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HVACs make homes and other spaces comfortable by improving air quality and maintaining proper temperatures. Most of these machines are of good quality and are meant to last long. However, you can increase your AC’s lifespan by scheduling yearly maintenance.
HVAC maintenance is a lot more than changing dirty filters. When the AC maintenance team comes, they check the condition of your thermostat, change the air filters, inspect the system controls, clean condensate lines, and check all the electrical connections.
To avoid missing AC maintenance, you can sign up for a maintenance program with an AC company. Most HVAC companies service ACs at least twice a year, while others recommend an as needed maintenance plan, like the one here: https://www.rivervalleyac.com/maintenance-plan
What to expect during AC maintenance
Most HVAC owners know how to do DIY repairs, but some maintenance requires an expert. Once the technician comes to your home, they will check the electrical connections, thermostat’s state, filters, and other components in the system.
The things to expect during the maintenance are:
Clean and change air filters
Air filters in the AC help to clean the air by catching debris, dust, and other contaminants. The dirt clogs the filters, restricting airflow into your HVAC air handler. As a result, the cold air cannot flow outside, forcing it to return to the air conditioner and causing problems.
Restricted airflow strains the air conditioning system, overworking the mechanical parts. With time, these parts wear and tear, causing expensive repairs, and sometimes the parts fail, forcing the owner to replace the entire system.
Scheduling AC maintenance enables professionals to clean the air filters or replace them. Therefore, there won’t be restricted airflow into the system. This reduces the chances of straining the parts, lengthening the machine’s lifespan.
Check and tighten the electrical connections
Besides the usual cleaning of air filters, the technicians will check the machine’s electrical connections. These loosen up due to the wearing of the plugs and sockets. The wires also undergo expansion and contraction due to electricity flow, which can cause loosening.
Loose wires are hard to detect because most sockets are not nearby. It makes things worse because the loose connections can cause fire hazards. AC professionals also have experience with electric connections and will solve the problem before it worsens.
Clean the condensate drain
Have you noticed a musty smell near the HVAC or standing water near the unit? The reason could be a clogged condensate drain. They clog due to the accumulation of dirt and dust and can affect the performance of your unit.
When a professional AC technician comes, they will check the condition of your condensate drain. If there are clogs, the technician cleans them and disinfects the pan to prevent mold growth. If the pan has cracks, the technician will repair or replace it.
Check the thermostat
A thermostat is responsible for detecting your home’s temperature and turning the AC on and off. First, however, the homeowner must set it to the temperature readings they desire to have and maintain.
When the thermostat does not work correctly, the AC will not function. For example, the system will not know when to turn ON and OFF because the thermostat does not send the correct information. Also, placing the thermostat too close to a fire or hot corner will send the wrong information to the AC.
During HVAC maintenance, the technician checks if you have installed it correctly and in the right place. They also do a thermostat calibration to ensure it reads the correct temperatures and saves you on energy bills.
Inspect system controls
It is easy to guess that your system works well because you cannot hear weird sounds or notice inconsistencies in its performance. However, sometimes machines suffer silently, and continuing to use them in this condition can cause a breakdown.
Scheduling inspection helps the technician detect minor problems early. They repair or replace broken parts before they cause a strain on the entire machine. The technician can also see problems resulting from too much dust and will advise you to cover your device to protect it.
Refrigerant levels
Another major thing HVAC maintenance professionals do is check the refrigerant levels. The system should maintain a certain refrigerant level to cool the air and function smoothly.
With time, the refrigerant levels drop, and too low levels can cause trouble for the machine. The levels also drop if there are leaks.
Technicians inspect the amount of the AC refrigerant and can advise on whether to refill it. They also check for any leaks that could cause decreased levels and repair them.
Importance of HVAC maintenance
Some HVAC owners do not see the importance of HVAC maintenance unless there is a significant issue with the machine. However, these checks are essential because they help technicians detect problems like wear and tear early.
Other reasons to schedule an HVAC maintenance are;
Increase the machine’s lifespan
When technicians notice lost or broken mechanical parts, they repair and tighten them immediately. Running the AC with broken parts strains it, causing more tears, which could cause an abrupt shutdown. Fixing the machine earlier prevents these breakdowns, keeping your system for longer.
Better air quality
Dirty air filters are culprits of dusty air with pollen grains and other allergy-causing substances. Cleaning the filters removes stuck dust particles and cleans the air more efficiently.
As a result, your family will breathe better air quality and prevent contracting respiratory diseases and allergies.
Give you peace of mind
HVAC systems are expensive, and running them for years without servicing damages them. The mechanical parts are also costly to repair; some breakdowns could force you to buy another system. On the other hand, scheduling maintenance leaves you at peace, knowing your system is safe.
Conclusion
Although HVAC maintenance can be expensive, it is necessary for your home’s comfort in the long run. A reputed HVAC provider can have a technician check your machine’s connections, thermostat, air filters, and refrigerant levels to ensure the machine functions correctly. They can also offer advice on how to take care of the machine, increasing its lifespan and reducing some expensive problems like the breakdown of parts.
