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How Do You Do Preventive Maintenance On An Air Conditioner?

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In London, ON, the summer can be unbearable without a working air conditioner. With oppressive weather, it is essential to keep your A/C unit running properly. One way to do this is through preventive AC maintenance London, ON. Like with your car, it’s essential to do regular checkups on your air conditioner to ensure that everything is working correctly and to catch any potential problems before they become major repairs. But how will you get started on AC maintenance? Here’s a quick guide you can follow—so take time to read.

What is an AC Maintenance London ON?

Before you learn the steps on how to do preventive maintenance, it is important to know what it is and its purpose. Air conditioner or AC maintenance is the process of regularly checking your air conditioner unit to ensure that it is in good working condition. This also includes cleaning it to prevent any build-up of dirt and grime that can affect its performance. AC maintenance London, ON is a service done to check and fix an air conditioner unit’s different parts and systems. It helps improve the efficiency of your system while also extending its lifespan. In short, it saves you time, money, and energy in the long run. It is a service usually performed by HVAC professionals but can be done by the homeowner as well. Simple jobs, such as cleaning the air conditioner’s filters or clearing the outdoor unit, can be done by the homeowner, while more complicated tasks, such as checking the refrigerant levels or testing the capacitor, should be left to the professionals. AC maintenance London, ON is a guarantee that your air conditioner will work when you need it the most, especially during those hot days of summer.

AC Maintenance You Can Do On Your Own

While it’s always recommended to call the experts for your AC maintenance, there are certain steps that you can do on your own to keep your unit in good working condition. These simple tasks will improve the efficiency of your air conditioner and help prolong its lifespan. Here are some tips on how you can do preventive maintenance for your air conditioner:

Check and clean your air conditioner’s filters regularly

The most important part of an air conditioner is its filter and it needs proper AC maintenance London, ON. It is responsible for trapping dirt, dust, and other airborne particles that can clog the system and affect its performance. Checking and cleaning the filters should be done at least once a month or more often if you have pets in the house.

Keep the outdoor unit clean

The outdoor unit of your air conditioner is just as important as the indoor unit. It contains the condenser coils that are responsible for dissipating heat. If these coils get dirty, it will affect the performance of your air conditioner. To clean the outdoor unit, you will need to turn off the power first and then remove any dirt, leaves, or debris gathered around it. Once you’re done, you can turn the power back on.

Check the refrigerant levels

The refrigerant is what makes your air conditioner cool the air. If the level is low, it will affect the performance of your unit and might not work well to cool your home. As part of AC maintenance London, ON, you can check the level yourself with a refrigerant gauge, or you can call a professional to do it for you.

Test the capacitor

The capacitor is responsible for storing energy and helps your air conditioner start-up. If it is damaged, it can cause your unit to overwork and shorten its lifespan. You can test the capacitor with a multimeter. If the reading is below 30, it needs to be replaced.

Lubricate the moving parts

The moving parts of your air conditioner, such as the fans and motors, need to be lubricated to prevent them from overworking. This AC maintenance London, ON will also help reduce the noise level of your unit. You can use any type of lubricant, such as WD-40, as long as it is safe for plastic.

Check for leaks

Leaks can cause your air conditioner to lose refrigerant and affect its performance. To check for leaks, you will need to look for any wet areas around the unit. If you find any leaks, you will need to call a professional to fix them.

Clean the ductwork

The ductwork is responsible for carrying the air from your air conditioner to the different rooms in your house. If it is dirty, it can affect the air quality in your home. You can clean the ductwork yourself with a vacuum cleaner. If you have a central air conditioner, you will also need to clean the evaporator coils.

Schedule a professional maintenance check

Even if you do all of the above, it is still recommended to call a professional to check your air conditioner at least once a year thoroughly. They will be able to spot any problems that you might have missed and fix them before they cause any damage.  Keeping your air conditioner in good working condition with AC maintenance London, ON is important to ensure its efficiency and prolong its lifespan. By following the tips above, you can do preventive maintenance on your own. However, it is still recommended to call a professional for a thorough checkup at least once a year.

Maintenance Tasks You Should Leave to the Professionals

While it’s essential to do your own regular maintenance tasks, there are some things that you should leave to the professionals. These kinds of AC maintenance London, ON require special training and equipment, and attempting to do them yourself could lead to further damage.

Cleaning the evaporator coils

The evaporator coils are responsible for absorbing heat from the air. They are located inside the air conditioner unit and are not easy to access. Attempting to clean the coils yourself could damage them. It’s best to leave this task to the professionals.

Refilling the refrigerant

The refrigerant is what makes your air conditioner cool the air. If it’s low, it can affect the performance of your unit. Refilling the refrigerant is essential to keeping your air conditioner running correctly, but it’s a task that should be left to professionals with special training and equipment.

Repairing leaks

Leaks can cause your air conditioner to lose refrigerant and affect its performance. If you find any leaks, you will need to call a professional to fix them. Attempting to repair the leak yourself could worsen and cause further damage.

Replacing the capacitor

The capacitor is responsible for storing energy and helps your air conditioner start-up. If it is damaged, it can cause your unit to overwork and shorten its lifespan. Replacing the capacitor is a delicate task left to a professional.

Repairing the motor

The motor is responsible for powering the air conditioner unit. If it is damaged, it can cause your unit to overwork and shorten its lifespan. The motor is located inside the system and is not easy to access. This makes it delicate and a job that should be left to a professional. We hope you found this list of maintenance tasks helpful. Remember, regular AC maintenance London, ON is key to keeping your air conditioner running properly and prolonging its lifespan.

Is It a Good Idea to Sign Up for a Maintenance Agreement?

Most homeowners are not familiar with the different parts of their air conditioner and how they work together. As a result, they may not know how to properly maintain their unit or what to do when something goes wrong. This is where a maintenance agreement can be helpful. A maintenance agreement is a contract between you and an air conditioning contractor that outlines the services they will provide and the frequency of those services. The benefits of having a maintenance agreement are:
  • You will have peace of mind knowing that your air conditioner is being properly maintained.
  • The contractor will be familiar with your unit and can spot any potential problems before they become major issues.
  • If something does go wrong with your unit, the contractor will be able to fix it quickly and efficiently.
  • Maintenance agreements often include discounts on parts and labor.
  • You can avoid the hassle of trying to find a reputable contractor when something goes wrong with your unit.
If you consider signing up for a maintenance agreement, be sure to do your research and choose a reputable contractor. Make sure that the agreement includes all of the services that you want and that you are comfortable with the frequency of those services.  It’s also important to remember that even if you have a maintenance agreement, there are still some tasks that you will need to do on your own, as we mentioned above. Be sure to check your agreement and familiarize yourself with what is included.

Call MaxCare Heating & Cooling Today!

Your search for the best AC maintenance London, ON is over! MaxCare Heating & Cooling is here when you need comprehensive AC maintenance service. We service all makes and models of air conditioners. Dial 519-641-9000 to get started.