The summer heat is just around the corner, meaning it’s time to check up on your AC to make sure it’s ready for a long cooling season. If your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of the dog days of summer, you’ll be forced to suffer the sweltering heat and humidity in your home.
Your AC system should be serviced annually to check components and ensure everything is in good condition and operational, performing repairs as needed. This small step can go a long way toward preparing your AC system to keep your home cool and comfortable all season.
Learn more about how your AC system works, the science of calibration, and how tune ups can keep your AC functioning at its best – especially during the summer heat wave.
Understanding the AC System
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Air conditioning systems have multiple components that work together to cool your home.
There are several main components of an air conditioner:
- Evaporator: Controls the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator where it changes from liquid to vapor
- Compressor: Pumps refrigerant through the system to cool the air
- Condenser: Efficiently cools refrigerant from gaseous to liquid states and circulates the cooled air in the room
- Thermostat: Regulates the indoor temperature according to a desired setting
- Condenser coil: Transfers heat from inside a warm, enclosed space into an open one
- Air filter: Captures airborne particles like dust and dirt, which helps to reduce allergens and pollutants inside your home
- Expansion valve: Controls the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator where it changes from liquid to vapor
The evaporator coil is one of the most important and absorbs the heat from inside your home. The compressor then moves the cooled refrigerant through the system to the condenser coil, which releases the heat outside. The expansion valve regulates the temperature that’s delivered into your home based on the temperature setting you’ve chosen.
Although this is the standard setup for an AC system, there are some alternatives. Window air conditioners have these same components, but they’re mounted into a smaller unit that installs in a window. The hot air vents outside from the back of the unit while the condenser coils and fan cool and recirculate indoor air.
There are also larger air conditioners that operate differently. Central air conditioners share a thermostat with a heating system. The “hot side” of the unit – the compressor and condenser – or located in an outdoor unit.
Regardless of the type of air conditioner, there are multiple steps that must work in conjunction to cool your home. If any of them are in poor condition or need repairs, the entire system may fail – leaving your home hot and muggy.
The Science of Calibration
Calibration is a key part of your AC tune up. A calibrated thermostat provides an accurate representation of an indoor temperature, which ensures that you’re getting the comfort you want without wasting energy. If your thermostat isn’t calibrated properly, it can cause your air conditioner to run longer than necessary, wasting energy and leading to higher utility bills.
There are temperature sensos that monitor and control the temperature of the refrigerant, the evaporator, the condenser, and the ambient air. If these components aren’t calibrated properly, it can cause poor temperature regulation, inaccurate readings, and major system malfunctions.
Precision in AC Tune-Ups
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An AC tune up is a comprehensive analysis of the components of your system. There are routine maintenance tasks as well as minor repairs, inspections, and testing.
When you have a professional AC tune up from a licensed HVAC technician, it may include:
- Thermostat calibration: Testing, inspection, and adjustment of any internal components to ensure your thermostat is operating properly.
- Evaporator coil inspection: Your HVAC technician will remove the panel of your AC to check the evaporator coil and look for dirty, frozen, or leaking components.
- Drain pan maintenance: Your HVAC technician will clean the drain pan during the tune up and inspect it for damage, which can affect the way the rest of the system operates.
- Blower motor inspection: Your HVAC technician will evaluate the blower motor to make sure it’s working properly. This component pulls warm air from inside your home and pushes it over the evaporator coil, so it needs to be working properly for your home to cool.
- Air flow check: The airflow determines your AC’s efficiency. Your HVAC technician will assess the vents and ductwork to ensure that they’re open and operational.
- Condensate inspection: Your HVAC technician will inspect the drain line piping, condensate pumps, and drain for problems and clean or replace them if necessary.
- Condenser testing: Condensers are a crucial part of your system’s operation. Your HVAC technician will test the condenser with specialized equipment to see if there are any issues that affect its operation.
- Condenser unit inspection: Your HVAC technician will inspect the condition of your AC condenser to determine if the unit is in good condition.
- Outdoor condenser inspection and cleaning: Your HVAC technician will remove the condenser blower fan and clean the internal components to remove buildup that may affect operation.
- Refrigerant testing: Your HVAC technician will test the refrigerant charge to make sure it’s at the right level and not leaking, which can negatively affect cooling performance.
Benefits of AC Tune-Ups
Wondering if an AC tune up is worth the investment? Prevention is always better than repairs, but here are some other benefits of getting a pre-season AC tune up:
Optimal Performance
One of the main reasons to get an AC tune up is to ensure your AC is prepared for the long summer season. Over multiple seasons, air conditioners take a beating and accumulate dirt, dust, and debris, which can harm their efficiency. Your tune up will include a thorough cleaning of the condenser coils, evaporator, and other components, ensuring that your system is prepared to operate at maximum capacity and cooling performance.
Energy Efficiency
An efficient AC unit is better for your home’s comfort but also helps you save on utility bills. When your system is maintained, it runs optimally and requires less energy to keep your home cool – no matter how hot it is outside.
However, if you neglect your system, it has to work much harder to reach your desired temperature and requires more energy to do so. By extension, you may have some pricey surprises in your monthly utility bills. A tune up is the best way to ensure your system is running at peak efficiency.
Better Longevity
With proper care, your AC is a long-term investment in your home. On average, an AC can last 10 to 20 years. However, if you neglect your system, letting it build up debris and ignoring obvious signs of problems, the wear and tear can cause your AC to break down much easier than it’s expected lifespan.
Investing in a professional AC tune up maximizes your system’s lifespan – saving you money and reducing the risk of expensive repairs or premature breakdowns.
Consistent Home Comfort
Your air conditioning system has one job in the summer – keeping your home cool. With proper care, it can ensure that your home is cool and dry when the temperatures rise. However, without regular tune ups, you may experience temperature spikes or uneven cooling, such as some rooms that are freezing while others are muggy and hot.
Professional tune ups include inspecting and adjusting your system for consistent airflow and temperature regulation, giving you more consistent cooling across all the rooms in your home.
Fewer Repairs
Repairs may happen from time to time, but tune ups can help you get ahead of them. Small problems can get expensive quickly, especially if you ignore them, and you may even have a breakdown in the middle of the summer season. If you have to make an emergency appointment with an HVAC technician while it’s busy, you may have to wait for availability or pay a higher price for an emergency call.
During a tune up, your technician will look for signs of wear or minor problems that can be fixed early. This gives you time to schedule your repairs when it’s most convenient – not when your house is sweltering – and avoid expensive major repairs.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
Your air conditioner does more than cool your home – it’s a big part of your indoor air quality. Cleaning or replacing the air filters is part of your tune up, ensuring that your AC can effectively filter out dust, allergens, and pollutants. Good air quality is important for everyone, but it’s a must if you have people in your home with severe allergies or respiratory issues.
Warranty Expectations
Most AC systems offer warranties, but that comes with requirements on your end, including keeping up with maintenance. If you neglect your tune ups, you may void your warranty completely. Worse yet, you may find this out when you have an expensive repair that you expect will be covered.
AC tune ups are important for protecting your investment and maintaining your warranty coverage. Check into your manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines and warranty coverage to see how often you should maintain your system and protect against costly repairs in the future.
Improve Your Summer Comfort with AC Tune Ups
You should have AC tune ups at least once a year, prior to the summer season, to ensure your system is ready for the hot, muggy summer days and prevent major repairs or efficiency problems. If you need an AC tune up or repair, contact us at Adeedo to schedule your appointment!
