How often should I have my heating or air conditioning tuned up?
If you'd like to avoid needing air conditioning repair in the middle of summer. The best thing to do is give your air conditioning a good cleaning and a good once over every year about a month before summer. Also, give your furnace the old eagle eye once a year right before winter. There are times when you will look at your furnace and say oh, there was nothing wrong but, what about that one time when you find a small problem before it became a big problem. That one time will save you some headache and some money. The furnace absolutely needs to be checked for mechanical function, safety and rust every year.
Why do I need heating and ac checkups?
1. CARBON MONOXIDE your home Gas furnace turns on, it generates carbon monoxide. That C02 is supposed to be vented out the flue pipe exhaust. Sometimes the heat exchanger can become damaged or the flue can be somehow blocked or not connected/pitched right. Either way the cause can be unwanted carbon monoxide migrating it's way into a home's breathable spaces. Safety is the number one priority, That is why when we perform a winter time heating system Tune up. We inspect the flue first to be sure your family is safe and can rest assured and worry free.
2. COMPRESSORS A new compressor will turn on and pull a normal amp draw like 8-20 amps but a compressor that is starting to seize up inside will show it by pulling more power to get started. Example: A failing compressor might pull 30+ or even 60+ amps on start or for the first ½ a second then drop down to pulling constant 8-20 amps depending on size. This symptom is a preview to doom, but we can slow down the degrade by installing a start capacitor. A start capacitor will help the compressor get started so it doesn't have to pull all that power to get started.
3. INSULATING AND SEALING During maintenance or whatever you call it. You should always look for broken seals anywhere around your return air or supply air ductwork connections. Leaky duct work can more than double the hvac portion of the energy bill and bring in a whole lot of unwanted dust debris and allergens. It's very easy to simply crawl through the attic and inspect for leaks.
4. BURNING WIRES During an A/C Tune Up, we are looking for any issues including wires High/Low Voltage that may be showing signs of fatigue or burning. Catching them now during a Tune Up is key and repairing or replacing them before they burn completely off can save you a compressor or a motor down the line.
5. DIRTY OR RUSTED COILS During an A/C Tune Up, we are looking for any issues including wires High/Low Voltage that may be showing signs of fatigue or burning. Catching them now during a Tune Up is key and repairing or replacing them before they burn completely off can save you a compressor or a motor down the line.
5. DIRTY OR RUSTED COILS Inspect both the outdoor condenser coil and the evaporator coil to verify that they are not rusted or clogged with debris. If a coil is rusty we know it could cause a hole and all the Refrigerant leaks out or through the bottom then water can leak out all through the property. With the potential for this type of damage we always inspect both coils before giving a system the all clear.
6. DRAIN PANS AND LINES Air Conditioning units produces lots of water in Florida. Clearing of the drain lines is extremely important as they do exactly what they sound like, they drain water outside. If these clog, the water will back up and overflow, destroying your property. That's why it's important to clean both drain lines out. It's also important to inspect the drain pan for corrosion/rust as you know what happens when the unit rust's a hole in itself, "can you say water leak".