Troubleshooting Your Furnace

Posted on: 6 January 2023

Air conditioning is practically essential during the hot and humid summer months. When you're not used to the heat, hot days can take their toll if your AC isn't working properly. One way to make sure your air conditioner is ready to keep you cool is to have annual maintenance done in the spring.

Whether you have central air, a heat pump, or even a window AC, you want the equipment to be in good shape so it keeps you nice and cool. Here are some important maintenance steps for a central air conditioner.

Service The Blower

The blower is an important part because it distributes cool air through your house. The blower has several small blades or fins in it that collect dust and grime. The air conditioning technician may need to clean the blower and check parts that help it operate, such as the capacitor and motor.

When the blower operates properly, a strong and steady stream of cool air leaves the ducts when your AC runs so your house stays cool.

Clean The Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is where refrigerant flows that cools the air that blows out the ducts. The coil is wet with condensation when the AC runs, so dust can turn to grime and coat the coil. This makes the refrigerant inefficient and can even cause the coil to ice over. It's always good to start the cooling season off with a clean coil.

Check The Condensation Pan And Drain

The condensation that drips off the coils lands in the collection pan and then drains to the outside of your home. The drain can get clogged sometimes, so the air conditioning technician may clean it and check that the pan and drain are in good shape and won't cause condensation to back up in your AC during the summer.

Look For Damage In The Condenser

Parts in the condenser can sometimes be damaged by rodents or insects over the winter. The air conditioning technician checks all of the parts to make sure they're functioning. They'll also clean and service parts that need it, including the cage and fins on the side.

Measure The Refrigerant

The refrigerant is another important part of your air conditioning system. The level should always be the same unless your system has a leak. The AC technician will check the pressure in the system with a gauge just to make sure everything is okay.

Doing spring maintenance on your air conditioning system doesn't take too long unless problems are found that need to be repaired. By having preventative maintenance done, your AC will be in its best shape so you won't have to worry about breakdowns when it's hot outdoors.

To have your AC unit inspected, contact a professional air conditioning contractor in your area.