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Air Conditioning Keeps Its Cool

Air Conditioning Keeps Its Cool

We all want to avoid an air conditioning outage in the midst of a heatwave when wait times to be serviced can be longer than usual due to the rushed high demand. Avoid all that (and save energy costs) by getting your system ready now.

Central air conditioning systems can sit idle for months at a time, and are taken for granted right up until they stop working. To help ensure your system will operate reliably and efficiently throughout the cooling season try these things to help your system handle your household’s needs during the season.

Your air conditioning system has two basic components – an outdoor unit called a “compressor” and an indoor device called an “evaporator” or “air handler.”

Spring Clean the Compressor Unit.
The compressor needs good airflow to do its job properly and there are some easy ways to clean it up to ensure that good airflow. Remove leaves, twigs, or other debris that might obstruct airflow. Clear away any soil or mulch that may have accumulated around the base of the outdoor air conditioning unit. Trim back bushes and other foliage so they’re at least two feet from the equipment and remove anything that’s leaning against the unit. 

Check the Filters
The evaporator or air handler is the part of the unit on the inside of your home. This is the unit that removes heat from your indoor air, and cools your home in the process. One of the most important maintenance tasks you can do on your own is to regularly check the filter in the air handler. If it’s a disposable filter, simply replace it. If it’s a washable version, spray it with an air conditioner coil cleaner and rinse with a garden hose.

Quick Updates

Many modern thermostats are battery-powered devices. Proactively replace batteries once a year instead of waiting for the low battery indicator to appear on the digital panel. You can also visually inspect exposed ductwork depending on where it is in your home (check basement or attic). If the duct insulation doesn’t have a good seal you can reconnect & seal any open joints and reattach any loose duct insulation.

Regular Service by the Pros
Most air conditioning experts, and all of us at Accurate Electric & Plumbing, recommend that a system be serviced once a year by a qualified and licensed professional. An HVAC pro has the experience and special equipment to check parts of the system that the average homeowner may not be able to access or know about. They will inspect, clean, and tighten electrical connections and examine relay contacts for wear or pitting. The HVAC professionals will also test electrical circuits for proper voltage, clean the condenser coil and check the refrigerant level.

Inside, at the air handler, the technician will, among other things, clean the condensate drain and conduct an overall performance test by the temperature of incoming and outgoing air.

Try This First If Not Working
If you ever find yourself where your air conditioner is not working properly, you can do these things yourself. 

Unit won’t turn on? First, check your thermostat.  Make sure the mode switch is set to “cool” rather than “heat”.  Check the breaker panel. Locate the air conditioning breaker and, if it’s tripped … reset it.

Warm air coming out instead of cool? This sometimes happens when there is restricted airflow. Check to see if the air vents are blocked, or if it has a clogged or dirty filter. This is probably the most common reason a central air conditioning system fails to produce cool air.

Don’t wait for it to really heat up in Azusa before paying attention to your air conditioning. Get ahead of the rush by doing the tips mentioned above & scheduling your seasonal maintenance with Accurate Electric Plumbing Heating & Air to make sure your system is in good condition now.