A homes HVAC system is one of the most neglected items when it comes to home maintenance. This, inevitably, leads to costly repair bills. In the worst-case scenarios, the whole system may need to be replaced. However, with just a little bit of care, you can avoid emptying your savings to stay cool this summer. One of the main reasons we’ve found that air conditioning systems are not well cared for is that many people are fearful of breaking something or don’t feel comfortable working on it. The easiest way to get over that fear is by familiarizing yourself better with the system. By understanding more about your HVAC units, it will be much more straightforward to perform maintenance tasks. The more routine the care, the less expensive the air conditioner repair in Spring Lake.
Become Acquainted with the Parts
Knowing component names can help remove some of the hesitation of working with your air conditioner. The indoor portion of an HVAC system is the furnace. Many of the parts of the furnace have to do with heating, but there a few pieces that are relevant to air conditioning. The blower is a fan that helps circulate both heated and cooled air. Another important part to know about is the evaporator coil. This piece helps cool air to the temperature set by the thermostat. Outside is your condenser. It simply looks like a big fan in a louvered box. Aside from the fan on top, there is another coil in this portion of the unit called the condenser coil. Lastly, found inside the condenser is a compressor. Now, you know at least the name of components so speaking with a Spring Lake air conditioner repair technician won’t be so scary.
Air Conditioner Repair in Spring Lake You Can do Yourself
The first step in any air conditioner repair or maintenance is turning off the power. It is always important to turn off the electricity to the unit from the breaker box. There may also be a switch near the condenser outside that should also be turned off.
Air flow is the most important thing to a smoothly running air conditioner unit. It can be blocked at many points within the system. One place is the air filter located in the furnace. Every few months, your air filter should be changed or cleansed thoroughly if you have a reusable filter. Ignoring this task, which only requires the removal of a few screws, can lead to the need for repairs. This is because any time air flow is impeded within the system, the unit needs to work much harder to reach the desired temperature. Reduced efficiency can cause excessive wear and tear on the unit leading to early and expensive repair bills.
Another step to ensuring proper airflow is cleaning up around the furnace and the condenser. Making sure there are no objects placed too close to the furnace and the trees and shrubs are at least three feet away from the condenser help maintain efficiency.
Lastly, there is drain line that leads from your furnace outside called a condensate drain line. Over time, mold and mildew may build up in this pipe causing a blockage. This can lead to flooding if your air conditioner is turned on without cleaning it first. The initial step is to see if your drain pipe is indeed blocked by pouring water into it to see if it drains freely outside. If it does not, simply pouring one cup of bleach into the drain will dislodge any slime and allow the condensation to drain without restriction.
Regular Inspections Help Ward Off Repairs
Doing some routine maintenance and cleaning in and around your HVAC system is helpful in keeping your air conditioner running well, an annual inspection by a professional is crucial. Having an expert examine your a/c once or twice a year goes a long way towards avoiding repairs and replacement. During this review, the technician will take note of any minor impairments and fix them before they become a major repair. Avoiding this step means these small issues can quickly turn into big problems for you. Only a company trained in air conditioner repair in Spring Lake like Toms River Heating and Air Conditioning is qualified to complete this task. Without the proper education and knowledge of HVAC systems, not only can you miss warning signs, but you can also do more harm than good. It’s important to hire only a trustworthy, competent repair company to work on your air conditioner.
