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Why Air Conditioning Maintenance is Critical in Early Fall for Daytona Residents

By HVAC Tips

With the scorching Florida summer behind us, it is time to give your air conditioner some love and care. The typical service life of an air conditioner is 15 years.

However, the extreme Florida heat places an additional burden on your AC unit. The average daytime temperature in Florida exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not uncommon for temperatures to rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

This means your AC unit is working hard and not likely to reach 15 years without preventative maintenance. Read on to learn why central air cleaning is critical for Daytona homeowners.

Why Early Fall Is Best for Central Air Cleaning?

Florida summers are infamous for their brutality and scorching heat. From June to September, your air conditioner is likely running for the vast majority of the day. Sometimes the heat is so excruciating that the air conditioner cannot reach your desired room temperature.

After the wear and tear incurred in the summer, early Fall is best for maintenance. It is likely that your air filter is clogged after the busy summer months. In addition, your refrigerant levels may be low and require refill.

After six-plus months of warm temperatures dating back to the Spring, your yard is likely lush and overgrown. An early Fall inspection will result in cutting back any plants or shrubs around the AC compressor. Any plant growth that restricts air flow needs to be cut back or removed all together.

What Happens During an AC Inspection?

The first thing that a service technician will do is perform a thorough inspection of the AC unit. Of particular attention to the service technician are the evaporator and condenser coils.

Regardless of how often you change the air filter, these coils still collect dirt. Dirty coils restrict air flow and inhibit the ability to absorb heat. The technician also inspects other critical components like coil fins, condensate drain, filters, and more.

What Is Cleaned?

If the evaporator and condenser coils are dirty, your AC technician will clean them. The air filter will be replaced if it shows any signs of being clogged.

Coil fins are another component that requires cleaning. Dirt and debris has the ability to prevent air from flowing through the coils.

The technician will clean coil fins to prevent this from happening. He or she also uses a fin comb to rectify any bending of the fins.

Another item cleaned is the condensate drain. The technician will use a stiff wire through the drain to ensure there is no clogging.

Finally, the technician may clean the area around the air compressor. This involves sweeping up loose debris like dirt and leaves.

A Recap of Central Air Cleaning

After a brutal Florida summer, it is critical to get your AC unit serviced. Bringing in a professional to inspect and clean your unit will extend its service life. Steps like replacing air filters and cleaning coils are effective.

If you are need of central air cleaning near Daytona, contact us today to schedule an appointment.

frozen ac coils

How to Prevent Frozen AC Coils to Avoid an AC Repair Call

By Air Conditioning Tips

There’s nothing as unfortunate as having to make an AC call during winter over a frozen coil. It forces you to endure the cold and it’s most likely the issue was preventable.

Below, we look at the most common ways you can prevent frozen AC coils.

Regular Maintenance

While regular maintenance sounds mundane and probably unnecessary, it remains the easiest and cheapest way to prevent frozen coils on your AC. During favorable weather, you may forget your AC exists. In case anything broke, you wouldn’t realize that until it’s already too late.

Before winter, turn on the system and listen for any funny noises. You have to oil the moving parts and clean the vents.

Dirty Air Filters

The flow of clean air into the AC ensures that it’s working properly. Dirty air filters block and prevent the right air circulation. In turn, this leads to frozen coils, as the refrigerant isn’t even heated or cooled.

Ensure the filters are clean to aid air circulation through the AC and the home itself.

Broken Fans

The AC relies on fans to propel and expel air out of the system. The continuous work done by the fans and its blades means there will be wear and tear over time.

If you’re not careful, the fans can break. As a result, the air circulation is inhibited, and frozen AC coils are the inevitable end.

Ensure you grease all the moving parts appropriately, especially the bearing, in order to prolong the life of the fan. If a blade is broken, make sure it’s replaced as soon as possible.

Thermostat

The thermostat regulates the temperature as set by you. A malfunctioning thermostat will always give wrong readings and therefore, interfere with the working of the AC.

If you suspect that the temperature gauge readings are different from the temperature in the room, have the thermostat checked. It could signify several underlying issues.

A broken thermostat will overwork the AC system and risks the AC coils freezing over.

Refrigerant

AC relies on the circulation of refrigerant to work correctly. In case there’s a leakage in the system, the AC will use more power to reach the required temperature. In the end, the coils will freeze since the vapor has escaped and has been replaced by normal air.

Track down the leakage and repair it before refilling the system. This will ensure the system works as it’s meant to, without freezing up the coils.

Frozen AC Coils

An operable AC system relies on small vital parts that need to be in perfect working condition. Frozen AC coils are indicative of a failure in a part of the system.

Above are simple ways in which you can easily avoid making the dreaded calls over frozen AC coils. Ensure the serviceable parts like the filters and fans are well maintained.

AC still not working? Then schedule services with us now.