The last thing you want in the dead of summer is for your air conditioning to break or for a pipe to spring a leak, but if you’re lax on your annual maintenance, it’s likely to happen sometime. Maintaining your air conditioning system can save you from efficiency loss, operating failures and expensive repair bills. Preventive maintenance can prolong your air conditioner’s life for four or five years and can save money on monthly energy bills. Dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating and cooling system inefficiency and failure. A dirty system could cause other problems as well. For example, if your drain line is not properly cleaned, mold can grow inside it and clog the drain, causing elevated humidity, musty odors and water damage inside your home.
EPA Energy Star reports that as much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling, and the condition of your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can lower or increase your utility bills. Most common air conditioning failures, such as those caused by faulty circuit breakers/fuse, refrigerant leaks, frozen coil, damaged parts and more, can be prevented with proper maintenance.
Benefits of maintenance
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A Louisiana State University and Gulf States Utility study of five houses before (HVAC system) cleaning and after cleaning resulted in average energy savings of $32.76 per month (based on 8 cents per kilowatt-hour on cooling bills. The metro Atlanta area currently averages 11 cents per kWh., making for an average monthly savings of $40.29.
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Pacific Gas & Electric found the average heating energy savings for locating and repairing refrigerant leaks and correcting refrigerant charge was 18.4% (for heat pump systems).
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A Texas A&M University study found that a 23% refrigerant undercharge could result in a 52% efficiency loss.
Choosing a maintenance company
While most HVAC companies provide maintenance programs, they aren’t all alike. One company’s 14-point inspection might not do as much as a company that offers a 12-point inspection. You must know what to look for when choosing an HVAC maintenance company. Consider companies that feature the following attributes.
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Service Awards
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A Quality assurance program that guarantees technicians use the best processes in identifying issues
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A one-year guarantee on service and repairs
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NATE-certified technicians and a minimal 40 hours per year of continuing education (An HVAC maintenance program by a reputable company whose technicians partake in annual certified training classes helps protect your warranties on your system and helps keep your unit operating at peak performance.)
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An itemized service checklist
Vital Air’s air conditioning maintenance consists of checks on the following systems to ensure your unit’s internal parts are functioning correctly:
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Fuses and Voltage
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Compressor and Motor Amps
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Capacitor
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Electrical Connections
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Supply/Return Air Temperature
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Refrigerant Pressures
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Superheat & Sub-Cooling
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Contactor Volt Drop
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Outdoor and Evaporative Coil
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Thermostat
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Water Safety Controls
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Condensate Pump and Drain cleaned out
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Checking of filter and changing out when needed
Vital Air provides you with an itemized report of your system, along with photos, so you’ll understand its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the best actions to take to keep your home cool at the lowest possible cost.
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