Metro-Atlanta A/C technicians at Gagne Heating & Air discuss the importance of seasonal A/C maintenance, a few DIY tasks, and 7 items your technician should be looking for
If you’re honest with yourself, you have to admit that pretty much everything in life requires some regular maintenance to stay in top shape: cars, relationships, your teeth. Your central air unit is no different.
This fabulous machine that keeps you cool through all the Georgia heat (…and warm in the winter) requires certain maintenance tasks to ensure that it continues to run at maximum efficiency for as long as possible, with minimum problems.
The bottom line is that if you treat your A/C nicely, it’s less likely to quit on you during a heat wave or cold snap. Here, we’ll let you know what tasks you should conquer on your own and what tasks your A/C technician will perform for you when you schedule your seasonal air conditioner maintenance.
Tasks You Can Do Yourself
There are two important tasks that you can, and should, do on your own:
- Change the Air Filter. Hopefully you change your central air unit’s filter every three months, but you should really do it more than that. You should check to see if the air filter needs to be changed every month during times of the year where you’re running your A/C all of the time. A dirty air filter makes it more difficult for your air conditioner to bring in the air it’s trying to cool, causing the unit excessive wear and tear and leading to reduced efficiency.
- Clean Up Around The Condenser Unit. The condenser unit of your air conditioner is the part that’s located outside of your home. This part of the air conditioner emits the collected heat back outside. If you have bushes, shrubs, or vines growing too closely to your unit, your air conditioner has a much harder time dissipating this heated air. You should allow a general two-foot buffer zone around your unit. Check this buffer zone seasonally to ensure that your landscape isn’t encroaching on your unit.
Call Your Metro-Atlanta Air Technician for Seasonal Maintenance
Every year, you should have a professional A/C technician come to service your central air unit. It’s best to schedule this maintenance before you turn on your air for the first time. Your technician will perform a series of tasks to ensure that your air conditioner is in good running shape. According to Energy Star, these tasks should include the following seven items:
- Thermostat Check: Your technician will check to make sure that the thermostat and the A/C are communicating to each other.
- Electrical Connection Check: He or she will make sure all connections are tight (loose wires are dangerous and can cause wear and tear). They’ll also check the current and voltage on motors.
- Parts Lubrication: Friction is your air conditioner’s foe. Your technician will lubricate all of the A/C’s moving parts.
- Condensate Drain Check: This drain makes sure that the moisture generated from your A/C leaves your house. A blockage can cause water damage and high humidity in your home.
- System Control Check: The technician will make sure your A/C starts up, runs and shuts off without problem.
- Refrigerant Level Check: It needs to be just right. Too much or too little increases your energy costs.
- Blower Component Cleaning: Proper airflow in the system’s blower keeps you more comfortable and saves you money.
At Gagne Heating and Cooling, we want those in the Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Sugarhill, Woodstock and other communities in the metro-Atlanta area to enjoy long-lasting, problem free operation of their air conditioning unit. With a little effort on your part and a simple call to schedule seasonal maintenance, you’re well on your way to staying cool and free of frustration.
You can make your life even easier by considering our Comfort Club, a preventative maintenance agreement that helps you keep your equipment in top shape without the hassle of scheduling.
And for general tips and insights, check out our blog and All About A/C knowledge center for more information!
Don’t delay – spotting problems beforehand will save you a lot of headaches, money and discomfort. Call our offices at (678) 221-4328 to schedule an appointment with metro-Atlanta A/C technicians at Gagne Heating & Air today!
