Maintaining your central air conditioning system is just as important as maintaining your hot air furnace on a regular basis. In the same way that your car needs regular oil changes, tire rotations, and tune-ups, your air conditioning system has operating components that must be serviced to prevent early failure.
It’s never too late to receive a health report for your air conditioning system and learn what you can do to optimize its performance, even if it’s been a few years since your last maintenance check.
A well-maintained air conditioning system saves energy and money by reducing the risk of insufficient cooling or system failure during peak summer temperatures. Proper maintenance results in a more pleasant house, fewer service calls, and lower electricity expenses.
To get the most life out of your system, focus on these key areas:
- Ensure proper ventilation and inspect ductwork.
- Replace or clean air filters regularly.
- Examine moving parts and key AC components.
- Ensure your system uses the proper refrigerant.
- Schedule routine maintenance checks with a professional cooling expert.
Ductwork and Airflow
Proper ventilation is essential for maintaining a consistent temperature in all of your rooms while keeping electricity costs down. Inadequate airflow consumes extra energy, resulting in higher utility bills as well as lost time and money trying to fix preventable issues.
Once a year, make the following adjustments to guarantee proper airflow:
- Sizing Evaluation: Ductwork airflow efficiency depends on properly sized ducts. If your air conditioner is struggling to cool your home or your utility bills are unusually high, your ductwork may not be properly sized and could require modification.
- Leak Inspection: Routine inspection involves checking for and repairing potential leaks. Leaking ductwork allows unconditioned air and outdoor heat into your home, forcing your system to work up to 30% harder to maintain temperatures while drawing in unwanted dust and humidity.
Clean or Change Air Filters
The AC air filter collects dust and particulate matter, filtering the air that circulates throughout your home. When a filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, your air conditioner must work significantly harder to push and pull air through it, decreasing energy efficiency and increasing operating costs. Severe clogs can even restrict airflow to the point where safety switches shut the system down completely.
Air filters should be cleaned or replaced regularly as part of a normal maintenance schedule. The required interval depends on manufacturer instructions, the filter type, and whether you have pets. Consult an HVAC specialist to determine the ideal schedule for your home.
Check Moving Parts and Components
Maintaining optimum airflow requires attention to both the indoor and outdoor units. Anything obstructing the space around your outdoor condenser—such as dirt, leaves, or shrubs—restricts heat transfer.
Keep the area surrounding the outdoor condenser clear, inspect the coils, and clear away debris. An HVAC professional should perform the following during a routine tune-up:
- Inspect Moving & Electrical Parts: Check motors, belts, and electrical components (such as capacitors) for signs of wear or imminent failure.
- Clean Fins: Vacuum the fins on the air conditioning unit and clean them with a soft-bristle brush, gently realigning any bent fins.
- Clear Condensate Drain Lines: Clear obstructions from the condensation drain tube. Clogs caused by algae or slime can lead to water pooling around the furnace and indoor unit.
Proper Refrigerant
Older systems operating on R-22 refrigerant should be upgraded or replaced with modern systems utilizing R-410A or newer EPA-compliant refrigerants. Because R-22 is an ozone-depleting substance, regulations have phased out its production and import, making it significantly more expensive to service.
Upgrading to a modern system requires an initial investment, but the trade-off includes higher operating efficiency, lower energy bills, improved reliability, and better environmental protection.
A well-maintained air conditioning system operates smoothly, removing excess indoor humidity and maintaining stable indoor temperatures without frequent cycling. Routine maintenance minimizes the risk of unexpected breakdowns during extreme weather while keeping monthly utility costs as low as possible.
Joe Calvey
Joe Calvey is the CEO & Founder of Calvey Heating & Air, a leading HVAC business in San Jose, serving San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area for over 18 years.
Under Joe’s leadership, the team at Calvey Heating & Air specializes in HVAC repairs and maintenance, new system installations in custom homes, new construction, existing home upgrades, and light commercial HVAC work.