The unrelenting heat in the southwestern deserts makes cooling system maintenance critical to help you tolerate Yuma’s long, hot season. Without maintenance, you run the risk of a system breakdown that might even force you to leave your home until the problem is fixed.
Maintaining an air conditioner or heat pump requires attention from you, as well as professional HVAC servicing. Changing the air filter on a routine basis and keeping the outdoor condenser clean help it run more efficiently between maintenan
ce visits. A dirty filter takes an immediate and long-term toll on your system.
As the filter fills with dust, the airflow through the air handler slows, increasing the amount of time the system has to run. A blocked or dirty outdoor condenser also slows the cooling process. All these situations add wear to the parts and reduce the life of the system’s components.
During a professional tune-up, the HVAC technicians will check your system by:
- Cleaning and adjusting all its parts, including the electrical components. Dirty or corroded components slow the electrical flow through the system, which increases power consumption and can lead to overheating. Clean evaporator and condenser coils improve efficiency, and HVAC technicians have the tools to access both. Evaporator coils can be difficult to access and are key to a cooling system that runs efficiently and durably.
- Checking the refrigerant level. If it’s too low, the HVAC pro will look for leaks and seal them before adding more. This may be one of the most important aspects of cooling system maintenance, since running your system with too much or too little refrigerant will drive up cooling costs and shorten the compressor’s life.
- Oiling the motors in the air handler and the outdoor condenser, along with checking the belt for wear and proper tension.
- Clearing the condensate drain so that it drains easily from the drain pan.
- Measuring the airflow through the air handler and the ductwork.
The experts at Hansberger Refrigerant and Electric Company can help you with cooling system maintenance to assure your comfort. We’ve provided trusted HVAC services for Yuma area homeowners since 1952.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about cooling system maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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