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Critical A/C Components To Inspect When Conducting Routine HVAC Maintenance

HVAC preventive maintenance, which includes both a/c maintenance and furnace maintenance, will not only ensure that your air conditioning system runs as efficiently as possible, it will also prolong the life span of your HVAC and save you money in the long run. Here are three critical a/c components to inspect when performing preventive maintenance on your HVAC unit:

1. Air Conditioning Filters

The air conditioning filters in your HVAC system have a constant stream of filthy air passing through them. Their job is to remove dirt and soot from the air before it gets conditioned and recycled back into the breathing atmosphere of your home. Unfortunately, a side effect of this important job is that these filters must be regularly checked and replaced if necessary.

If regular maintenance is not performed on these filters, they will become clogged, allow less air to pass through, and cause your HVAC to function less efficiently. Additionally, they will begin to allow the indoor coils to become coated in dirt. All of this will cause the unit’s airflow to decrease below safe limits. This could cause a disastrous and premature failure of your equipment.

2. Condenser Coils

Another great reason to perform regular maintenance on your HVAC has to do with the condenser coils. The condenser coils in your unit were designed for safe operation in a very specific range of outdoor temperatures. The refrigerant vapor is optimally cooled and condensed when a certain amount of airflow takes place in the condenser at temperatures no greater than a maximum that is usually around 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Much like the air filters, these coils have a tendency to suffer from a buildup of dirt. When this happens, the finned surfaces of the condenser coils are less adept at transferring heat and the airflow through the condenser is also considerably reduced. The overall average operating temperature of your HVAC will begin to climb, and the equipment may become permanently damaged. This serious damage can be avoided by regular checking and cleaning of the condenser coils.

3. Drive Belts, Relays, and Fluids

Preventive maintenance of HVAC systems also includes inspection and sometimes replacement of the drive belts, electrical relays, and contactors. If the drive belts are broken or even loose, your HVAC can end up operating at dangerously high temperatures and suffer from permanent damage. If the electrical relays and contactors have been damaged due to low voltage conditions or other problems, the contact points can begin to overheat. This will almost certainly cause extensive damage to either the fan motor or the compressor motor and may even cause one or both of them to burn out completely. Much cheaper than having these crucial parts replaced is simply having preventive maintenance performed on your HVAC on a regular basis.

Your HVAC system includes a large number of rotating components and bearings. Each of these needs to be lubricated in order for the system to run at optimal efficiency. The bearings and other rotating parts in your HVAC can last as long as hundreds of hours if they are lubricated regularly and properly. If regular maintenance is not performed on these parts, they will eventually dry up, overheat, and seize.

When it comes to performing maintenance on your HVAC system, the wisest choice is to invest in an annual maintenance plan offered by a professional air conditioning installation and repair company such as Roscoe Brown, with three locations serving middle Tennessee. This choice alleviates the burden and hassle in conducting the maintenance yourself and ensures that you’re a/c system will be tuned for the optimal life of the unit. In addition to the optimal tuning comes the peace of mind in knowing that the trusted HVAC technicians at Roscoe Brown are looking out for your best interest in preventing any costly repairs or pre-mature breakdowns that result from a neglected HVAC system. Much like any mechanical equipment, your HVAC was designed with certain optimal operational boundaries in mind. If these are ignored and the equipment is not properly maintained on a regular basis, the chances increase that your HVAC system will result in premature failure.