What To Expect During Air Conditioning Service | Fort Worth, TX
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This is the perfect time of year to start thinking about air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX. The birds are starting to come out, the winds of spring are starting to slow down, and pretty soon the outside temperature is going to be brutal and you want to ensure that your AC system is going to be ready to handle it. By booking a pre-season AC service in Fort Worth, TX you will give your HVAC a leg-up against the challenges of Texas weather.
You will also hopefully avoid an uncomfortable breakdown that leaves you out in the hot and humid summer. This year everyone is spending more time in their own homes, make sure that your home is comfortable by booking a service. Doing your air conditioning service now is the smart way to handle any repairs because if you need to order any parts you have time for them to come in and be installed. You don’t want to be stuck waiting for a part in the summer months without any AC, and you won’t be if you preemptively take care of your AC service.
Benefits of Regular Air Conditioning Service
Curious about what makes an air conditioning service worth it? The short answer is a lot of things. There are a lot of great reasons why you should book your annual service in Fort Worth, TX, here are just a few reasons. To start with if you book your annual service you will keep your HVAC system within its warranty.
A lot of people who purchase a new HVAC system think they can skip the annual service because their system is so new that it’s not likely to have any problems. However, doing this can actually void your warranty which can be a very costly mistake. Maybe your AC won’t experience a problem within its first year, but it may experience an issue within its second year and if you don’t keep up with annual service you may void your warranty meaning that you will have to pay for the repair out of pocket. Most HVAC systems require that you book an annual heating and AC service at least once a year to maintain your warranty. Given the price of replacing a new system if it fails for some weird reason, keeping up with your warranty is just good sense.
As mentioned earlier, another great reason to keep up with your air conditioning service is that it will save you from costly breakdowns in the middle of summer. Would you rather be waiting on parts during the heat of a Fort Worth, TX summer or during the spring before temperatures rise steadily? The answer is pretty easy to figure out. Plus, keep in mind that during the spring most AC companies are not as busy as they are during the summer months. You may have to wait a few weeks to get seen even if you have an unforeseeable breakdown in the middle of the summer. It’s much better to just book your annual air conditioning service versus taking a risk.
Finally, the largest reason that most people choose to book their annual air conditioning service is that it saves them money down the road in most cases. An annual service call is much cheaper than an emergency breakdown. That is just basic math, and one annual service is all it takes to keep your AC in good working condition. While we cannot promise it will never break down, there are unpredictable factors always at play, an annual air conditioning service is your best way to control what you can.
Additionally, a well-oiled machine will always run more efficiently than one that is not. One of the best perks of air conditioning service is that it helps your AC system function at full efficiency, which means your energy bills will lower compared to if you skipped the service. Given how high energy costs are in Texas right now, it pays to do anything you can to keep your AC bills down during the thick hot, heat of summer
What to Expect During an Air Conditioning Service Call
Have you decided to book an air conditioning service call but are wondering what the technician will do? Or maybe you just want to know what you are paying for, either way, the following is for you. While the actual process will vary from HVAC contractor to HVAC contractor, regardless of who is doing your air conditioning service they should be looking over the same pieces and offering the same results. The goal of the service call is the same, to spruce up the inside of your machine and look for trouble spots so that your AC system is ready to go this summer.
You can help expedite the process by ensuring the technician can easily get to your AC system both inside and outside of your home. That means moving any vehicles that may be blocking the condenser outdoors along with any kids’ bikes or other accessories that may typically litter your driveway. Once that is clear, ensure that the HVAC tech has a clear four-foot route to the HVAC system in the basement. While they may not need all of this space, it is nice to give them space to work and it will also protect your personal belongings from getting dust or dirt on them during the air conditioning service.
Cleaning Your AC System: The Condenser
Most likely the HVAC tech will start your air conditioning service outside of your home by working on the condenser. In case you are not aware, the condenser is the box-like structure that sits outside of your home and is responsible for drawing and cooling air. They will begin the air conditioner service by checking the outdoor unit to ensure that it is properly measuring pressure and temperature. They do this by connecting a device to the unit that can accurately read the data.
They then will open up the condenser unit and look for any debris that may have gathered around the fins. It is not uncommon for leaves, acorns, sticks, and other debris to fall into the condenser during the course of the year, so one important part of the air conditioner service is simply getting these out. They will also pay close attention to the fins while doing this to ensure that everything is in working order and nothing has been bent.
Once this is complete, the HVAC tech will add oil around all of the motor oil ports to ensure that the system is properly lubricated so everything can work without grinding or damaging any components. He or she will also look at the wiring to make sure that all wiring is intact and nothing is loose. They will be looking particularly for wiring that may have been chewed by an outdoor rodent or for corroded wires, both of which pose safety and functional issues.
Cleaning Your AC System: The Evaporator
Once the outside cleaning is done, it is time for the HVAC tech to move onto the inside portion of the air conditioner service. The tech will now run your system through a series of checks designed to ensure that all components are in great shape and working together at maximum efficiency. They will look over every major component closely and if there are any signs of damage likely recommend that you replace the part now proactively to prevent any further issues down the road.
As part of the indoor air conditioning service, the technician will clean your HVAC system from top to bottom to remove all dust and dirt which will improve the air quality in your home. While they are cleaning, the tech will also be keeping an eye out for any mold or mildew and ensure that is properly removed. If possible, they will also attempt to determine why the mold was able to grow in the first place to assure it doesn’t happen again. Mold in your home can have serious health consequences, so it is important that is taken care of promptly and accurately. This is even more important if someone with asthma lives in your home.
Some air conditioner service companies will also replace the air filter if they notice that it is clogged or extremely dirty while others expect the homeowner to take care of air filter changes. As a general rule of thumb, air filters should be changed every three to five months depending on the amount of traffic and dust in your home. They are the key to keeping an AC system in top working shape, so one of the best things you can do is keep on top of your air filters if you want to keep your system efficient. The second thing of course is to hire the air conditioning service to come out and assess the condition of your system annually.
While in your home, the HVAC technician will also take a look at your thermostat and calibrate if they determine that it is not properly reading the temperature in your home. If your thermostat is old it may be time to consider upgrading to save on energy costs. This is even more true if you live in a home in Fort Worth, TX that still has the old dial functioning as its thermostat. There are a lot of programmable thermostats that allow you to adjust the temperatures of your home from your phone which can be a great way to save money while you are not home. If you have been tossing around the idea of buying a new thermostat, an air conditioner service is a great opportunity to talk to a tech about what options are out there that will integrate well with your system
At some point during your air conditioning service, your tech will also check the system components such as the blower fan to ensure that they are working properly. Once again, the goal is to look for any signs of damage and then troubleshoot them to help save you from unexpected repairs in the future. In particular, while they are looking at the blower fan the tech will make sure that it is balanced and not making any type of noises while running.
If you have a natural gas AC, then the technician will also look over all of the gas fixtures and connections to ensure that everything is still tight and properly sealed. This is a safety issue that should not be ignored since natural gas can be a health hazard if you have a gas leak in your home.
Finally, to conclude your air conditioner service the HVAC tech will take a look at the condensate drain to see if there are any clogs. The goal is to make sure that the drain is functioning properly without any backup because excessive water backup could potentially harm your unit or lead to water damage on the floor around the AC system. At the end of the air conditioning service, your HVAC tech should offer a written report that details everything they did as well as any repair recommendations that they may make. Most techs will also discuss what they found with you in person. This is a great time to ask any questions about any suggested repairs so that you have a better idea of what is going on with your HVAC system.
Thinking about booking an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX, give One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth a call today. Spring is a great time to act, and we are always happy to come out and help check one spring cleaning duty off your list.