Central air conditioners require regular servicing to continue functioning effectively and at their peak energy efficiency. If your home has a central AC system, you should always have it serviced and inspected once a year. The best time to schedule annual AC service is in the early spring before the weather warms up enough that you need to turn your air conditioning on.
Whenever an AC system sits idle for long periods, dust and debris start to collect on various components, such as the condenser coil in the outdoor unit and the evaporator coil inside the home. When lots of dust builds up, it can prevent the system from functioning properly and cooling effectively. In turn, this leads to increased wear and tear and may cause the system to quickly stop working or consume far more energy once you turn it back on for the season.
Your AC system could also be affected by issues like rust and corrosion, electrical problems, or refrigerant leaks, all of which can impact performance and potentially lead to expensive repairs. The best way to both prevent and overcome all of these issues is to have a certified HVAC technician service your air conditioning system annually.
What Does AC Maintenance Entail?
When servicing an air conditioning system, the technician will always inspect every single aspect of the system. This includes not only the outdoor AC condenser but also the evaporator coil, refrigerant lines, AC blower, ductwork, and thermostat. Inspecting the system is important as it enables the technician to identify any issues that could impact performance or potentially cause the system to break down. If the technician does find any problems, they can usually perform the AC repair to fix the issue on the spot to ensure your air conditioner functions effectively whenever the time comes for you to turn the system on for the summer.
The technician may begin the checkup inside your home by fully cleaning the evaporator coil, which is crucial because, without it, the system could start to freeze up. A frozen evaporator coil will prevent the system from cooling and lead to warm air blowing out of your vents. Even worse, a frozen evaporator coil has the potential to cause serious damage to the AC compressor motor should the system continue to run when frozen.
Additional maintenance tasks include cleaning the blower and replacing all the air filters to ensure the system can circulate air properly. This step prevents the evaporator coil from freezing or the system from suffering various other issues.
The technician will also clean the outdoor condenser coil and remove any debris from inside the unit. This is important as dust and debris can clog the unit and prevent it from receiving proper airflow. Too much dust on the condenser coil can also prevent the unit from releasing heat. In either case, the AC unit could start to overheat and automatically shut down or suffer serious damage.
Why Regular AC Maintenance Is So Important
Regular maintenance is obviously essential for ensuring that your air conditioning works effectively and can keep your home cool on even the hottest days. Without proper maintenance, the system won’t be able to perform as well, and your energy costs will be much higher. This makes annual AC service with something like our maintenance membership plans a great investment as it can make a huge difference in your yearly cooling costs.
Annual maintenance is also important for reducing potential repair needs. If you don’t have the system maintained regularly, it is far more likely to break down and potentially need costly repairs. Even minor issues can cause your AC to run for much longer and lead to increased wear and tear. In this way, maintenance can also help to protect the lifespan of your AC unit and all of the other components. Most central ACs will last 15 years as long as they are serviced regularly. Without regular maintenance, you can expect a shorter life span.
Another thing to consider is that most air conditioner manufacturers’ warranties require you to have the system serviced by a certified HVAC technician once a year. If you neglect to fulfill this requirement, your warranty will automatically be void, and you will have to pay the full cost of any repairs out of pocket.
At Oasis Heating & Cooling, our certified technicians repair and service all brands and models of central air conditioners as well as ductless ACs and heat pumps. We also specialize in HVAC installation and offer a full range of heating and indoor air quality services for customers in Saint Claire Shores and throughout the Grosse Pointe area. For more information on the benefits of AC maintenance or to schedule your annual AC service, contact Oasis Heating & Cooling today.
