How Important is an A/C Tune-Up This Spring?

Like an oil change and tune-up keeps your car running for many happy miles, a seasonal inspection and tune-up for your A/C system will keep it humming efficiently for years.  You don’t want to find out that your car has major engine trouble at the start of a big road trip, and you don’t want to find out your A/C is on the fritz when you try to cool your home in those early days of summer.

According to Energy Star, the average household spends $2,000 on utility costs annually, with half of that amount going to cooling and heating expenses.  In fact, build up from not cleaning your unit can reduce its efficiency by 5% each year. According to the United States Department of Energy, a well-maintained air conditioner should last 15-20 years, and that’s something we’ve seen personally in the field with customers who diligently service their A/C units each year.

HVAC Technician Tuning Up an AC Unit

Now is the time of year to get on our tune-up schedule. If our thorough eye does catch a needed repair, we can get it done affordably and quickly before temperatures in the Southeast get unbearable. The average cost of an A/C repair is about $500 (give or take) when a unit is not properly serviced each season. Compare that to the average cost of a service call (usually $100 or less) and the savings are clear. With One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte, we know you work hard for every dollar, so if we do find a repair, we’ll waive the service fee. Combine this with one of our monthly specials and we’re confident you won’t find a more affordable expert to keep your family cool and comfortable this summer.

DIY Tip:  An easy and low-cost way for YOU to extend the life of your A/C unit is by cleaning or changing the air filters throughout your house at least every three months.

Here is what a comprehensive seasonal service call and tune-up with One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte will include:

  1. Clean Condenser Coils
    • Even though changing the filter can prevent build-up on your condenser coils, they still accumulate dirt. We’ll professionally clean these coils during a tune-up. Dirty coils can stop the condenser from absorbing heat and cause the coil to fail prematurely.
    • You can also help minimize build-up by removing dirt, bushes, and other foliage near your condenser unit.
  2. Clean & Tighten Electrical Connections
    • We’ll look inside the electrical compartment and make sure the connections are clear of any debris that could cause the air conditioning unit to not turn on or stop working throughout the summer.
  3. Check Refrigerant Levels
    • We’ll check the Freon levels in your air conditioning unit and let you know if they are below manufacturer’s specifications.
  4. Check Contacts & Condensation Lines
    • Plugged condensation lines can cause water damage in your home. We’ll look closely to be sure this isn’t happening with your system.
  5. Check & Calibrate Thermostat
    • We’ll change your thermostat’s batteries if it has been longer than a year. Once we test and confirm your unit is cooling as efficiently as possible, we’ll calibrate the unit with the thermostat.

Other DIY tips to keep your A/C running strong:

  • Keep thermostat away from any heat sources for accurate measurements.
  • Set thermostat as high as possible. For every one degree you raise the thermostat, energy and costs decrease by about 3%.
  • Keep windows, drapes, and shades closed while the sun is out to reduce solar heat gain.

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte, our technicians are the most highly skilled in the industry and we provide a comprehensive seasonal inspection and tune-up of your home’s comfort systems with our personal guarantee that it’s done right the first time.

Call One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte today to schedule your seasonal inspection and tune-up. Our certified and insured technicians are standing by for all your central air needs. If we need to do a repair, we’ll waive the trip fee!

Contact us for our weekly and monthly specials. Call our 24/7 customer service line today (704) 703-4220.