Your AC will most likely be turned off all through winter, which is a good time to have your air conditioner inspected and repaired. You don’t want to wait until it’s time to turn it back on in the spring to find out it’s not working properly. Most homeowners know that to keep their units working correctly, regular maintenance and upkeep are essential.

Yearly wear and tear can wreak havoc on a system, which is why you should have regular tune-ups for your heating and cooling system. You might wonder if this extra expense is worth it in the long run, so let us give you some information on AC tune-up! In this article, we will answer the question “Do I need an АС tune-up?”

What is an Air Conditioner Tune-Up?

You can think of your furnace tune-up as something similar to your yearly check-up with your physician, which ensures your health is good and all your vital systems are running properly. The same dynamics are why you need to have a professional give your A/C system a complete check-up to make any repairs or adjustments necessary for another year of good use.

Key elements of an air conditioner tune-up:

• Thermostat calibration. The technician checks the thermostat to ensure it’s properly calibrated and communicating accurately with the AC unit. This ensures the air conditioner operates at the desired settings, improving both comfort and energy efficiency. 
• Electrical connections inspection. Loose electrical connections can be hazardous and cause inefficiencies in your system. Technicians tighten these connections and check the operation of the circuit breaker to prevent any electrical issues. 
• Lubrication of moving parts. Friction can cause increased wear and tear on the moving parts of an air conditioner. Lubricating these parts helps reduce friction, which prevents overheating and prolongs the unit’s lifespan. 
• Condensate drain cleaning. The condensate drain can become clogged with algae and debris, potentially leading to water damage and elevated humidity levels inside your home. A clean drain is essential for proper moisture removal and to prevent these issues. 
• The system controls check. It’s crucial to verify that the air conditioner starts, operates, and shuts off correctly. The technician checks the system’s cycle and settings to ensure everything is functioning as expected. 
• Air filter replacement. Airflow can be impeded by clogged or dirty air filters, which can strain the system and reduce efficiency. Cleaning or replacing the air filter during a tune-up promotes better airflow and improves indoor air quality. 
• Cleaning coils. The evaporator and condenser coils can accumulate dirt over time, reducing the system’s ability to absorb and expel heat. Cleaning these coils is vital for maintaining the unit’s efficiency and performance. 
• Refrigerant level check. The technician will check the refrigerant level and recharge the system if necessary, as incorrect levels can lead to higher energy costs and reduced cooling capacity. 
• Blower maintenance. Proper airflow is critical for the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. The technician will check the blower components to ensure there is adequate airflow throughout the system. 

There are common air conditioning unit procedures that should be performed each spring before the start of a new hot season: thermostat calibration, cleaning the condenser coils, checking refrigerate levels for possible leaks, examining electrical parts for loosening, and analyzing the motor and blower belt.

Signs that Your Air Conditioner Needs an Inspection

If it’s been a while since your last tune-up, watch out for these signs indicating it’s time to contact your McMillin Air:

• Higher-than-expected energy bills 
• Reduced airflow from cooling vents 
• Indoor temperatures are higher than usual, with the AC struggling to keep up 
• AC running constantly or cycling frequently 
• Increased indoor humidity 

If you notice any of these signs, it’s wise to call a professional HVAC technician.

Do I Need an AC Tune-Up Every Spring?

When spring finally comes, it usually means your AC hasn’t been running for some time. It would be great to assume that while it sat through the winter you can expect the system to operate efficiently once the hot weather returns and you need it daily, but this is unfortunately not always the case. Think about how you treat your vehicle. If your car has sat in a garage for a few months and you plan on driving it across the country, wouldn’t you take it to a professional to ensure that your vehicle is in top shape? Your household equipment offers the same dynamics as your vehicle.

With hot summer weather, this means that you can expect your air conditioner to have to work extra hard to keep your living environment cooled off. Prepping your AC system for the hot summer months will ensure it is ready and will help eliminate the risk of a breakdown or low-efficiency operation causing excessive cooling costs.

What is the Duration of an A/C Tune-Up?

If the HVAC company you’ve selected promises a 15- to 20-minute tune-up, they likely won’t conduct a comprehensive inspection. A proper A/C servicing usually takes around an hour, assuming there are no additional repairs needed. Each repair will add extra time to the process.

Am I Really Saving Money by Spending Money?

Would the parts and service possibly be cheaper than the annual cost of a maintenance contract? Perhaps, but highly doubtful. There are so many things that can go wrong with an air conditioner that you shouldn’t consider taking that risk. With annual maintenance, you are knocking the risk down by at least 50% just by having regular maintenance performed.

A professional technician will be able to detect what is a small problem now but can turn into an expensive large problem in the future. You can save yourself from many more hassles at a higher cost and possibly a few days of inconvenience before a technician can assess your needs. What’s more, regular tune-ups can also increase the lifespan of your unit.

Neglecting the proper care is one way to ensure you will eventually have costly repairs if not the need to replace your unit with a new expensive project you aren’t financially prepared to make.

So, before it’s time to turn your AC back on, have a professional give it a tune-up to ensure your unit is in its best shape to perform up to your standards of comfort. It will also ensure that you get the most usage out of your AC for as many years as you can and help with keeping your cooling expenses down when the time comes for regular use.

To find out the answer to the question “Do I need an AC tune-up?” and to call a master you can contact us at 623-432-5202.