Spring is the most refreshing season of the year. New blooms, green grass, birds chirping, and warmer air. We love the sounds and sights of spring, but it’s important to have your home ready when the temperatures start to rise. Being prepared means ensuring your air conditioner is up to the task of battling the heat outside. With regular maintenance, our technicians will ensure that your HVAC system is ready. You can enjoy springtime without the hassle of a broken-down cooling system or climbing temperatures inside of your house.
What’s Considered Maintenance for My Air Conditioner?
Preventative maintenance is an essential annual service that keeps your AC unit running optimally to battle the summer heat. Schedule this service well before the hot temperatures roll in, ensuring the system is ready when you need to use it. For a more in-depth explanation of maintenance, read about the steps our technicians take when performing air conditioner service.
Clear Outdoor Unit
The outdoor unit of your cooling system creates cold air that’s pushed into the house. This unit includes a fan on top and coils inside. Our technicians will clear debris from the top and around this unit. We’ll gently spray the coils inside the system to remove dust and dirt that builds up.
An important task for homeowners is to ensure an open area around the unit. Clear vegetation back at least two feet and ensure no trees are leaning over the top.
Inspection
Throughout the maintenance service, our technicians will carefully inspect the air conditioning system. We’ll visually check all the different parts and components. We’ll look for damage and excessive wear and tear that can lead to faulty operation. If we spot problems, we can schedule repair service so that the unit is ready before the hot weather arrives.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Some of the parts inside of your air conditioner move around when the system operates. This movement may cause the parts to move against other parts, creating friction. The friction from movement leads to wear that can damage these components. Our technicians will lubricate these moving parts. The lubricant helps the parts move with greater ease and less friction and safeguards them from excessive wear and damage.
Check Refrigerant Level
Your AC unit requires refrigerant to create cold air. We’ll check the refrigerant inside of your system to ensure there’s enough to carry you through the summer. If the refrigerant is empty or extremely low, we’ll check for leaks before refilling. Leaking refrigerant is not only costly to continually refill, but it’s also harmful to the environment. Any leaks must be corrected before adding more refrigerant to the unit.
Test Safety Controls
Many HVAC systems have safety controls that prevent the air conditioner from operating when hazards are detected. Our technicians will test these controls and make sure they respond as they should. If safety tests fail, the system isn’t safe for operation until repairs are made.
Check Condensate Drain
The condensate drain line carries moisture away from the electrical components inside of your air conditioner. We’ll check this drain line for cracks and leaks and make sure it’s not clogged. If the moisture has no safe way to travel away from the AC unit, it could wreak havoc on the electrical components and shut down your system.
Test Run
Once we’ve finished with the inspection, cleaning, and other adjustments, we’ll test the air conditioner. We’ll turn on the unit and ensure that you get even and sufficient cold air from the vents. We’ll also listen for any unusual noises and check for strange smells that could signal a problem. If anything out of the ordinary is noted, we’ll schedule repairs.
Check Thermostat
Your thermostat controls the way your air conditioner works. You set the temperature you desire, and the thermostat then sends a signal to the AC unit to blow cold air until that temperature is met. If your thermostat doesn’t accurately read the temperature of the house, you may not get the indoor comfort you desire. Our technicians will test the accuracy of your thermostat and calibrate it as needed so that you can better control the climate inside of your house.
We may also check for the proper placement of the thermostat. It’s important that the device is located in an open area away from vents and heat-producing appliances. If placement is a problem, we can move the thermostat to a better location.
Why Is Maintenance So Crucial?
Now that you understand what maintenance entails, you probably have a good idea of why the service is so important. Regular maintenance provides several key benefits for you and your system, including the following.
Reliability
When our technicians inspect your system, we root out problems that can hinder proper cooling. If we find damage or other issues, we’ll schedule repairs so that your unit is ready the first time you try to use it this spring.
Tuning and cleaning help keep the individual parts of the system in better condition. With more reliable parts, you’ll get more reliable function throughout the warmer days of the year.
Efficiency
When your system works optimally with little stress and strain, it requires less energy to cool your home. Less energy consumed means greater energy efficiency. Greater efficiency leads to lower utility costs associated with cooling your house, which could save you a small fortune across the spring, summer, and fall months.
Longevity
A well-functioning cooling system lasts longer than one that has been neglected. Most AC units last 10 to 20 years, reaching the higher end only with routine care. Without this maintenance service, you could see the end of your equipment’s life much earlier. With regular annual maintenance, you can add years of life to your air conditioner. Replacement costs are sometimes very high, so this yearly service could save you thousands throughout the unit’s lifetime.
Air Quality
Cleaning your air conditioner means removing dust, allergens, and other contaminants that otherwise constantly circulate throughout the house. This cleaning leads to better indoor air quality and makes your home much more comfortable. Air quality is especially important for those vulnerable to allergens and people with respiratory conditions.
Cleanliness
Removing dust and contaminants from the system also means you’ll have fewer dust particles floating around the house. Less dust means cleaner surfaces and less time spent dusting, sweeping, and cleaning.
Schedule Maintenance With the Pros Today
Battling Illinois summer heat means having an air conditioner that cools your home to an optimal temperature. When the outside climate reaches extreme highs, you need a cool space to relax without sweating. Our professional HVAC technicians are available for your routine AC maintenance, ensuring your cooling system is ready and in top functional condition when summer heat starts to set in. Let us handle all of your other AC needs as well, including repairs, replacements, and mini-split systems.
Schedule air conditioner maintenance for your Arlington Heights home before the warm spring air ushers in. Call IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co. today to schedule your service.
