2016 is almost here, and the new year makes a great time to adopt some new resolutions. Among them is a maintenance session for your air conditioner and/or heater. Most people poo-poo maintenance sessions as a waste of money, which is a big mistake. Not only do they save you money in the long run by helping your system perform more efficiently, but it can extend the life of your system, provided you schedule them regularly. Now makes a great time to get into a good habit, and by setting up these professional visits twice a year, you can reap the benefits for a long time to come.
A maintenance session isn’t the same as a formal repair, which is called in to deal with a specific problem with your heater or air conditioner. Instead, it’s intended as a kind of “tune-up” of sorts, taking care of a lot of little issues that don’t make a huge difference on their own, but can add up very quickly. A session usually includes—but is not necessarily limited to—the following:
- Cleaning dust and dirt off of key components.
- Unclogging the burners (in furnaces) or recharging the refrigerant (in air conditioners).
- Checking the electrical connections for frayed or loose wires. In furnaces, this usually means checking the ignition system as well.
- Changing the air filters when needed.
- Lubricating moving parts to prevent friction
- Unclogging gas lines, condensate lines, or similar components.
- Emptying drain pans in the case of air conditioners.
- Tightening loose bolts and fittings, or replacing them if they have become worn.
- Running the entire system for 15–20 minutes and checking for any larger problems that may require scheduling formal repairs.
When it comes to performing quality heating and air conditioning maintenance in Southern California, trust the pros at JC Mechanical Inc. to do the job right!