Just like your vehicle, your air conditioner needs regular tune ups. You would never dream of letting your car go thousands of miles without an oil change nor would you leave your car out in the elements to be exposed to a range of weather without running it every so often. Unfortunately this is what many home and business owners expose our air conditioners to. Your air conditioner often goes months without use during the cooler months; they are also exposed to the heat and rain that is so prevalent in our climate. In Florida we also typically run our air conditioners far more often than our northern neighbors.
What Is An AC Tune Up?
Our AC Tune Up consists of our 47 point inspection. We will thoroughly check and test every component of your air conditioning system. During the 47 point inspection we will check and inspect the following:
Air Handler (Indoor Unit)
- Evaporator coil fins and condition
- Evaporator cooling coil for restrictions
- Clean evaporator coil surface if accessible
- Condensate drain pan cleaning
- Condensate drain line treatment and vacuum
- Condensate drain pan add algae tablets
- Check condensate overflow safety switches
- Disinfect interior cabinet insulation and coil
- Expansion valve/metering device and blub
- Electric heater, voltage and amperage
- Electric heater air temperature rise
- Blower motor circuit boards
- Blower motor fan relay
- Blower motor run capacitor
- Blower motor amperage draw
- Verify blower wheel condition and balance
- Verify all breaker/fuse/wiring sizes to NEC codes
- Return air filter and advise
- Thermostat/humidistat operation
- Indoor temperature/relative humidity
- Verify proper air duct sizes for optimum air flow
Condenser (Outdoor Unit)
- Check condenser coil fins and condition
- Flush outdoor condenser unit
- Compressor run capacitor
- Compressor start capacitor
- Compressor potential relay
- Compressor time delay relay
- Compressor contactor relay
- Compressor amperage draw
- Condenser fan motor blade setting/balance
- Condenser fan motor run capacitor
- Condenser fan motor amperage draw
- Heat pump control circuit board
- Heat pump reversing valve
- Heat pump suction accumulator
- Heat pump expansion valve
- Electrical disconnect wiring/verify voltage
- All electrical connections high/low voltage
- Verify all breaker/fuse/wiring sizes to NEC codes
- Refrigerant lines
- Suction and liquid line temperatures
- Refrigerant checked to factory specs
- System check to current code
- Overall equipment condition
When Should I Have My AC Tuned Up?
Most manufacturers recommend a tune up annually. For many of our customers annual tune ups will be sufficient, however, if you use your air conditioner all year long, you may need tune ups every six months. It is best to have your air conditioner tuned up during the cooler months so that any problems can be fixed before you are heavily relying on the air conditioner during the summer months.
