power bill and compare to last year. If you see an otherwise unexplained rise in cost, your AC system might be the culprit by not working efficiently any more.
Your AC contractor will check many more things during your preventative maintenance visit which is also referred to as System Tune-up.
In addition to the tips above, a technician will complete the additional tasks below:
- Measure and record operating pressures and temperatures. Measure refrigerant super-heat and sub-cooling
- Test “temperature drop” at return and supply air
- Meter voltage and amperage in all motors
- Check blower motor and belt if applicable
- Lubricate all moving parts as specified, test for worn bearings
- Flush condensate drain to protect against overflow
- Inspect start and run capacitors and relays for bulges, rust and leaks which is a sign for immanent failure
- Clean outdoor condenser coil
- Wash and wax outdoor condenser cabinet
- Test condition of compressor contacts, test and tighten wires and connections
- And More!
You can see the importance of some of the topics and develop the understanding that neglecting your system will end up costing you money due to inefficiency or premature breakdown. Just like your vehicle needs maintenance and an oil change, so does your HVAC unit.
At Carolina Heating our technicians are standing by to serve you.