Maintain Your Home And Commercial Air Conditioning Units!

Summer’s arriving fast and with the change in season comes the inevitable warmer months here in the Bay Area. And with the change in seasons comes extended usage of air conditioning units in both homes and offices, making it all the more important to maintain your air conditioning units. And even though you might not think there’s anything wrong with your AC unit, it’s important to have your unit regularly maintained to ensure you don’t get caught indoors on one of those surprisingly hot Bay Area days.

But why is getting your AC unit maintained so important and what does that entail, you ask? Well, here are some things that need to be maintained and why air conditioning maintenance in the San Francisco Bay Area is particularly important for not only yourself, but also your pocketbook:

Dirty Filters

Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance will ensure that your unit declines in efficiency while it also works harder to churn out cool air. Dirty filters can can block airflow and this obstruction can let air bypass filters, which carry dirt directly into the unit’s coils. Ensuring that your unit has clean filters can increase efficiency anywhere from 5% to 15%. Clean or replace your filters once or twice a month to ensure you get optimal performance while lowering your electric bill in The Bay Area.

Air Conditioner Coils

Over the months and years of you running your air conditioning unit, your unit’s evaporator coils can accumulate dirt, reducing air flow and also impacting your evaporator coil’s ability to absorb heat. This is especially true in areas where dust and pollen are prominent, which includes many of the cities in various parts of The Bay Area. Make sure the area around your air conditioning unit is free of debris, foliage or anything else that might cause dust to accumulate within your unit to help keep your coils clean and working properly.

Coil Fins

Coil fins are aluminum fins that on evaporator and condenser coils that can be easily bent and can block airflow through the coil.

Condensate Drains

Condensate drains are drains on your AC unit that prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and the extra condensation from these drains can oftentimes cause a discoloration of carpet and/or walls, something that can be pretty expensive if you own or are renting a home in The San Francisco Bay Area. Blowing out the drain with compressed air or CO2 should help to ensure that they don’t become an issue.

Duct Sealing

Many homeowners and business owners take it upon themselves to seal their ducts. This process can save quite a bit as industry experts estimate that 20 to 30 percent of air that moves through the duct system can be lost due to leaks, holes or poorly-connected ducts, resulting in higher utility bills and difficulty in keeping your home or office at a comfortable temperature. While this can be done as a do-it-yourself project, it can be a lengthy and arduous process that is oftentimes better left to the experts.

While this may seem like a lot to do to maintain your AC unit, each of them is important to maintain your unit during the upcoming warm summer months. Hiring a paid, certified professional in The Bay Area however, can ensure you don’t run into issues with your air conditioning unit. In maintaining your air conditioning unit, certified technicians from The Appliance Repair Doctor can help you with the tasks listed above as well as following services:

• Check for correct amount of refrigerant
• Capture any refrigerant that must be evacuated from the system, instead of illegally releasing it to the atmosphere
• Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems
• Measure airflow through the evaporator coil
• Verify the correct electric control sequence and make sure that the heating system and cooling system cannot operate simultaneously
• Inspect electric terminals, clean and tighten connections, and apply a non-conductive coating if necessary
• Oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear
• Check the accuracy of the thermostat.

Although many of the services listed here are a part of each routine visit, others may require additional time and expenses to carry out. Still, with air conditioner maintenance starting as low as $89 and services calls that are waived with repairs, you can’t afford to let the summer kick-off without having your AC unit checked and maintained by the industry leaders. Contact us and see why we’re the San Francisco Bay Area’s number one choice for appliance repair and maintenance.