Central Air Conditioner Maintenance

A central air conditioner is part of your home’s heating and cooling system. A Las Vegas central air conditioner is a closed loop system, and the specific components that make up the central air conditioning portion of your heating and cooling system include a condenser which is placed outside and an evaporator inside the air condition system. The condenser contains a compressor, coils, and fins. Refrigerant pipe is compressed under high pressure and temperature in the compressor and then travels as a heated gas into the coils. It expands into a cool, low-pressure gas as it enters the evaporator, which is located on the supply side of a furnace, within the plenum. After warm air circulates from the return side is filtered, the furnace blower directs air over a cooled evaporator. This air cooled, conditioned air to rooms within your home.

Most central air conditioning systems share the same ductwork and blower as the furnace. That means they also share the same filter. You should check your filter at least three times a year because they can build up a lot of dirt in a quick amount of time. A clogged filter can cause your system to run poorly and increase your utility bills. Families with pets should actually change their filters even more often.

It is best to schedule professional HVAC service before your air condition system might cause problems in the future. Service maintenance on the cooling portion should be done once a year, during the spring. This spring service call should include the following maintenance tasks:

• Make sure that the thermostat is functioning properly
• Inspect the furnace filter if accumulates too much dirt
• Inspect and clean the evaporator and coil
• Inspect and clean the blower motor
• Inspect the condensate drain for blockages
• Inspect and clean the condenser and coils
• Inspect the fan motor and blades for dirt and damage especially the fan bearing
• Inspect all components, wiring, and controls to ensure that they are safe and working properly, 
• Inspect refrigerant piping for leakage, repair any existing leaks, measure and check the balance of refrigerant level (Freon).

Most of these tasks are related to the mechanical operation of a central air conditioning system and it is possible for knowledgeable homeowners with the proper tools to complete such tasks, refrigerant within the system is dangerous to the ozone and as such is federally regulated. A homeowner's responsibilities are somewhat limited in scope. Regular filter replacement is the single most important thing a homeowner can do to help maintain their HVAC system.

When you spend a little time performing a few simple maintenance tasks and schedule yearly service for your HVAC system, you air condition system will remain cool during the hot summer months, save more money, and extends the life span of your air conditioner. Disregarding your unit will result in a shortened lifetime, costly repairs, and higher energy costs due to inefficient operation. Maintain your unit and you will extend its lifetime and keep repair and energy costs low while ensuring your comfort on those hot seasons.