Your air conditioning system represents one of your biggest investments. Cooling equipment that is well maintained will run efficiently and provide comfort throughout the hottest months of the summer. AC service is important, but you may wonder how often it’s necessary for you to schedule.
Industry Standards
All of the major AC manufacturers, such as Trane, Rheem and Carrier, recommend annual service. The ideal time for an annual checkup is about six weeks ahead of the start of the peak of cooling season. Here in Texas, that means schedule service in early spring and no later than mid-spring. If you haven’t scheduled by that point, then you should arrange a service appointment as soon as possible.
Note that many manufacturers require proof of service to honor a warranty. Depending on the manufacturer, they may even require twice-a-year checkups. Note that this means a professional AC check and tune-up, something our licensed technicians can provide.
Aging Systems
You should also consider a more intensive schedule as your AC unit ages. Systems that are older than 10 to 15 years require bi-annual checkups. Once a system is older than 20 years, you may want to consider a quarterly schedule with checkups every three months or so.
Even if your AC system appears to be running well, regular service matters. AC units often lose about 5% of their efficiency annually. As AC setups age, their settings often drift out of spec. A tune-up can make a big difference in efficiency. Likewise, it will improve the odds that you get five to 10 more years of service out of it before you have to replace the whole unit.
What Happens if You Fail to Schedule Service?
AC systems have lots of moving parts and electrical systems. The moving parts will suffer wear and tear, and there is a risk of metal-on-metal contact. In extreme cases, the metal parts can form deep gouges and even lock into place. This creates a failure condition that may stop the AC or cause it to overheat. Electrical components will also wear out from heat stress, and they can fail. In the worst scenarios, electrical systems can melt rubber and plastic inside the AC, potentially becoming a fire hazard.
AC systems use refrigerant to transfer heat from inside your home to the outside. Refrigerant will slowly escape from the system no matter how tight the loop is. Also, cracks can form in the lines. Oftentimes, these are microscopic cracks that aren’t easy to identify. As the system loses refrigerant, it will blow air that increases in temperature. Likewise, a system suffering refrigerant loss can struggle to warm its coils, leading to ice buildup on these components. All of this prevents it from working properly.
What Does AC Service Typically Entail?
Annual Service
You may wonder what happens during an AC service call. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect.
Unsurprisingly, your annual service appointment will involve the most thorough checkup. Our technicians will perform a complete system test, including the controls, electrical components, moving parts and airflow. We will start by shutting the system off and verifying that all electrical contacts are tight. Afterward, we will power up the control board and run a diagnostic scan to see if the AC has flagged any issues since the last checkup. We will inspect capacitors and wiring, too.
Once we’re confident that the control systems are in good shape, we will test the major mechanical components. Our technicians verify that the compressor is still drawing enough amperage to do its job. We also lubricate any moving components, such as the blow motor, fans and bearings. Likewise, we check any belts for appropriate tension and wear.
Additionally, we test the refrigerant lines and levels. Our technicians confirm that there aren’t any refrigerant leaks. We also check levels and charge the system if necessary.
Moving outside, we always inspect the condenser coils. These are a key part of the process of transferring heat outside. Notably, the coils often become dirty due to pollution, decaying organic matter and dust. Our technicians have the tools needed to clean the coils safely. We also check for signs of corrosion and ice buildup.
If the system appears to be problem-free at this point, we will cycle it a few times. The goal is to see how well the AC is responding to control inputs. Also, we want to test the airflow in different parts of your home. Similarly, we will use a thermometer to independently compare the air temperature reading on the thermostat to the real one. If necessary, we will reprogram the thermostat to bring it in line with our readings.
Bi-Annual Service
The first of the two bi-annual appointments can easily overlap with the annual checkup in the spring. You should schedule the second checkup for late summer or early fall. This is a good time to see how the system has held up to heavy usage.
Bi-annual service should include cleaning the condensate drain lines. If they show signs of clogging or becoming dirty, we can treat them. This is also a good time to replace high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters if your HVAC includes indoor air quality (IAQ) systems. Some ACs include HEPA filters even if a home doesn’t have a standalone IAQ setup.
We perform a visual inspection to verify that parts are in place and haven’t suffered any corrosion. We run a simpler version of the temperature and cycle checks from the annual list, too.
Quarterly Service
The simpler filters in your HVAC require quarterly replacements. Even if you have a HEPA filtration system, it likely uses a pre-filter to capture dust bunnies and lint. Many homeowners are comfortable handling filter replacements once every three months.
If your AC has had issues with condensation lines and water pooling indoors, quarterly service is a good idea. In Galveston, TX, the coastal environment often leads to high humidity levels. This means drain lines work more and become gunky from mildew buildup.
A quarterly service call is a chance to check the diagnostic and reporting system if your home has a smart thermostat. This data provides early warnings about potential performance issues.
How to Tell When Your System Needs Immediate Service
A drop in AC performance or efficiency is frequently the first sign something is wrong. If you notice that the AC isn’t blowing cool air, that indicates a potential mechanical failure or refrigerant loss. Noisy operation is also a sign of possible mechanical issues. Clanking, banging and squealing are the most common noises because of the number of moving metal components. If your AC is operating out of spec, it could lead to higher electric bills, too.
In some more extreme cases, bad smells will tell you there’s trouble. Any electrical or smoky smell is a potential sign that something is overheating in the AC. Musty smells usually indicate that the system is no longer properly dehumidifying your house. The smell comes from mold, so you want to address the situation as soon as possible.
Reach Out to the Pros
George’s Air Conditioning provides top-notch air conditioning services to clients in Galveston and the surrounding areas. We not only perform service calls, but we also make repairs and will perform a replacement if it becomes necessary. Should you need help improving your indoor air quality, that is no problem as well.
If your home is ready for AC service, reach out to George’s Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment.
