With a modern AC system, it’s easy for our homes to stay cool during those scorching summer months. However, high temperatures, along with general wear and tear, can place considerable strain on our AC systems, meaning they may not always work so efficiently as they age.
At McMullen’s, we have over 60 years of experience in providing furnace, plumbing, and HVAC maintenance across Red Deer and Central Alberta, including AC tune ups. Our specialist team is fully trained to handle the unique AC needs of your residential or commercial property, whether you have a central air conditioner or a ductless unit.
Find out what air conditioning maintenance is, why investing in regular tune ups is so important, and what to expect from our annual maintenance and protection plans.
Understanding Air Conditioning Maintenance
From strange rattling sounds to hot air blowing out, ignoring the signs that something isn’t quite right with your AC unit can leave you without that all-important cooling relief, as well as an expensive repair job on your hands – and that’s where air conditioning maintenance comes in.
Preventative maintenance of your HVAC system involves checking filters, fins, coils, and condensate drains to ensure that they are operating as effectively as possible. A professional air conditioning service should also test for refrigerant leaks and administer general cooling system upkeep, measure evaporator coil airflow, verify electrical controls, check thermostat accuracy, and tighten any loose component connections.
This can help you save a considerable amount of money on the cost of running your cooling system, which may not work as efficiently with outdated or broken parts. Plus, scheduling regular AC maintenance tune-ups can minimize the need for those emergency fixes when your system shuts down completely, therefore ensuring that your home remains cool and comfortable all year round.
The Importance of Regular AC Tune Ups
Musty odors, pooling water, frequent cycling, and high indoor humidity levels are all clear indications that your air conditioner isn’t working quite as optimally as it should be. However, you don’t need to wait for these signs to appear to get the system efficiency checked, as routine maintenance is essential for avoiding any issues in the first place!
We’d therefore recommend investing in an AC tune-up service at least once, or preferably twice, each year – once in the spring to ensure that your system is properly prepared to handle the summer heat, and later during the fall to check that those sometimes extreme temperatures haven’t caused the unit to malfunction.
Here are some of the key benefits of investing in regular AC tune-ups:
Improved Cooling Efficiency
Even with the most reliable AC systems, their operating efficiency generally decreases by around 5% each year, especially if you decide to skip those all-important check-ups. Small mechanical issues, such as clogged air filters or dirty coils, can also force the unit to work harder to produce cool air.
This means that it will use considerably more energy to achieve the same level of cooling as when the unit was brand new. Keeping your system clean and debris-free is therefore essential for maintaining optimal efficiency levels, no matter the temperature outside.
Lower Energy Bills
Have you noticed your electricity bills increasing significantly over the past few months? This is a clear sign that your system’s operating efficiency has reduced, meaning it takes longer and requires more power to achieve a cool and comfortable home or commercial property.
By improving efficiency, regular AC tune ups can also encourage notable energy savings, which is both great for the planet and your bank balance!
Longer Cooling System Lifespan
When properly maintained, air conditioners can last for 15 to 20 years, depending on the type of unit, how often it is used, the local climate, and the level of insulation within your property.
As well as providing an extended lifespan, getting your AC professionally checked can prevent you from having to pay for a premature system replacement. This is not only expensive but also incredibly inconvenient, particularly if your system breaks during the peak of summer.
What to Expect During an AC Tune Up Appointment
At McMullen’s, we’re proud members of several trade associations that provide access to ongoing training, ensuring that our AC specialists remain at the forefront of industry innovation.
The main service tasks that you can expect us to complete during your AC tune up appointment are as follows:
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- Inspection: Before starting any maintenance appointment, our HVAC technicians will first perform a professional check-up of the entire system. We’ll identify the type of AC unit and any problems that you may have with hot air blowing or frequent cycling, and take a look at your filters, coils, thermostat, and drain channels to diagnose the key issues.
- Cleaning: Next, we’ll get to work with draining the condensate line of your air conditioner and clearing any blockages, which helps to prevent leakages that could cause flooding in your property. We may also replace clogged filters, push aluminum fins back into place with a comb, and fix faulty wiring to prevent future thermostat malfunctions.
- Checking Refrigerant Levels: Another crucial stage of any quality air conditioning service is checking refrigerant levels, which can impact the efficiency, cooling capacity, and lifespan of your system. We have the tools and knowledge to determine the right refrigerant levels for your unique unit and check for any leaks.
Key Components of Air Condition Maintenance
Part of any effective air condition maintenance service should include taking a look at the system’s most critical components, which are key in keeping a cost and energy-efficient cooling capacity for years to come.
Some of the essential maintenance that a professional HVAC technician should conduct to ensure an optimal AC performance include:
- Cleaning Coils: Evaporator and condenser coils are key to maintaining the cooling systems of your AC unit. However, they can often become clogged by dirt and debris, so we’ll give them a clean to ensure they’re able to operate as efficiently as possible.
- Checking Filters: Like coils, blocked filters make it difficult for an AC machine to maintain a good airflow. This component generally needs to be replaced every 3 months for optimal efficiency, although a home with pets or a busy office building may require more frequent cleaning.
- Replacing Seals: When placed against the windows or walls of your property, AC units are connected by protective seals. If these seals become damaged and aren’t quickly replaced, they can cause cool air to escape, therefore affecting the efficiency of your unit.
- Checking Refrigerant Levels & Leak Inspection: As we’ve mentioned, stable refrigerant levels are essential for keeping the evaporator coils at the right temperature and ensuring the overall system isn’t forced to work too hard. Contrary to popular belief, needing to top up refrigerant levels is not a normal part of AC maintenance, as low refrigerant levels actually indicate a leaking or malfunctioning system – a properly installed AC system should never leak, and we inspect both refrigerant levels and potential leaks during our tune-up services.
- Servicing Thermostats: If you’ve noticed regular temperature fluctuations or inaccurate readings, it’s likely that your thermostat is faulty. Replacing wiring or aging parts is often the key to restoring this key component to full working order.
So, whether your AC system is starting to blow hot air or you simply need to book your annual service, call the McMullen’s team today at 1 (403) 342-1155 or contact us online to request your free AC tune-up quote.