Is your AC ready for summer?

[Jabonee]

A recent call from a customer reminded me its almost that time of of year for AC. If you have been putting off or have never had your HVAC serviced,now is the time to do it. Some of the simple things you can do or check yourself. One of the biggest complainants I get when its 90+F outside is "My AC isn't blowing cold air" When I inspect the HVAC I find the filters blocked and weighing a pound or two more than they are apposed too. Check and replace the filters ! If you suspect the refrigerant is low take you unit to a certified HVAC dealer. Adding R134 your self may work but you could be over filling the system. Remember refrigerant is put in by weight not pressure on a gauge. A manifold gauge is a diagnostic tool. :snowflake:

 

[brasco426]

agreed I'll only add check the condenser and hose it out clean. Most of the AC failures I'm called to is a simple lack of maintenance causing one failure or another. Donnie

 

[Jabonee]

agreed I'll only add check the condenser and hose it out clean. Most of the AC failures I'm called to is a simple lack of maintenance causing one failure or another. Donnie

Absolutely. Good point. :thumbsup:

 

[Bird]

I'm sure some would think I'm wasting money, but I allow the company that installed our central air (heat pump) to charge one of my credit cards $12 a month, each month, year round. I don't have to call them; they call me twice a year to schedule a maintenance check-up at my convenience. So you can say I'm paying $72 for each service call, but they've also replaced some things that would have cost me nothing, but would have cost a couple of hundred if we hadn't had that service agreement. We have one of the big filters that only needs changing once a year and they'd do that, too, but I've just been in the habit of doing that myself.

 

[RalphVa]

We have our systems (two) checked out twice/yr. They clean out the two humidifiers as well and check the condensate drains, etc.

I have it on our computer calendars to put vinegar into the drains and to change out the filters every 3 months. Then I do it. Once in Louisiana, we had a service call because algae had stopped up a condensate drain. The drains here were almost plugged with something before I started to regularly use vinegar in them. Initially, I used a chlorine solution, but you do not want to regularly use it.

Our old (20 years on the circulator & about 12 years on the outside heat pump) Lennox system is to be replaced likely next week. Ordered the new 17.5 SEER Carrier system for it. Waiting for them to contact us to schedule it. Carrier has a 19 SEER system, but the 17.5 SEER system was a bit less expensive and seemed to have all the features of the more expensive one (mostly just the heat pump was different).

Ralph

 

[Bird]

I have it on our computer calendars to put vinegar into the drains and to change out the filters every 3 months. Then I do it. Once in Louisiana, we had a service call because algae had stopped up a condensate drain. The drains here were almost plugged with something before I started to regularly use vinegar in them. Initially, I used a chlorine solution, but you do not want to regularly use it.

Tell me more, because I put a cup of chlorine in the condensation drain once a month. Do you think I shouldn't do that?