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.

Central Air Condition Systems

Several different kinds of problems can occur with a central air conditioner system:

• AC not working at all
• AC not cooling well but runs
• Room temperature too hot or too cold
• Water leaks from air conditioner
• Air conditioner makes strange noises
• Air conditioner won’t turn off

Although a qualified air conditioning repair person should handle certain types of central air conditioner repairs, you’ll find methods for handling simple repairs and maintenance yourself.

If the central air conditioner won’t go on automatically when the thermostat signals the need for cooling:

Check the main electrical panel and any secondary circuit panels for a tripped breaker or blown fuse. If you find the problem there, reset the breaker by turning it off and then on or replace the fuse. A Las Vegas central air conditioner typically connects to a dedicated 240-volt circuit. If the breaker continues to trip, suspect a short in the system—in the compressor, capacitor, or the fan motor. Hire an electrician to track down and solve this problem.

Make sure the thermostat is set to COOL and its temperature setting is at least 3 degrees below the ambient room temperature. Make sure the power is on. Check the switch in the furnace or air handler, and the outdoor condenser. Also make sure no one has shut off the compressor’s 240-volt disconnect, typically in a metal box mounted near the compressor.

Remove the thermostat’s cover after turning off the power to the air conditioner. Make sure all wires securely attach to their terminals and that the cover won’t pinch them. Replace the cover and wait 3 or 4 minutes, and then try the system again.

If that doesn’t do the job, open the thermostat and unscrew the wire from the Y terminal. Turn the power back on. Holding the wire by its insulation only, touch the bare end to the R terminal and hold it there for about two minutes. If the compressor kicks on, the thermostat is faulty; replace it. If the compressor doesn’t go on when you hold the Y wire to the R terminal, turn the power back off and either call an air-conditioning technician or check the capacitor.

Check the compressor’s capacitor and wires. The capacitor in the compressor starts both the condenser and the fan. If the capacitor has failed, the central air conditioner unit will not run. It’s very easy to test whether it works and it is cheap and easy to fix if it doesn’t.

Central air conditioner systems consist of two major components: a condensing unit that sits outside your house, and the evaporator coil (often referred to as an A-coil) that sits in the plenum of your furnace or air handler. The refrigerant in the A-coil picks up the heat from your home and moves it to the outdoor condensing unit. The condensing unit fan blows outside air through the condensing coil to remove the heat. The condensing unit houses the three parts replaceable by: the contactor, the start/run capacitor(s) and the condenser fan motor. The condensing unit also houses the compressor, but only a pro can replace that. The A-coil has no parts that can be serviced.

Annual Las Vegas central air conditioner maintenance saves you money by increasing its efficiency and preventing breakdowns.