We are entering mid-July.  The cooling season is in full swing.  It seems like a good time to remind people of a few tips to keep their air conditioners running efficiently.  And, to prevent the air conditioner from breakdowns and costly ac repairs. 

The number one tip is to replace or clean your indoor air filter according to manufacturer's recommendations.  This typically means every 1 to 3 months for filters that are 1" in thickness and every 6 to 12 months for filters that are 4" to 5" in thickness.  Dirty filters cause a reduction in indoor air flow which puts undue strain on the indoor fan motor and may lead to it's failure.  This reduction in air flow can also damage the outdoor compressor by not allowing for complete evaporation of the refrigerant through the indoor evaporator coil.  Dirty filters also lead to a reduction in efficiency.  Filters will pay for themselves through increased efficiency of the air conditioner and fewer ac repairs. 

One thing that can help reduce the cost of running your ac which some people do not address is solar radiation through your windows.  You should always close curtains and blinds where direct sunlight is filtering through.  This can reduce the ac run time by blocking unwanted heat gain.

Also, having your air conditioner serviced annually by a licensed HVAC contractor can increase efficiency and decrease breakdown likelihood.  I have found that most air conditioners need to have the outdoor condensing coil cleaned annually.  This improves the efficiency and decreases the likelihood of the compressor and/or outdoor fan motor failing.  Other things that the HVAC tech checks during the maintenance inspection includes :  refrigerant level, compressor and motor amp draws, high and low voltage levels, contactor relay for charring and pitting, and capacitors for proper capacitance.  Checking that all of these things are satisfactory insures that the air conditioner is running efficiently and reduces the likelihood of breakdown and costly ac repairs.

I hope these tips are helpful!

Have a nice day!

-Jim Harless

Spring is just around the corner, and before you know it those 85+ degree days will be upon us!  Now is the time to consider servicing your air conditioner for the up coming cooling season.  Air conditioner service is the last thing most of us think about until that moment that we desperately need it.  Don't wait until the outside temperature reaches 85 or 90 degrees.  By then, you may have a hard time finding a contractor as our industry gets log-jammed during that time of the year.  Once the outside temperature reaches 70+ degrees, that's the time to call and set up an appointment to have your air conditioner serviced for the cooling season. 

Why 70+ degrees?  Outdoor air temperature has a considerable effect on air conditioner performance.  At temperatures below 60 degrees it becomes difficult to determine if the freon level is correct.  A warm outdoor temperature creates a "load" that will elevate freon pressures into the correct operating range.  So, remember to call for a spring tune-up as soon as the outdoor temperature reaches 70 degrees. 

What are the benefits of servicing your air conditioner annually?  First, servicing your ac will insure that it is operating efficiently and that you are not wasting money on electricity.   And second, some (not all) failures can be prevented by having your air conditioner serviced annually.  The things our service tech inspects include :  filters, coils for dirt build up, freon level, compressor amperage draw, fan motor amperage draw, freon superheat (or sub-cooling), indoor coil temperature drop, damaged or corroded wiring, relays for charred/pitted contacts, capacitors for proper capacitance readings, and thermostat operation.  If anything is out of spec, it can be addressed before a more serious problem arises.  Thirdly, performing annual maintenance on your air conditioner will insure its longevity. 

Here is a good example illustrating point number one :

Two years ago we picked up a new customer who had not serviced her ac in quite a while.  She signed up for our Annual Maintenance Agreement.  The previous summer (2010) she had high electric bills.  During our inspection, we found several issues with her ac.  Her ac was still running and cooling (to some degree).  But, she had a dirty filter inside, a dirty condensing coil outside, a weak dual-run capacitor (outside specs), and was about 0.5 lb low on freon.  We addressed all those issues for her.  Upon returning later that fall to inspect her furnace, she let me know how happy she was that she had the air conditioner serviced.  She said that her electric bill for the summer of 2011 was about half her electric bill the previous summer.  This is a good example of the first point. 

In conclusion, performing annual maintenance and servicing your air conditioner can pay for itself in the long run by improving efficiency, preventing failures, and increasing longevity.  So what are you waiting for?  Call us now to set up an appointment this spring for an air conditioner service inspection at phone 614-837-5062.

Thanks,

Jim Harless

Minutemen Heating & Cooling, Inc.