As the weather warms, it’s time to make sure your heating and air conditioning (AC) system is in good working order. Cooling, along with heating, takes up the majority of your energy bill, and if your AC unit is not operating at maximum efficiency, you can expect your household’s power consumption to surge.
To facilitate AC maintenance, the Department of Energy provides a list of common problems every homeowner should deal with in a timely fashion. Now would be a good time to call upon an AC service expert such as Marsh Heating & Air conditioning Co., Inc. for the following spring tune-up concerns:
• Overused Fans and Compressors: Inadequate maintenance often leads to coils and filters accumulating dirt, thereby forcing the fans and compressor to work overtime. These components will wear out sooner than necessary and would have to be replaced.
• Refrigerant Leaks: The refrigerant changes from liquid to gas as it absorbs heat in the evaporator coil and releases it outside your home through the condenser coil. This liquid, in other words, is crucial to air conditioning. Refrigerant leaks not only diminish your AC’s cooling capacity but also discharge potentially harmful compounds to the environment. A trained ac repair technician can test for leaks, repair them, and replenish the refrigerant.
• Faulty Electrical Controls: The compressor and fan of an oversized AC can wear out easily as the unit frequently turns on and off. A technician must be made aware of this issue and should also check for signs of corroded wiring terminals as well as damaged electrical contacts and connections.
• Thermostat problems: Every time the thermostat gets knocked out of position and touches the evaporative coil, the unit is likely to cycle on and off unnecessarily. The compressor has to work doubly hard, as a result, to compensate for the faulty temperature reading. Count on a Maple Grove MN, AC repair technician to realign the thermostat and set everything back in order.
• Clogged condensation drains: Moisture that forms during condensation normally exits the AC system through a drain tube and is either routed toward a floor drain or pumped outdoors to a drain. Sometimes, that tube can get clogged with algae and would have to be replaced. Always check the condensate drain, especially on humid days, to protect your home from moisture that could discolor carpets and walls.
Is your AC system ready to take on the summer heat? This season, turn to a Maple Grove, MN air conditioning & heating expert like Marsh Heating & Air conditioning Co., Inc. for the comprehensive tune-up your AC needs to perform at peak efficiency.
Sources:
Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting & Repairs, HomeTips.com
Common Air Conditioner Problems, Energy.gov
Top Ten Things About Air Conditioning, Ashrae.org