An experienced, thorough HVAC service professional should check all your system's vital components during an air conditioning tune-up appointment. Not all units work the same way—split air conditioning and central AC have different parts and pieces than smaller options like window units—but all air conditioner equipment will benefit from regular inspections and service.
Filters
Routinely replacing or cleaning filters is the most important task for regular maintenance on air conditioning units. If you do nothing else, you should at least do that. Filthy filters obstruct air flow and significantly reduce system efficiency. Plus, anything that passes through can carry dirty or harmful contaminants into your home.
Reusable filters can simply be cleaned and reinserted, but standard options should be replaced outright. Filters come in a wide variety of options, so it's also important to choose a replacement filter that's suited for your system. Dallas homeowners sometimes attempt to use HEPA filters, which end up restricting air flow enough to cause freezing inside a system. Always confirm that any new filter is well-suited for your needs and your air conditioning systems.
Coil Fins
These are those thin aluminum fins covering AC units. They're easily bent or damaged, which blocks airflow to your coil. There are specialized tools called fin combs that are specifically designed to straighten out fins. This basic maintenance step makes a big impact that adds increased protection against future AC repairs.
Condensate Drains
Clogged drain channels prevent units from properly reducing humidity inside Dallas homes. All that extra humidity wreaks havoc on your property. Excess moisture inside homes can cause discoloration on walls and carpets, reduce your comfort levels, and contribute to other potentially serious issues.
Window Seals
If you have a window unit, part of what makes it effective is its functioning seal. That seal between your unit and your window ensures that your model's efficiency isn't threatened and your home is adequately cooled. Over time, moisture and other external factors can damage this seal, allowing cool air to escape and reducing your unit's efficiency.
What to Expect from Professional AC Maintenance
When you hire an HVAC service professional for routine air conditioning inspections and maintenance, you can expect that your system will be well-maintained and restored. Any air conditioning tune-up should address all the common component challenges associated with your system, as well as more niche requirements for your specific situation. Depending on what type of cooling solution you have, you can expect your service appointment to include some of the areas written above, as well as additional checks.
Routine air conditioning services include:
- Checking all essential components
- Checking refrigerant levels
- Testing for refrigerant leaks using a leak detector
- Capturing any leaking refrigerant & repairing leaks
- Checking for seal duct leaks in central air conditioning systems
- Measuring air flow through your evaporator coil
- Verifying your electric control sequence
- Confirming that heating & cooling systems do not operate simultaneously
- Inspecting terminals, cleaning connections, and possibly applying non-conductive coatings
- Oiling motors
- Checking fan belts for wear
- Calibrating your thermostat
Common AC Problems You Can Avoid With Maintenance
Regular wear on AC units occurs every year as hot, humid weather hits Dallas homes. During these high-use periods, constant demands on your unit increase the need for air conditioning maintenance as parts start becoming weaker and more susceptible to failure. If these issues go undetected, you're more likely to experience any of these common cooling issues in Dallas homes during the next heat wave:
- AC that won't turn on
- AC not blowing cold air
- Freezing units or coils
- Refrigerant leaks
- Disruptive noises
- Electric control failure
- Water leaks
- Drainage failure
- Sensor problems
What You Can Do to Maintain Your System
Maintenance and repairs from an HVAC expert will always provide a superior level of safety, security, and protection, but there are several things that you can do yourself throughout the year. These simple maintenance chores will help further avoid air conditioning system malfunctions and damage that reduces efficiency.
Turn off the power to your AC unit before starting any maintenance to avoid personal injury and system damage.
Remove Debris: Clear any leaves, branches, or other dust and debris away from your unit. If you have an outdoor unit, it's helpful to keep all your plants trimmed back at least one foot away to prevent any foreign objects from creating issues. During this step, you can go the extra mile by removing your fan cage and using a wet/dry shop vacuum to clear away everything collected inside.
Clean Your Fins: Remove their outer covers to get rid of all exterior dirt and grime. Using a powerful shop vacuum for this step works well. Afterward, you can use a garden hose to spray a gentle stream of water through your fins from inside to clear out anything built up between them. Be careful and avoid using high-pressure water, as fins are easily damaged.
Change Your Filter: Ideally, this should be done at least twice a year—before and after summer. If there has been a particularly high level of smoke or other particulate pollution throughout the year in Dallas, you may want to change your filter more often. You can usually find your filter enclosure near your main unit, where large fresh air ducts connect to it. When you install your replacement, ensure that the flow-direction arrows on your new filter match those on your unit.
