Many people feel that A/C maintenance is not required. The thought process is simple “It’s working so why bother maintaining it” or, they just don’t want to spend the money. Truthfully, I used to feel the same way. My opinion has changed due to the issues that we find doing routine maintenance. Issues which could end up costing the homeowner a lot of money.
A big issue is cleaning the equipment. It’s very important to have a clean coil outside! The condenser coil (outside) is where the heat from the home is expelled. The coil has a confined heat exchanger, like a radiator on a car, but the car’s radiator is cleaned when you drive in the rain. Rinsing or cleaning the condenser coil greatly increases efficiency. Clean air filters (inside) is another big issue with A/C performance. I respond to dozens of no A/C calls simply due to a dirty air filter.
A major problem we’ve seen is mice nesting in the electrical compartment of the outside condenser. They chew on wires and destroy electrical components creating potentially catastrophic situations. In extreme scenarios the condenser may be condemned. If we find mice, first we evict them, then we clean out the debris, repair the wires and then seal the entrances.
The more important issue is efficiency. A lot of systems will run and cool okay but many times we find that the inside coil temperature is not adequate. Let’s say your unit is operating at 66 degrees which will cool the space but by just adding a few ounces of refrigerant, we can get a coil temperature of say 46 degrees. Obviously, that will cool the space much quicker and use less energy.
Due to federal mandates three years ago, the industry has been forced to change refrigerant to a new more environmentally friendly chemical. R22 which was the best Freon mankind has had for decades is now being phased out due to possible ozone depletion. With that said, the cost of R22 refrigerant has increased five times in two years, and is sure to continue upwards. It is presently at $50.00/lb.
Manufacturers have developed a direct replacement, NuR22, for R22 systems. I’m sure there will be a substantial price for the new refrigerant until production levels become less costly for the manufacturers, I.e. DuPont. A/C maintenance is important for the longevity and efficiency of your system. We perform A/C tune ups for only $59.00 for regular customers if we service your heating system. No-one beats that price!