As summer approaches, it is important to make sure your air conditioning system is in tip-top shape. If you own a commercial building in California, proper maintenance of your air conditioning unit is essential to ensure that it runs smoothly throughout the hot months. Avoiding costly and inconvenient repairs can be achieved with regular maintenance and awareness of potential issues.
In this article, we will discuss nine tips on how to avoid AC repair issues during the summer.
1: Regular Maintenance
Many AC repair issues can be avoided with regular maintenance. A simple inspection of the system once a year can identify any faulty components before they cause a problem. During this inspection, an HVAC technician should check all moving parts such as motors, belts, fans, and switches for wear and tear. They should also check the refrigerant lines for leaks and make sure that all electrical connections are secure. While this may seem like an unnecessary expense, regular maintenance can help prevent serious repair issues down the line that could cost much more money in the long run.
2: Clean Air Filters
Changing or cleaning your air filters regularly is essential when it comes to avoiding AC repair issues during the summertime. Dirty filters restrict airflow which causes strain on the system resulting in short cycling, uneven cooling, and reduced energy efficiency. Cleaning or changing air filters every three months will help keep your system running at optimum levels so that it does not break down suddenly due to a lack of airflow.
3: Check Refrigerant Levels
Another common cause of AC repair problems during summertime is low refrigerant levels due to leaks from worn-out seals or hoses. Low refrigerant levels reduce efficiency as well as cause strain on other components leading to breakdowns and failure over time if not addressed quickly enough. Recharging your system with fresh refrigerant is necessary whenever there are signs of low levels such as warm spots around vents or frosty coils inside your unit.
4: Keep Outdoor Unit Clean
For an air conditioner to function properly, its outdoor unit needs to remain free from debris such as leaves and dirt which accumulates over time due to normal weather conditions like wind and rain showers. Keeping this unit clean by removing dirt regularly will allow air to flow freely making sure that all components are functioning properly thus avoiding costly repairs in the future caused by blocked airflow pathways leading into the unit itself.
5: Keep The Indoor Unit Unobstructed
It is important that furniture or other objects do not obstruct access to indoor units as this blocks airflow resulting in poor performance of individual parts causing strain and failure eventually necessitating expensive repairs down the road if left unchecked for too long. Placing furniture away from indoor units helps keep them accessible for frequent cleaning which keeps them working optimally thus avoiding costly repairs later on due to blockages restricting airflow pathways within these parts themselves leading up toward the fan blades themselves.
6: Don’t Overload The System
Overloading a system beyond its design specifications causes strain on components resulting in inefficient cooling performance and eventual breakdown requiring expensive repairs afterwards if ignored too long. To ensure optimal performance, an HVAC technician needs to calculate your total cooling load taking into account factors such as insulation, sun exposure, number of people occupying space, etc. This ensures that the size of the unit installed matches cooling requirements without putting additional stress on individual parts causing unnecessary breakdowns further down line.
7: Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat offers the benefit of being able to adjust temperature settings automatically throughout the day according to your schedule. This helps maximize energy efficiency and reduce wear and tear on AC components resulting from frequent turning off and on as manual adjustment of temperatures would entail. In addition, this device also allows you to monitor energy usage which will serve as a great warning sign of any potential problems with your system that needs attention before the situation gets worse requiring expensive repairs.
8: Upgrade to a newer, more efficient system
If your system is over 10 years old, it may be time for an upgrade. With new advancements in technology, newer air conditioners are designed with more efficient components and insulation materials that use less energy to perform the same amount of cooling as their older counterparts. This will help you save on energy costs while also ensuring better performance and avoiding costly repairs in the future due to more expensive components that are not compatible with newer systems.
9: Schedule regular maintenance appointments
Regular maintenance is essential for getting the most out of your air conditioner, as it helps to catch any small problems before they become bigger issues. Maintenance appointments should be scheduled at least once a year and can include checking refrigerant levels, cleaning or replacing filters, inspecting electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, testing safety controls, and calibrating thermostats. This helps to prevent expensive AC Repair in California due to wear and tear on components resulting from improper maintenance over a long period.
Conclusion
Keeping your AC running smoothly throughout the summer requires proper knowledge about potential problems along with regular maintenance procedures carried out by experienced technicians. By following these seven tips - regular maintenance, clean air filters, checking refrigerant levels, and keeping outdoor & indoor units unobstructed & not overloading systems - owners of commercial buildings in California can avoid inconvenient & costly AC repairs during hot days ahead. If you need a trustworthy Commercial Air Conditioning Service in California, there are numerous skilled and experienced businesses to choose from.
