Summertime AC Maintenance Checklist

Summertime and the livin’ is easy… as long as your air conditioner works. No one wants to deal with broken AC in the middle of summer… especially in Alabama. Even a unit that isn’t working optimally is burdensome enough!

The best way to avoid the horror of AC-less summer is to schedule AC maintenance around once per year. Summer is the perfect time for this type of inspection. A good inspection will help guarantees you stay cool and comfortable as temperatures rise. How do you make sure your next air conditioning maintenance inspection is a good one? Follow this list! These are the steps your technician will cover the next time you schedule someone to review your home’s A/C. If your technician covers each of these points, they’ll be able to catch any problems you’re having:

Clean the condenser coils and evaporator units.

The AC unit’s condenser coils are located on the outside of the unit. The evaporator is inside. Debris like dirt and dust located on the coil can reduce its efficiency. During a maintenance visit, a technician will clean off the coils and units to remove this debris.

Look at the refrigerant level.

If there isn’t enough refrigerant inside your unit, the compressor will have to over-work to make up for it. Refrigerant isn’t “used up” during the refrigeration cycle, so if you don’t have enough, there’s a leak. Your technician can figure out if your refrigerant is leaking and fix any leaks they find.

Inspect and clean drains and drain pans.

Drains inside your AC unit connect to the drain pan and safely transfer condensation away from sensitive internal mechanisms. If your unit’s drains are blocked, excess moisture builds up inside the unit and causes all kinds of problems. Technicians can clear out your AC’s drains and drain pan, ensuring condensation leaves the system properly.

Check on the outdoor fan motor.

Your AC unit’s outdoor fan pulls air in through the coil and its fins. If the fan isn’t pulling air in the way it needs to, it can’t travel inside the blower assembly. Your technician will inspect the fan to make sure it’s working properly.

Make sure there are no leaks in the refrigerant tubing.

If something damages the refrigerant tubing, your refrigerant could stop flowing properly or even start leaking. Either way, it won’t cycle through the system properly, which will prevent your AC from operating effectively. Your technician will make sure your unit’s refrigerant tubing is intact, undamaged, and functioning correctly.

Visually inspect all electrical components.

This includes controls, wires, and connections. Age wears down any electronic device, and AC units are no different. Your technician will inspect all electronic components to make sure they’re secure and functioning.

Clean air filters.

Clogged air filters keep air from traveling as efficiently as it should and force your AC unit to work harder. The harder your AC unit needs to work, the faster it will wear itself out. An inspection is a perfect time to switch out your filters. Ask your technician to show you how to replace the filters, so you could switch them out yourself next time. Clean air filters can significantly reduce the cost of running your air conditioner.

Run a systems test.

After they’ve checked all the internal components, your technician will turn on the unit to run diagnostics. They’ll check how it starts up. They’ll also check for any particular smells or sounds coming from it. If these checks come up clear, then your inspection has been completed successfully.