Just like you take your car in for a tune-up and hit the gym every now and then, it’s important to get your air conditioner serviced. It fixes small faults before they cause major damage.
During an AC service, your technician will inspect the fan motor, compressor unit, evaporator unit, condensate drain line, and thermostat. They will also clean these parts to prevent them from clogging.
Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is the central component of your air conditioner that helps to cool your home in winter and summer. It’s an A-shaped web of copper tubes that the blower fan pushes warm indoor air over during a cooling cycle. The refrigerant within these tubes absorbs the heat and moisture from that warm air to make your home cool.
If your evaporator coil becomes dirty, it can cause ice to build up on its surface, restricting air flow. A dirty evaporator coil can also be less effective at removing humidity from the air, which can lead to higher energy bills.
Like all AC components, the evaporator coil needs regular cleaning to stay in good working order. This is why you should get a yearly service done by an HVAC professional to ensure that it remains in good condition.
In addition to being a good idea for your system’s health, annual evaporator coil maintenance can help you avoid expensive repairs down the road. If your evaporator coil is showing signs of wear, an HVAC technician can replace it before it fails completely.
Keep in mind that replacement costs vary depending on the size of your air conditioner, its SEER rating, and whether it uses R-22 or R-410A refrigerant. A larger air conditioner requires a bigger evaporator coil that costs more to repair or replace.
Condensate Drain Line
The air conditioner’s drain line may seem like a minor component, but it plays an important role in the health and operation of your system. If it isn’t functioning properly, it can cause water damage throughout the home. As warm air is blown over the evaporator coils, it cools and the condensation that forms falls into the drain pan. If the drain line is clogged, the water will build up inside the attic and can leak down into living spaces. The resulting water damage can cost thousands of dollars in repairs.
The clogged line can also create higher humidity levels and nasty smells in the home. If it’s not cleaned regularly, mold and mildew can form, shortening the life expectancy of your system.
The AC technician will usually start by turning off the power to the unit at the breaker box before working on it. This is a necessary step because working with electricity and water can be dangerous. Next, the technician will gather supplies to remove the clog from the drain line. This includes a bucket or pan to catch the water that will spill, a wire brush or pipe cleaner for the stubborn clogs and a cleaning solution such as vinegar or diluted bleach. The p-trap on the drain line should be sealed to prevent sewage gas from entering the system.
Condenser Fan
The condenser fan is an important part of the AC unit and helps cool the refrigerant from a hot gas to a cool liquid. The fan then blows the cooling refrigerant across pipes to distribute it throughout your home in ducts. It also helps to prevent the air conditioner from overheating by removing the heat from the house’s exterior.
If you notice your Air Conditioning Services in Louisville KY are not working properly, the first thing to check is the condenser fan motor. While the fan is on, try putting your hand near it and see if it feels warm. If it is warm or if there is an odor of plastic burning, then the fan motor may be overheating and needs to be replaced.
One of the most common reasons for a failing condenser fan motor is lack of proper maintenance. A qualified HVAC professional can come in to lubricate the fan motor and clean it to ensure it will be able to function properly all summer long.
Another reason a fan motor would fail is that it may simply burn out, which will cut power to the motor and stop it from spinning. An experienced technician can diagnose this quickly and easily and have the replacement part on hand so that you don’t have to wait for a special order from the manufacturer or scour local home improvement stores.
Thermostat
Thermostats are an essential part of your air conditioning system. They tell the AC what temperature to set the house and when to turn on and off.
There are many different kinds of thermostats available, but most use some form of bimetallic strip. This is basically two strips of different metal bolted together to form a bridge across which an electrical circuit hooks up. As the bimetallic strip heats up, it bends to one side or another based on its rate of expansion. This in turn triggers a thermocouple that switches the cooling system on.
This kind of thermostat is used in older mechanical heating systems as well as some newer models. However, they are a lot less efficient than modern digital thermostats. They are also more prone to malfunction.
Thermostats are also a vital component in automobile engines. They prevent the engine from overheating and help keep it at its optimum operating temperature. If the thermostat becomes faulty, the whole engine cooling system will start to fail and cause irreparable damage. That’s why it is so important to have the thermostat replaced when necessary. It is not a complicated procedure, but it must be done by a qualified serviceman. Thermostats are not cheap, but they can save you a lot of money in the long run.