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How to Perform AC Maintenance

hvac technician checking capacitor on air conditioner

Learn More About AC Maintenance

The systems of your property will require maintenance and upkeep periodically in order to function properly and for a long time. When it comes to your HVAC system, AC maintenance will allow for better airflow and steady cool airflow during the changing seasons. The parts of your AC system are connected to one another and will often be affected if one area is undergoing neglect and clean conditions. In order to address all parts of the unit having a professional technician look at your unit is recommended. Get in touch with your local HVAC company to learn more about your options for AC maintenance, until then here is some general information that may prove useful.

What is AC maintenance?

AC maintenance involves clean up and upkeep for different parts of an AC unit in order to function effectively and efficiently as the years pass. By neglecting the duties of maintaining the coils, filter, fins, etc of an AC unit the performance will steadily decline while the energy use raises.

What happens if AC is not serviced?

If your AC is not routinely taken care of than the functions will decrease as they will fight to work through unclean or blocked parts. With filters, for example, you won’t be able to send cool air through the room as easily since airflow is blocked. This will have your AC use more energy to maintain room temperatures and therefore heighten energy bills.

How often should you have your air conditioner serviced?

Make sure to have your AC serviced at least once a year along with the heating system. Springtime is usually the season that’s recommended yet check on it as part of your routine housekeeping in case it needs to be taken care of sooner.

Are AC maintenance plans worth it?

AC maintenance plans may be worth it for systems that aren’t as new and may not require so many services. As such, they may cost a hundred or so dollars depending on the number of services offered with an AC maintenance plan. 

What does AC maintenance include?

Typically AC maintenance should include a few factors like checking the blower, coils, motor, drain lines, refrigerant levels, connections, return and supply lines, and operating temperatures and pressures.

Air conditioner cleaning process and service

How do I take care of my air conditioner?

  • Check refrigerant levels
  • Change the air filter once a month
  • Keep coils clean
  • Check the fins
  • Inspect condensate drain
  • Schedule AC maintenance

Is it OK to spray water on your air conditioner?

If you’re looking to instill a small amount of an AC maintenance improvement to your system you may be able to spray water on the condenser in order to promote cool evaporation on the device. This will reduce energy consumption as it won’t overheat. Essentially the AC will work by taking the hot air that’s present inside the house and moves it outside.

How long does an AC tune up take?

An AC tune-up when getting AC maintenance will take up to an hour depending on the configuration of the system. If more refrigerant is needed than expect an added amount of time to be allotted from 30-45 minutes.

How do I increase AC airflow?

AC maintenance duties should be performed in order to remedy the trouble of airflow. The first place you’ll want to check is your vents and registers to see if perhaps they are actually halfway open or closed. Make sure to angle the vents towards the ceiling so that air can bounce and hit more angles of the room. An area of concern could be items in the air duct or dirty filters which can impede the progression of air transference. Another thing to consider would be cleaning the ducts or updating them if they are on the older side.

Why is my AC blowing weak?

If there is weak airflow your coils may be dirty. The evaporator coil will need air to blow over it in order to continue the progression of the AC system. A dirty coil can be the result of a dirty air filter that is causing clogged dust and dirt to travel to other areas of the system. 

Contact Your Local HVAC Company

It’s important to realize that one part of your AC system being compromised can, in turn, affect other areas of the AC. That’s why getting AC maintenance from a professional is recommended in order for the whole system to be addressed and taken care of at once. Your comfort in having cool air with efficient airflow is a necessity. In order for your AC to work for a long time without wasting energy make sure to have your AC maintenance scheduled annually. Your local HVAC company will be more than able to help with their knowledge and expertise on a variety of systems. Rely on your local HVAC company for AC maintenance today.

If you require assistance with AC maintenance in Riverside, CA call (951) 336-1541 with Aire-Rite Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.!

How Can I Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Testing the air quality in an HVAC system.

How Can I Improve Indoor Air Quality?

There are no two ways about it; indoor air quality and health are inexorably linked. There have even been studies conducted that suggest that indoor air quality and productivity are related as well. But knowing that health and indoor air quality go hand in hand is only half the battle. The question remains – what can you do to improve the quality of your indoor air? That is the question we will be tackling today as well as a slew of related questions. Here at Aire-Rite Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., it is our goal to help you and your family live a comfortable and healthy life – at least in your home. We offer a number of indoor air quality services that take into account all the factors that play a part in your indoor air quality. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, asthma, dry throat or any other kind of sinus issues, you may be at an elevated risk of inflammation and irritation caused by poor indoor air quality. If you feel that your indoor air quality is compromised, call an expert HVAC company for an evaluation and estimate as soon as you can.

What are the Symptoms of Bad Air Quality in the Home?

The first and most important step in making your home a healthier place to breathe is knowing the symptoms of compromised indoor air quality. Indoor air quality is affected by a number of factors including humidity, ventilation, temperature fluctuations, pets, microbes, the influx of polluted outdoor air and particulate matter that is sourced from inside the home (dead skin, hair, dust mites, etc.). All of these factors and more can cause a number of symptoms. If your indoor air is in fact significantly contaminated, you may experience dry throat, trouble breathing, nausea, fatigue, frequent headaches, coughing, sneezing, dry eyes, watery eyes, itchy eyes and more. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms in the home but not so much elsewhere, chances are your indoor air quality is poor. The presence of mold in your house will also adversely affect the quality of your indoor air which leads us to the next question.

How do you tell if there are Mold Spores in the Air?

If mold is growing in or around your house, it could be a serious problem. Mold growth emits dangerous spores in the air that can affect your health and destroy your home. The most common sign that there is mold in your home is an inexplicable damp or musty smell. If you have experienced a spike in allergic symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and irritated eyes, these may also be signs that you have mold spores floating around in your indoor air. Indoor air quality and mold testing should also go hand in hand. If you suspect mold in your home, you need to hire a professional to test your home and handle any HVAC or purification repairs needed.

A plant under an air vent.

What to do Next

If you have read up to this point and are concerned about your indoor air quality, you may be pondering your next move. Questions like ‘do candles purify the air?’ and ‘what can I do to improve my indoor air quality myself?’ may be racing through your mind. But don’t worry, these are good questions to ask and we will do our best to answer the most burning ones here for you.

How do you Test Indoor Air Quality?

There are many ways you can learn about indoor air quality in your home. First, you can purchase an indoor air monitor or an air purifier that comes with a built-in air quality monitoring system. You can also check your home regularly for signs of mold: discolored drywall, sunken ceilings, musty smells, etc. But the most effective way to find out what your indoor air is like is to hire a professional to test it.

Do Candles Purify the Air?

By and large, no. Your average scented candles will not actually purify the air – in fact, they can do more to pollute it. The only types of candles that can help clean your indoor air are beeswax candles because they emit negative ions that bind to airborne toxins and neutralize them.

What do you do When Air Quality is Unhealthy?

There are many steps you can take to improve the quality of your indoor air. For instance, moving your houseplants outdoors may immediately help clean your indoor air since plants can attract moisture and mold. Investing in an air filter for your HVAC unit is an effective way of limiting contaminants as small as 0.03 microns. But again, the most effective step you can take to improve indoor air quality is to seek the help of a professional. We hope you have found this post helpful and if you have any questions or concerns about your indoor air quality in Riverside, CA call Aire-Rite Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. at (951) 336-1541 today.