Most people will call for air conditioning repairs as soon as they notice a problem with their systems. That’s all well and good, but prompt repairs aren’t the only way to keep your air conditioner healthy. In fact, they’re arguably not even the best way. Preventive maintenance is a big part of ensuring that your air conditioner has a long and healthy life. It’s so important, in fact, that most manufacturer warranties list it as a requirement for continued protection. Read on to find out more about why air conditioning maintenance is so important, and why you should schedule it this spring.
Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning Maintenance’
Why Spring Air Conditioning Maintenance Is So Important
Monday, May 18th, 2015Air Conditioning Tip: When to Schedule Spring Maintenance for Your AC System?
Monday, March 11th, 2013At Sound Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer comprehensive air conditioning maintenance service in Tacoma, WA. One of the main services we offer is an annual tune-up for your air conditioner or heat pump. It is a good idea to schedule this service in the spring, before the hot weather gets here and when you have to use your air conditioning system the most. This helps to ensure that any known issues are handled before your turn on your AC so that your system doesn’t break down in the middle of a heat wave.
During one of these routine tune-ups, here are some of the basic tasks that our technicians will provide:
- Clean condenser coil
- Check and tighten electrical connections
- Check for oil and refrigerant leaks
- Test safety features and efficiency levels
- Inspect blower belt
- Inspect expansion valve and coil temperatures
- Replace or clean air filter
- Check refrigerant level and charge if necessary
- Check condensate drain for clogs
- Lubricate moving parts as needed
In addition to these basic tasks, we also give advice on how to properly operate your air conditioning system, including the thermostat. We can also show you how to do basic maintenance tasks and keep your system clean. We give customers who sign our service contract priority service under certain conditions, including your agreement to operate the AC system according to our instructions. It’s also important that you notify us as soon as you notice anything unusual about your air conditioner, whether it’s a strange noise or poor performance.
Another reason to schedule tune-ups in the spring is that it will help to ensure that your AC system is working at optimal efficiency levels. If not our Tacoma air conditioning specialists can give some tips or pinpoint areas of improvement, such as installing a programmable thermostat or insulating parts of your home.
Call Sound Heating & Air Conditioning for your next Tacoma, WA air conditioning service and tune-up!
Air Conditioning Tip: AC Condensate Problems
Monday, July 2nd, 2012The beauty of air conditioning in Tacoma is that we don’t have to do anything to live in a cool climate even when it’s boiling outside. Programmed to adjust automatically, modern thermostats make it even easier.
It is very inconvenient therefore (not to mention uncomfortable) when our unit is not functioning properly forcing us to pay attention. Suddenly over-heated, our first inclination may be to call for help, but often the expensive repair can be accomplished easily or avoided completely.
Air Conditioning 101
The process of conditioning air to a cooler temperature involves rapid evaporation and condensation of chemicals called refrigerants. These are compounds having properties that allow them to change from liquid to gas and back at low temperatures.
When the liquid evaporates and transforms into gas it absorbs heat. Compressed tightly together again, the matter condenses back into liquid with a residue of unwanted moist heat that must be released to the outdoors.
Over the course of handling the air to cool it, air conditioners are able to filter dust and dehumidify the air as well. This release of moisture is why air conditioners have drains.
Condenser Coils
As the heat is removed from the gas, it forms condensation that must be drained from the system. Tiny particles accumulate along the path, prone to shifting and resettling until they become lodged and can form a significant enough blockage to hamper the efficiency of the unit. If the drain line becomes blocked, the unit drips or overflows the pan and works its way back into the house, causing damage and potentially mold.
This is when panic is inclined to call for the cavalry.
Easy Fix
A simple act of maintenance performed twice a year and requiring no tools can eliminate the problem. Your Tacoma air conditioning technician will do the following to check and maintain your condensate drain:
On the interior side, they will remove the panel of the unit and find the drain line, usually a plastic tube. If the pan is full of water, there is a blockage. On a whole house system, the tech will find where the plastic tube exits the house, making sure that it is above ground and clear to drain away. Then they will flush the line to ensure a clean and free flowing pipe.
To schedule your annual maintenance visit, give Sound Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. a call!
When Should You Check Your AC Filters: Some Pointers From Eatonville
Friday, September 9th, 2011The filters on your air conditioning unit are vital for keeping out the dust and debris that make things like illness, allergies and air quality worse in your Eatonville home. And it’s important that you take personal responsibility for checking those filters. Sure, you have a professional visit your home once a year to check the air conditioning, but you should also check the system yourself on a semi-regular basis for possible filter degradation.
Monthly Checks
So, how often should you check? Think of it this way. There is no such thing as checking too much, but you can easily not check often enough. So, we recommend checking your filter at least once every 4 weeks. It may not always need to be changed during that four week checkup (sometimes it can last 6 weeks or longer), but it’s good to take a peek.
Why is this so important? Because filters that haven’t been checked and changed as needed have a habit of building up excess sediment and debris. Not a problem when it comes to actually working, but a huge problem when it comes to your energy bill. The harder a system has to work to keep you house cool, the more energy it draws and the more you pay to have cool air in your home. And it will break down much faster as a result of overwork and dirty filters.
Changing an AC Filter
If your filter is ready for a swap, here are some quick tips to get the job done:
- Find Your Filters – If you don’t know where your filters are, ask your contractor on the next visit or look near the return grills by the thermostat.
- Remove the Filters – Open the latches and pull the old filter out to check it. You should be able to see clearly through a permanent filter and a disposable one should still be white. If this isn’t the case, it’s time for a cleaning/replacement.
- Clean the Area – Clear the grill and area of any debris and sediment that might make the filter worse after replacement.
Proper filter maintenance only takes five minutes and it will save you money every month you run your AC – not a bad deal for a few minutes’ work.
Saving Energy with Air Conditioners: A Tip From Tumwater
Monday, August 8th, 2011Air conditioners can definitely make it easier to get through a particularly hot and sticky summer in Tumwater. But they are also pretty expensive to run, especially if you live in an area with long, hot summers. Fortunately, there are quite a few things you can do to help your air conditioner keep your home cool without running up those astronomical energy bills.
- Think about Your Thermostat – Most people set their thermostat at one temperature and leave it there. But does it really make sense to pay to keep your home cool all day long when no one’s home? Instead, try turning up the temperature when you leave the house and then again at night before you go to bed. It’s likely you won’t notice the difference and even an adjustment of a couple of degrees can make a big difference.
- Multiple Climate Zones – When you are home, of course, you want to set your thermostat to a temperature you’ll be comfortable with. But that probably still means you’ll be cooling a lot of empty space. Installing a multi-zone system allows you to set different temperatures for different parts of your home. You can keep the spaces you use regularly cool and comfortable without wasting money paying to cool the unoccupied parts of your home.
- Ceiling Fans – It might seem silly at first glance to use a ceiling fan at the same time as an air conditioner. But the truth is that using a ceiling fan to compliment your air conditioning system can actually save you a lot of money. Ceiling fans use next to no electricity to operate and they can make the house feel a few degrees cooler. With that added help, you can turn your thermostat up a few degrees without sacrificing indoor comfort and save yourself quite a bit of money – more than enough to cover the cost of running the ceiling fan.
- Keep Things Sealed – Making sure your house is well sealed and insulated is another important way to keep your energy usage down during the summer. The more cool air that escapes, the harder your system has to work and the more energy it will use.
- Proper Maintenance – Keeping up with the recommended maintenance for your air conditioning system is the best way to make sure it maintains the highest possible level of energy efficiency. Over time, it will ensure your system stays efficient longer as well – well beyond the initial lifespan estimates.