Scheduling annual AC maintenance is the best way to extend the lifespan of the air conditioner in your Clearwater, FL home. Although there are things that you can do to limit operational stress and keep your air conditioner working efficiently, many important maintenance tasks belong in the hands of seasoned professionals. At One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating, we use detailed AC maintenance checklists to thoroughly tune indoor air handlers and outdoor condensers. We also give every air conditioner the model-specific care it deserves. The following is what you can expect during your AC maintenance appointment.
Inspect and Replace Your HVAC Air Filter
Our technicians start AC maintenance service by inspecting and replacing air filters. We’ll make sure that you’re using the correct filter type and size for your system, that it’s properly oriented, and that you’re changing it often enough. We’ll also answer any questions you have about upgrading to a filter with a higher maximum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating for improved indoor air quality (IAQ). Replacing your air filter at the start of service will give us accurate results in the airflow testing that follows.
Airflow Testing
Airflow testing helps our technicians identify problems like crushed, leaky, or blocked air ducts. It also points out things like full or partial vent closures that are causing unnecessary stress. We check for dirty air vents, blocked condensate lines, and higher or lower-than-necessary fan speeds. We’ll also check exposed air ducts for visible damage.
Thermostat Inspection and Calibration
Your thermostat is the brain of your entire HVAC system. It tells your air conditioner when to turn off and on based on its temperature setting and its temperature reading. We’ll make sure that your thermostat is calibrated to read your temperature accurately. We’ll also determine whether your thermostat is in a good location. If it’s too close to a heat-generating appliance or a sunlit window or if it’s in a drafty area, it may read your temperature as being higher or lower than it is. If needed, we’ll move your thermostat to a more appropriate location.
Inspect, Test, and Clean the Indoor Air Handler
Your indoor air handler houses your evaporator coil and one of your HVAC system’s two blower fans. As warm air flows over the evaporator coil, cold refrigerant within this coil extracts its heat. Our technicians will clean your evaporator coil and check for rust and other corrosion. We’ll also test and clean your indoor blower fan, replace worn bearings, and lubricate moving parts.
Clean and Disinfect the AC Condensate Drain
When air conditioners extract excess humidity from the indoor air, they route this moisture out of homes via condensate drain lines. During winter, when air conditioners aren’t in use, AC condensate drains can develop thick, algal blooms and slimy biofilm. We’ll clean and disinfect your drain line to prevent unpleasant AC odors and problems like excess humidity, AC leaks, and short cycling.
Inspect and Test All Electrical Connections
We test and inspect all electrical connections to identify corrosion, damaged electrical contactors, faulty circuits, and failing AC capacitors. As needed, we replace all worn and malfunctioning parts.
Inspect, Test, and Clean the Outdoor Condenser and Compressor
Your air conditioner’s condenser houses the compressor that pumps refrigerant throughout your cooling system. It also houses a blower motor, a blower fan, and your AC condenser coil. This is where your air conditioner sheds heat and humidity.
We’ll thoroughly clean your condenser coil with a model-appropriate solution. If necessary, we’ll also use a fin comb to straighten bent fins. This ensures efficient heat transfer. Just as we did indoors, we’ll test your blower motor and fan, tighten or replace loose and worn bearings, and lubricate all moving components.
AC condensers need at least two feet of clearance on each side. We’ll make sure that your condenser is getting good airflow and that it hasn’t been encroached upon by insects, rodents, or other critters.
Measure Refrigerant Levels
Throughout AC maintenance service, our HVAC technicians are constantly on the lookout for signs of low refrigerant. If you have a refrigerant leak, we might identify it during airflow testing. Small, light-brown bubbles on evaporator coils are another common indicator of leaky refrigerant. However, we also measure refrigerant levels using pressure gauges and provide recharge service if needed.
Why Is Annual AC Maintenance So Important?
Annual AC maintenance primes air conditioners for the cooling season. In a subtropical climate like Clearwater’s, it can help you avoid dangerous, mid-season cooling emergencies. Maintenance service promotes reliable and efficient operation, manageable cooling costs, and healthy indoor air quality. It also gives our team at One Time Air Conditioning & Heating the chance to spot and resolve minor issues before they spiral out of control.