Ensuring Proper AC Maintenance With Condensor Coil Cleaning

The best way to stay cool inside your Seattle home this summer is to schedule proper maintenance for your air conditioning system, including cleaning the condenser coils. Aside from changing your filters, you’ll need a professional HVAC technician to perform this routine service. Once the maintenance is complete, your air conditioner will provide efficient, comfortable, and reliable cold air throughout your house.

What Are Condenser Coils?

Your outside air conditioning unit has large metal shells with rows of tubes inside. These tubes may run vertically or horizontally, depending on your model. The refrigerant in your air conditioner absorbs heat from inside your home and releases it in the condenser coil.

What Is the Importance of a Condenser Coil?

As stated, the condenser coil is responsible for heat exchange. The coil releases heat outdoors to keep your home cool. The larger the coils, the more cooling they provide.

Cleaning the Coils

Keeping your condenser coils free of dust and debris is critical to the efficiency and reliability of your air conditioner. Your professional HVAC technician will wipe these coils clean during annual maintenance. The coils are an intricate and essential part of your air conditioner and should only be handled by a trained technician. Damage to the coils can limit the amount of cooling they provide and can decrease the energy efficiency of your air conditioner.

Other Professional Maintenance

Hiring a professional HVAC technician to inspect and perform maintenance on your air conditioner helps keep your unit running without hiccups. We recommend scheduling the service once a year with our dedicated experts. We’ll check your entire system and identify any concerning or malfunctioning parts. Our crew works through a comprehensive checklist to increase your comfort in Seattle this summer.

Visual Inspection

Your technician will thoroughly inspect the parts and components inside your air conditioning system. The technician looks for damaged parts and signs of malfunction and failure. Identifying these problems before the summer heat hits gives you time to make repairs and have your system ready.

Clear Condensate Drain

As your air conditioner makes cold air for your home, it also creates moisture. This moisture turns to water and flows away from your AC through the condensate drain. This drain protects your unit from water damage, especially to the electrical components. The technician will check the drain and clear away debris to ensure water can run away from the air conditioner safely.

Lubricate Moving Parts

Some parts inside your air conditioner move during operation. These parts require lubrication to ease the stress of friction as they move against each other. Lubrication helps them move with ease and without excessive wear and tear.

Test Safety Controls

Your air conditioner has safety mechanisms and controls that prevent the system from running during a malfunction. Your technician will test all of these controls to ensure the machine shuts down when it should. If you have damage or other issues inside your air conditioner, running the system could create further problems and result in costly repairs or even the need for replacement. If any safety features fail inspection, you should not use your air conditioner until your technician makes repairs.

Inspect Electric Components

Your AC has electrical wiring that provides power to your unit. The technician will inspect all electrical connections to ensure that they are tight and secure. They will also look for signs of damage and frayed wires. Faulty wiring increases the risk of electric shock, electrical fires, and catastrophic damage to your HVAC system and personal property.

Check Refrigerant

The refrigerant in your air conditioner helps create cold air for your home. The technician will check the refrigerant level and add more if needed. If the refrigerant is empty, that could signal a leak in the system that requires immediate attention. Never handle refrigerant on your own. This substance is harmful if not handled properly by a trained professional.

Calibrate Thermostat

The temperature displayed on your thermostat should match that of the room where your thermostat is mounted. If you find that you have to keep the air conditioner at a lower temperature to maintain comfort, it could be that your device isn’t reading correctly. Your technician can calibrate the thermostat so that the temperature it displays matches the correct temperature of your home.

Inspect Ductwork

Since the air ducts are responsible for carrying cold air from your air conditioner to the vents, they require occasional inspection. Your technician will look for leaks and gaps that allow cold air to escape before reaching the vents. Insufficient and uneven cooling often indicates a ductwork-related issue. Clogs in the ducts may prevent air from reaching the vent while noises and foul odors may indicate debris buildup in the ducts. Dirty ductwork may require professional duct cleaning, a separate professional service.

Test Run

After completing the maintenance checklist, your technician will test the functioning of your system. The technician will look for strange odors and loud noises that could indicate a problem. Your cooling system should operate efficiently, safely, and reliably once maintenance is complete.

Benefits of Annual AC Maintenance

With proper professional maintenance, you’ll enjoy wide-ranging benefits you may lose if you neglect your system. These benefits will boost the comfort inside your home while keeping your budget in check.

Greater Energy Efficiency

A clean, maintained machine offers greater efficiency as it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool. Your cooling system requires less electricity when operating at optimal levels. If your unit is overworked or straining to keep up, you’ll see an uptick in your monthly cooling bill.

Better Indoor Air Quality

The air circulating through your home will be healthier when your machine is clean and clear of dust and debris. You’ll breathe easier when your machine is free of dust, dirt, and other contaminants. You may even get a better night’s sleep when you keep up with routine maintenance.

Reduce Unexpected Breakdowns

Spotting problems before your system fails lowers your risk of being left in the heat later in the summer. Maintenance also helps keep parts in good condition so that they do not become damaged or worn later.

Increase the Life of Your System

Efficient operation means that your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. Keeping the AC in top condition can help you get more functional years from the unit. Your air conditioner may last up to 15 years if maintained properly.

Save Your Hard-Earned Money

You’ll enjoy lower utility bills when your air conditioner operates efficiently. The reduced risk of breakdowns can save you money on emergency repair services. Keeping parts in good shape lowers your chance of buying replacement parts and paying labor fees. And finally, when you extend the life of your air conditioner, you could save thousands of dollars over a lifetime in replacement costs.

At Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning, we’ll strive to keep your Seattle home cool and comfortable throughout the summer. In addition to our comprehensive cooling system maintenance, we offer in-depth heating tune-ups. Our dedicated HVAC technicians provide skilled heating and cooling repairs and expert installation services. We work on furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and ductless mini-splits. We also specialize in professional duct cleaning and indoor air quality services, making us your one-stop HVAC contractor for all your home comfort needs.

Don’t sweat your way through the hot summer. Call Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule the most comprehensive and detailed air conditioner maintenance in Seattle.