A/C Maintenance: What Do the Professionals Do?

Given the hard work that cooling systems in our area do, professional A/C maintenance should take place annually. The costs associated with annual service are small compared to the consequences of neglecting your system or replacing parts prematurely. Heat pumps and air conditioners have many components subject to wear and environmental conditions that affect their performance.

What to Expect

When an HVAC professional maintains your system, you can expect him or her to complete these steps:

• Clean the indoor air handler thoroughly and change the air filter if necessary. Dust covering the blower motor, fan blades and evaporator coil reduce the system’s energy efficiency. Running the A/C with a dirty filter drives up energy consumption and contributes to premature part failure. The dust may also cover the evaporator coil, slowing the heat-exchange process and potentially resulting in a frozen coil. This can seriously damage the compressor in the outdoor unit.
• Lubricate the motors and tighten the belts.
• Check the condition and tightness of electrical components, removing any corrosion and applying nonconductive lubricants if necessary. Dirty and loose electrical components use more electricity and can overheat.
• Inspect the condition of the outdoor condenser and clean the fins and condensing coil.
• Clean and clear the drainpipe and drain pan, if necessary. A clogged drainpipe can create water damage in the areas around the air handler.
• Measure the amount of refrigerant in the system, which is an important part of professional A/C maintenance. If it’s low, the technician will find and fix the leak. Besides increasing energy consumption, low refrigerant can harm the compressor and may cause the indoor evaporator coil to freeze.
• Check airflow through the air handler and look for signs of ductwork leaks.
• Verify that the thermostat is working properly and recalibrate if necessary.

To learn more about the value of professional A/C maintenance, contact the pros at SSI. We’re a NATE-certified HVAC provider for homeowners in Orlando, Sanford, Daytona Beach and the surrounding area.

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