AC tune-upand cleaning
A tune-up is a scheduled inspection and cleaning, done before the system is under strain. The line connects you with an independent contractor that books maintenance visits in Burleson.
Why spring is the time
Climate figures: National Weather Service, Dallas/Fort Worth, 1991 to 2020.
Dallas/Fort Worth averages 7.4 days at 100 degrees in July and 9.7 in August, with the first usually near July 1. A tune-up in March or April happens before contractors fill their summer schedules with breakdowns.
A weak part found in spring is a planned repair. The same part found in August is an emergency call.
What a maintenance visit usually checks
Filter and airflow
Filter condition, blower wheel, supply and return airflow.
Indoor coil and drain
Coil cleanliness, condensate drain line and pan, and the float switch that shuts the system off if the drain backs up.
Outdoor coil and fan
Fin condition, fan motor and blade, and clearance around the cabinet.
Electrical
Capacitor, contactor, wire connections and amp draw on the motors. Weak electrical parts are what stop a system on a hot afternoon.
Refrigerant side
Pressure and temperature readings that show whether the system is charged and running as designed.
Thermostat
Calibration, schedule settings and whether it is calling for cooling correctly.
What you can do between visits
The Department of Energy's home heating and cooling guide advises cleaning or replacing filters monthly in the seasons of heaviest use. In a Texas summer that means every month from May through September.
Keep brush, leaves and mulch back from the outdoor unit, and rinse cottonwood fluff or grass clippings off the coil fins with a gentle hose spray while the power is off at the disconnect. Do not use a pressure washer, which bends the fins.
Tune-up or repair?
A tune-up is not a diagnosis. If the system is already blowing warm air or tripping breakers, ask for a repair visit instead and mention the symptoms when you call.
A maintenance visit can still turn up a repair. The contractor should explain what was found and give you the scope in writing before parts are ordered.
Tune-up questions
How often should an air conditioner be serviced?
Once a year is the common pattern, ahead of the cooling season. Your equipment's manual may say more.
Will a tune-up make the unit last longer?
The Department of Energy says a regular maintenance schedule extends the life of equipment and helps hold down energy use. A tune-up is what keeps that schedule.
Do I need to be home?
Usually, at least at the start, so the contractor can reach the thermostat, indoor unit and outdoor unit. Ask when you book.
Call and get a contractor on the line
The number connects you with an independent HVAC contractor that serves your ZIP code. Early in the day usually leaves more room on a contractor's schedule.