Prepping your air conditioner for Summer.

 

In about 3 weeks, when the winter turns into a deep heat, a lot of Northern Nevada residents are going to switch on their Air Conditioning for the first time in 8 months.   When an air conditioner unit sits idle outside for months, collecting leaves and debris, a bit of maintenance is often needed to get it running properly.   Dirt, debris, dirty filters and sometimes just a shut off breaker can lead to down time for your AC when you need it most.

 

This past Winter (that keeps going and going) was really windy and wet.   This effects both the indoor (evaporator and fan unit) and outdoor (condenser) portions of your air conditioning system.

The outside system gets full of dirt, leaves, cotton and pollen. From a purely mechanical side any little particles that can get into the electrical connections or the fan can cause issues or efficiency concerns.

The indoor system can get dirty from all of the dirt and leaves that come inside, along with other Northern Nevada common issues like pollen, dust and even dog hair.

 

Outdoors

One of the most likely maintenance items is to clean out a coil that is full of debris.   When we service the outside condenser we take care to clean out the coil so the unit runs efficient and doesn’t run too hot. We then clean out the electrical areas and fan area so that no dirt gets in the way.   A condenser pulls in air from outside the unit, through the coils and then blows it up through the top. This action cools the refrigerant inside the tubes. When this coil is full of leaves and dirt this can block the air flow which causes cooling issues and can harm the equipment. If you see any dirt or debris it is worth it to have a trained professional service the unit.

Indoors

Next the technician moves inside and inspects the evaporator unit and fan system.   Here we are looking to make sure everything is operating correctly and is clean. During this time we also replace the air filter. Dirty filters can plug up an air system, and besides just being unhealthy, can cause the system to freeze up due to lack of airflow.

 

System Check

Finally, we do operational tests of the equipment.   We make sure the thermostat is programmed and working correctly.   We will check the airflow coming into the house as well as check refrigerant pressures to make sure your system is properly charged.

 

Visual Inspection

Another valuable portion of the preventative maintenance service is the visual inspection of the unit.   By looking at the unit components, wire connections and etc we can often times identify little issues before they turn into large problems. Sometimes it is just a loose wire and other times it may be a small refrigerant leak.   It is great piece of mind to enter the Summer season with the confidence that your system is ready to keep your home or office cool!

 

Our technicians are trained to make sure that this maintenance helps your equipment work to the best of its ability and to work more efficiently. Our team also works off of a very well thought out and proven maintenance check list. They will share this with you and answer any questions you may have.

 

 

Call us today to set your appointment (775) 425-2525 or email our team at office@rossheating.biz.

 

Make sure you ask about discounts available if you plan out your Spring and Fall maintenances in advance!

 

Damian Ross and the Ross Heating Team

Summer 2019

office@rossheating.biz

From itchy eyes to runny noses, endless sneezing to sore throats and plugged ears, most of us don’t need a calendar to know that summer is coming.

 

In Northern Nevada, allergy season is a long season. It begins in February and lasts all the way through November. It starts with the trees, like juniper, pine, oak, willow, aspen, and all of the flowering varieties. Then the grasses begin releasing their pollen, and tumbleweed, sagebrush, and other weeds begin pollinating after that.

 

Right now is the worst of tree pollen season, and the grass pollen is ramping up, too. If you or anyone in your household suffer from allergies or allergy-induced asthma, take charge! You can keep a lot of the pollen where it belongs — outside — with these tips for your air conditioning system.

 

Change Your Air Filter

Your air filter is what pulls pollen, other allergens, dust and debris out of circulation in your home. What most people don’t realize is that, during peak allergy season, you should change your air filter every month. Not only will it help keep your air clean, it will help your ventilation system push air more efficiently, using less energy and increasing the lifespan of your equipment.

 

With summer coming, your air conditioner needs to be in ship-shape. If it’s using an old air filter, it has to work a lot harder to cool your house. As a result, your house won’t cool as quickly and your energy bill will be higher. Don’t wait until your filter is clogged and filthy to swap it out — that means your air is probably clogged and filthy, too.

 

Clean Your Air Ducts

Your home’s air ducts need a deep cleaning every few years. A professional can use specialized equipment to remove any dirt, dust or pet dander that has collected inside of them, as well as inspect them for any leaks. Leaky air ducts reduce the effectiveness of your air filtration and increase your energy costs, so it’s worthwhile to make sure they are properly sealed.

 

Service Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioning system itself needs some annual attention. Dirt and allergens can collect in the evaporator coils and drain pan of your air conditioning unit, eventually clogging them. Having these cleaned out each year will help keep your home’s air fresh.

 

At the same time, you can have your system checked for future complications. That way any necessary maintenance can be done early in the season, and you can avoid waiting on a broken air conditioning repair in the middle of summer.

 

Keep your home’s air clean this allergy season by taking proper care of your ventilation and air conditioning system. Need help? At Ross Heating and Air Conditioning, we understand how important it is for your home to be comfortable, so we ensure timely service for our customers, and our trained technicians use low-cost diagnostics to identify and repair any issues.Schedule an appointmentwith us today.