Air Conditioning

One of the biggest keys to staying cool and combating the North Georgia heat and humidity is regular AC maintenance. There are a few maintenance tasks you can and should do yourself, including changing the air filter, keeping the area around the outdoor unit clean and ensuring the unit has enough clearance. All of the other necessary maintenance tasks need to be handled by a professional technician and are something that should be done at least once a year.

Ideally, you should schedule the maintenance service in the early spring before you need to turn your air conditioning on. That way, you can make sure it runs, doesn’t have any problems and is ready to work properly once the summer heat arrives. In this article, we’ll look at the different tasks involved in professional AC maintenance and why they’re important.

Cleaning the Condenser Coil

Cleaning the condenser coil in the outdoor unit is one of the most important maintenance tasks, as it makes a major difference in performance and efficiency. A dirty coil traps in heat, meaning the refrigerant can’t release the heat it absorbed from inside nearly as well as it needs to for the AC system to work properly.

The issue is that the refrigerant never gets cooled down to the point it needs to and can’t absorb much more heat when it gets pumped back inside. In cases where the condenser coil is extremely dirty, the AC system can end up working up to 30% less efficiently than it normally would. A dirty condenser coil can also lead to the AC system frequently shutting off too soon due to the compressor overheating.

Inspecting the Blower and Evaporator Coil

Inspecting the blower and evaporator coil inside the house is important for ensuring that they’re not clogged and don’t need to be cleaned. If either or both components are clogged, it can cause significant airflow issues that greatly decrease the system’s performance. When inspecting the evaporator coil, the technician will also make sure that none of the fins are bent, as this also leads to decreased performance.

Checking the Refrigerant Level

An AC system needs to have a specific refrigerant charge or refrigerant level to work properly. If the system is overcharged, it puts additional strain on the compressor and can easily cause it to fail much sooner. An undercharged system simply can’t cool nearly as effectively and may also frequently freeze up.

If the system is undercharged, it usually indicates that there’s a hole in one of the coils or the refrigerant lines that’s resulting in refrigerant continually leaking out. In this case, the refrigerant level will eventually get so low that the system can’t cool at all. Unfortunately, finding and repairing a refrigerant leak can be time consuming and quite costly—especially if one of the coils is leaking.

If you have an old AC system that uses R-22 refrigerant and is leaking, it usually isn’t worth fixing. Not only is an R-22 system extremely outdated and likely not going to last much longer anyway, but the cost of R-22 has skyrocketed since the EPA banned its production and importation in 2020.

Inspecting the Wiring and Tightening the Electrical Connections

Another important task is for the technician to inspect the wiring and tighten any loose connections to make sure the system doesn’t experience any electrical issues. Electrical issues can create numerous problems, such as suddenly preventing the AC from running, causing it to occasionally lose power or it to trip the circuit breaker. Another concern is that the wiring could short-circuit and cause a massive spike in power that damages or destroys various components. There’s even a chance that the wiring could start sparking and potentially cause a fire.

Measuring the Amp Draw to the Motors

Measuring the amp draw to the compressor motor, condenser fan motor and blower motor is another method that allows the technician to identify certain issues. If the amp draw is higher than it’s supposed to be, it can indicate an issue like a failing contractor or relay, bad wiring or other electrical problems.

It can also be a sign of a failing motor that’s about to give out and needs to be replaced. If the amp draw to any of the motors is too high or too low, it’s important that you have the technician diagnose and fix the problem immediately or else the motor may give out. The biggest concern is if the compressor gives out, as replacing the compressor is one of the most expensive AC repairs you can encounter.

Measuring the Temperature Drop

When an AC system is functioning properly, it should achieve a temperature drop of around 15 to 22 degrees. That means the air it puts out should be that much cooler than the current temperature in the house. Older AC systems may sometimes only achieve a temperature drop of around 12 degrees or so, but this is still considered within the acceptable range.

If the temperature drop is below the normal range, it’s a sure indication that there’s an issue that’s preventing the system from cooling effectively. In this case, the technician can then perform further diagnostic assessments to determine the cause and what it will take to fix it.

One possibility is that there are issues with the ductwork, such as leaks, blockages or the supply and/or return ducts not being the proper size. Some companies use a camera to inspect all of the hidden ducts, but you can also diagnose some duct issues by using a manometer to check for differences in static pressure at various locations. If the ductwork is clogged, duct cleaning can usually fix the issue and get the AC system working effectively again.

Testing the Thermostat

Technicians use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature drop, and they will usually also use this thermometer to make sure that the thermostat is properly calibrated and registering the correct temperature. If the thermostat is off by more than a degree or two, it can cause your AC to run more than necessary or your house to never get quite as cool as you want.

Neither issue is a huge problem, as you can just turn the temperature up or down a bit. The concern if your thermostat isn’t reading the right temperature is that it can be a sign that it’s failing and could soon go out. It can also just mean that the inside of it is dusty and needs to be cleaned or that it needs to be recalibrated. If cleaning and recalibrating don’t fix the problem, it’s a good idea to replace the thermostat to prevent it from suddenly dying during the summer and making it so that your AC won’t turn on.

If you’re searching for quality AC services in Cumming, GA, Kennon Heating, Air & Plumbing is the company to call. We offer expert AC maintenance and can service any model and brand. By enrolling in our Priority Plus Membership program, you can ensure that your cooling, heating and plumbing systems are properly maintained and remain in good working condition. You also receive other great benefits like guaranteed service within 24 hours, no overtime charges and discounts on service fees, repairs and installations.

To learn more about our maintenance plan or to schedule any HVAC or plumbing service, contact us today.

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