Archive for: #airconditioningtips

Happy Friday EVERYONE! …. It is definitely 5 o’clock somewhere!

Severely clogged coils!

As we continue through this series, I hope that you will begin to see how important it is to properly maintain your air conditioning and heating system.  When I am out helping customers with replacing their old, broken ac equipment, I am often asked, “How often should I have my system serviced?”.  Each situation is different depending on levels of dust, pet dander, and other factors.  But, generally speaking, we recommend having your system tuned up every 6 months. A good rule of thumb is before summer and before winter.

Another great question about preventive maintenance is, “What is done?” I am not going to lay out in detail each item, but I will give you a general overview.  This way, you will know what to expect.

• Inspect the condenser coil

• Test and adjust operating pressures

• Test starting capabilities

• Inspect the blower assembly

• Test and check safety controls

• Clean the condensate drain

• Test the voltage of the motors

• Test the amp draws on the motors

• Lubricate necessary moving parts

• Check thermostat for proper operation

• Check for proper air flow

• Measure the temperature difference at the return vs. the supply

• Check the expansion valve

• Inspect and spray evaporator with cleaner (when accessible)

• Test in a/c and/or heat mode

• Check all electrical connections

• Check all capacitors

• Clean the air handler coil

• Check mechanical components for vibration or rubbing

• Winter – check heat exchangers or electric heat strips and amps – (depending on equipment)

In addition to these items, our service technicians may recommend additional services to keep your unit running at its maximum efficiency. This can include cleaning the blower wheel, cleaning the condenser coil with a chemical, and adding condensate treatments to reduce algae growth.

Loose connections were the cause of this electrical fire.

All of these items are important to the overall care of your air conditioning and heating system.  Two of these items really stands out to me.  The reason is because it is a matter of life and death.  The first one is “Check all electrical connections.” If the electrical connections are not tight, it is possible for an electrical fire to occur.  The second one is if you have a furnace, “Check heat exchangers (for those with furnances).  If you have any holes or cracks in the heat exchanger, your family could be in serious danger from carbon monoxide poisoning.

On a side note, carbon monoxide detectors are relatively inexpensive.  In doing a Google search, I found that these can be purchased from $15.49 – $49.99.  If you have one already, be sure that your batteries have not died.

So, what does a “PM” (aka, preventive maintenance, tune-up, winter start-up, summer start-up) cost? Right now, if you want to have us to a winter start-up, it costs $89.00 per unit (residential customers only). If you would like to join our “Discount Club”, you get a winter start-up, and a summer start-up for $159 for the first unit and $129 for each additional unit.  (SPOILER ALERT …. lock in your price now, because there is a rumor going around that this is going to have to be increased next year.)

It looks like we are going to have some great weather this weekend. If you get a chance, go out and enjoy Charleston SC.  We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful area that has so much to do.

TGIF!!