Summertime means warm days and cool air conditioning. Sometimes, it also means air conditioning repair for your HVAC system in Yankton, SD. But you never know until you turn your AC on! Before you do, we encourage you to complete these maintenance tasks. We also recommend you check these seven things before you run your AC for the first time in a while…
7 Critical Things to Check Before You Run Your AC
Before you beat the heat with that nice, frosty air, you’ll need to check these seven things.
1. Refrigerant
Refrigerant is a critical component of AC systems, as it absorbs heat from indoor air and helps keep your home cool. Before you fire up your AC system, check your refrigerant levels. Low levels indicate there’s a leak present somewhere in your system. If you’re not sure how to check your refrigerant levels, contact an AC repair expert to safely do it for you.
2. Electrical components
At the end of the day, your AC unit is an electrical system, and it’s important to make sure all its electrical components are safe and in good working order to avoid any potential danger. Inspect what you can visually, then hire an air conditioning repair company that can safely evaluate everything else.
3. Condenser coils
Your evaporator and condenser coils contribute to the efficiency of your system. If they’re dirty or dingy, they make your unit work harder than it should to pump cold air through your home. That means higher costs and an increased likelihood that something big will go wrong down the line, and that’s the last thing you want in the middle of a hot summer.
4. Motor
Motors need oil, and your AC unit’s motor is no different! If it needs oil, go ahead and oil it so it can keep running well. Most air conditioning units require high-quality, detergent-free oil that’s intended for high-speed motor shafts and bearings.
5. Thermostat
If your thermostat isn’t calibrated properly, your unit will be working overtime. The method to calibrate your thermostat depends on what type of thermostat you have, but calibrating your thermostat isn’t too hard to do. If you’re not familiar with how to do this or have trouble calibrating your thermostat, a local air conditioning repair company can easily do it for you.
6. Condenser
The condenser in a central AC unit cools down and condenses incoming refrigerant to keep you cool. Since the condenser is an essential component, be sure to check it early in the season before it’s time to rely on your AC unit for weeks on end.
7. Filters
One of the most overlooked aspects of the AC system is also one of the hardest-working, and that’s your AC filters. Designed to trap debris and allergens from your household air, filters eventually get caked and saturated with dust and grime. Unfortunately, this prevents your system from operating at peak capacity and can lead to a higher-than-needed allergen content in your home.
An easy way to prevent issues with your AC filters is to check, clean, or change them right before the summer starts. While an annual air conditioner check-up is the easiest way to have this work done, it is possible to do it on your own. Just remember to be diligent about it!
Reliable HVAC Services in Yankton, SD
Since 1982, Larry’s Heating and Cooling has been providing air conditioning repair services to families in Yankton, SD and the surrounding communities. We’re committed to providing you with the same high-quality, professional services on every interaction — any time, any day. For HVAC services you can count on, get in touch with our team today to schedule an appointment!
