Is Your A/C Ready for Spring?
With spring around the corner and warmer temperatures on their way, we will probably switch our air conditioners on in just a few weeks. But will they be ready to cool and make your home comfortable?
After turning your A/C on in the spring, you may feel that it is not cooling enough or not at all. There can be many reasons. Here are seven I often see:
Dirty air filters. If you have not replaced the air filters in your home lately, you might want to check if they are dirty. If they are, you should replace them. Dirty air filters act as a clog, restricting the airflow to your unit and causing it to work harder to cool your home. In that case, your A/C may not work efficiently. Your electricity bill is probably also higher than average. Therefore, I recommend replacing your air filters every other month.
Debris around the condenser unit. You can find the condenser unit outside of your home. It is good practice to regularly check if the condenser unit is free of leaves, twigs, or shrubs that could reduce air circulation.
Refrigerant leaks. Although an air conditioning system is a closed system that should never leak, sometimes the coolant can escape. If you run your A/C without a refrigerant, the condenser coil could freeze and damage the compressor motor.
Clogged drain line. If algae have clogged your A/C's drain line, the condensation water is trapped, and your A/C may shut down or, worse, leak.
Stuck contactor. After years of wear and tear, the contactor can get stuck, causing the condenser unit outside to run continuously. Sometimes, the culprit can be ants that are attracted by the vibrations of the A/C-unit.
Dirty compressor motor. If dirt and dust have come into the cabinet of your A/C unit, the compressor motor may be contaminated, too.
Dirty evaporator coil. After years of operation, dust often builds-up on the evaporator coil, reducing the heat transfer and airflow down the ducts.
Repairing a not functioning A/C unit can sometimes be very expensive and frustrating, especially if regular maintenance could have easily prevented such an unpleasant surprise.
When our technicians at 1st Priority Heating and Air get your A/C ready for spring, we put the entire unit through our 21-point checklist. So, when spring finally arrives, you will have peace of mind that you can just set the switch on your thermostat to cooling and enjoy comfortable temperatures in your home again.
Call us today to schedule your appointment.
