When Should I Tune Up My Central Air Conditioner?
Spring is the best time to give your cooling system a thorough checkup before you put it into daily service.
Maintaining your air conditioner now will prepare it for warm summer weather in the Pacific Northwest. When you switch your cooling system on, you want assurance it will operate flawlessly all season long.
Preventative maintenance is the only way to detect and correct minor repair issues before they spiral out of control and become costly problems. The longer you wait to fix a failing component, the more likely it will cause additional parts to malfunction and lead to a system breakdown.
Bryant Northwest makes it easy to find a professional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company to tweak, clean, and repair your cooling system before summer. You can select a pro from our Bryant dealers directory by clicking our Find A Dealer link at the bottom of this blog. We work with dealers in Oregon, Montana, Washington, and portions of Idaho and Wyoming.
How an AC Tune-Up Works
HVAC companies offer unique approaches to preventative maintenance. Some provide multi-point safety and performance inspections. Most swap out your dirty air. All thorough air conditioner checkups should include cleaning, lubricating, and adjustments as needed.
Here’s what a typical tune-up generally includes:
- Check the refrigerant level and inspect for leaks
- Clean the evaporator and condenser coils, the blower, and its components
- Lubricate moving parts
- Check the thermostat and electrical connections
- Ensure the system starts and shuts off correctly
- Inspect the condensate drain and pan
- Examine air ducts for leaks and seal cracks
- Check system airflow
Be sure to browse our online directory of Bryant dealers to select the expert team. Many of our network members offer maintenance plans that include annual heating and cooling system tune-ups. A service plan encourages you to follow through with preventative maintenance by sweetening the deal with parts and service warranties, repair discounts, and priority scheduling.
Some companies do not offer service contracts, but they remind you when to schedule a tune-up. When you book preventative maintenance services, they may reward you with priority scheduling for future repairs or other benefits.
Do-It-Yourself Maintenance Tasks
Check your HVAC air filter every month and replace it when it is dirty. A dirty air filter clogged with debris can restrict airflow and cause your air conditioner to work harder and less efficiently.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), swapping a dirty air filter for a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by five to 15 percent.
Keeping the area around your air conditioner free of debris, weeds, and shrubs is another simple do-it-yourself maintenance task. It pays off in a big way by maintaining airflow around the unit.
Turn the power off to the air conditioner and use a garden hose to wash dirt and debris off the equipment. Use a gentle stream of water and be careful not to damage the coils.
Schedule Spring AC Maintenance Today
Let a professional HVAC technician prepare your air conditioner for summer. Find a dealer near you by clicking the link to our Bryant Northwest directory.