With the summer season about to set in, it is about time that you start thinking about maintaining your AC. You would want the unit to be ready when the temperatures start to go up. This ensures that your AC performs at its peak efficiency and without any complications throughout the season. However, many people still ignore this as they are simply not aware of how to perform maintenance and don’t want to hire air conditioner repair services. We will take you through the process in detail so that you can kickstart the season the right way.

Clean Or Replace The Air Filters

The first thing you are going to do when it comes to performing spring maintenance on your air conditioner is either cleaning or replacing the air filters. Air filters are very basic yet have an important responsibility to follow. These components are designed to keep the toxicants away while helping the air conditioner circulate and maintain good air quality.

However, with time, the air filters become clogged due to the accumulation of layers of dirt, dust, and debris. This affects the performance of the unit and also decreases the air quality. This could lead to respiratory or chronic health problems. Children and older people are more prone to these problems.

That said, to avoid this, clean the air filters. If the air conditioner is relatively old, you will need to take a closer look at the air filters. Wear and tear with time leads to cracks and damages. So, if that is the case, replace the air filters.

Depending on the usage frequency, you should clean the air filters once or twice a month if they are not disposable. Plus, if the situation demands that you have to replace the air filters, make sure that you opt for the exact replacement.

Clean The Coils

Cleaning the coils is as important as cleaning or replacing the air filters. You have to keep in mind that air conditioners comprise several different components that work together to produce cool or hot air. Dust can build up on the coils and make it difficult for them to disperse heat.

Coils tend to dissipate heat, which can otherwise not only damage the coils but also the entire unit. This is why experts suggest placing the outside unit away from trees and plantations as dead leaves, shrubs, and branches can easily end up inside when the weather turns rough.

Fortunately, cleaning the condenser coils is as easy and simple as cleaning the air filters. You should consult the user manual to access them. Once you do, use a soft cloth and a cleaning agent to remove the accumulation. However, make sure the unit is unplugged from the main power source before you can begin the process. It can also help you reduce your electricity bill.

Clean The Air Handler

Similar to the condense unit, the air handler requires cleaning as well. It has evaporator coils and blow fan that are important parts of your air conditioner. This unit is inside the house, so it collects less dust compared to the condenser, but don’t ignore its cleaning.

Check The Refrigerant

The refrigerant is one of the most important factors that directly affect the performance of the unit. Every air conditioner requires a certain refrigerant level to produce cool or hot air. If the level is not sufficient, you cannot expect the air conditioner to perform at its peak.

Checking the refrigerant level requires special tools and equipment. This means you should get it checked by an AC repair service Stony Brook. Furthermore, you should also know that low refrigerant levels can be caused due to leakages, rust, and corrosion.

Although, this is uncommon in new units but fairly common in older units. The reason is that wear and tear along with external factors such as humidity and moisture can take a toll on the components. But, if the unit is new and you are experiencing the same issue, it most likely means the technician did not install the unit properly.

This normally happens when the unit has recently been cleaned or a new unit has been installed. If you notice that your AC unit is constantly tripping or not producing cool air, you should turn it off. An air conditioner with insufficient refrigerant level can damage the compressor as well.

Check The Ductwork

While thoroughly inspecting and maintaining the air conditioner is one thing, checking the ductwork is another. Ductwork like your air conditioner will also experience wear and tear with time. During the winter season, when the unit is sitting dormant, intruders like rats, birds, and other animals can take up accommodation.

As a result, the ductwork may have holes, cracks, or other types of damage that cause the cool air to escape even before it reaches the interior of the house. If that is the case, your unit will work harder than usual.

This will not only put additional stress on the components but also raise the energy bills. Keep in mind that cracks or holes in the ductwork can be difficult to spot. That said, you are going to need an expert who can thoroughly inspect and maintain the entire network.

Check The Thermostat

The thermostat like the brain of the HVAC system. This is the component that keeps track of the room temperature and adjusts its performance accordingly. Thermostats can malfunction due to a variety of reasons. One of the most common happens to be calibration.

If your air conditioner was recently maintained, it is possible that the thermostat lost its calibration. You may observe the unit performing unusually. That said, before you start pointing fingers at the components, you should start from the basics.

Plus, if you have an aftermarket thermostat installed, replace its batteries. To calibrate the thermostat, you are going to need an expert’s help. Fortunately, calibrating a thermostat is neither expensive nor complicated.

How Often Should Maintenance Be Done?

The maintenance frequency of the unit depends on the usage of the unit. If the air conditioner is used throughout the year, then you are going to need maintenance at least once every two months. In the meantime, you should also perform inspection and maintenance on your own as well.

But, if the unit is only used for a couple of months, you should get it professionally maintained once. Plus, if the unit has been sitting dormant for a while, you should make sure to get it thoroughly cleaned before turning it on.

In addition to that, part of maintaining the air conditioner also includes looking out for unusual signs and symptoms. Air conditioners while running hardly produce any noise. However, if you notice unusual squeaking or other sounds, it means there is a problem that needs to be fixed.

Fixing such issues as soon as possible helps reduce the effect of the damage. As mentioned earlier, components Inside an air conditioner work together as a team. So, if one is experiencing complications, it might also burden the others leading to failures.

Conclusion

Spring AC maintenance is very important if you want keep your unit running effortlessly. Although professional maintenance is not cheap, consider it an investment. Getting an HVAC repair service Smithtown maintain your AC goes a long way in terms of avoiding expensive repairs and replacements just when you need the air conditioner.