The Home AC Tune-Up Handbook For Richmond Residents

As Richmond heats up this summer, you’ll definitely be using your AC. The better condition it’s in, the better it’ll work, and the less it will cost you. 

Here, we’ll discuss the importance of a home AC tune-up as well as what should be included for Richmond residents.

Why You Need Regular Home AC Tune-Ups In Richmond

Annual AC tune-ups are important wherever you live, including Richmond. The reasons for this are as follows.

Energy efficiency

Keeping your air conditioner in good shape improves energy efficiency (and therefore reduced energy bills). 

Even a thin layer of dust buildup inside a unit can decrease efficiency drastically, so routine cleaning is a must. Worn parts can also significantly impact efficiency, so by ensuring those are in good condition, you can keep running your cooling system without exorbitant energy costs.

Reliable cooling

Another important reason for home AC tune-ups in Richmond is they help keep your system in consistent working order. There’s less chance for major problems to develop, which means your unit will be less likely to break down. 

The end result is a nice, reliable indoor climate in your home throughout the summer months.

Lower repair costs

The lower incidence of breakdowns and major problems mean lower repair costs overall. 

It costs far more to take care of a major fault in your air conditioning system than it does to perform some preventive maintenance, so by tuning up your system, you save on AC repairs.

Longer system life

With fewer breakdowns and smoother operation, your air conditioning system will actually last much longer than if you run it into the ground. 

With the heavy amount of usage your system is likely to see in the next couple of months, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t wear out.

Key Items Checked During Home AC Tune-Ups

The following items are vital to any home AC tune-up in Richmond. 

Calibrate the thermostat

Efficient cooling depends on a precisely calibrated thermostat. Otherwise, your air conditioner may either refuse to start or else run continuously. You might also experience uneven cooling throughout your home.

Change the air filter

In the heat and humidity of Virginia summers, your air filter needs to be kept clean. If it’s clogged, your system will be less able to cope with the moisture. 

In addition, you’ll have poorer indoor air quality, meaning a higher incidence of allergens being carried in the air. As such, your filter needs to be routinely replaced or cleaned.

Clean condenser and evaporator coils

The condenser and evaporator coils play a key role in your system by transferring heat. Dust buildup on these coils acts as insulation that gets in the way of that process, so it’s important to keep them clean.

Check fan blade and motor

The fan blade and motor in the outside unit may wear out over time. The fan blades can get bent, resulting in further damage to the system, so part of a home AC tune-up in Richmond would be to check up on their condition. 

In addition, parts of the fan motor may also wear out over time, making that another crucial part component to assess. If it fails, so does the whole system.

Flush the condensate drain

The condensate drain allows excess moisture buildup to drain out of the system. Over time, it can become clogged with debris, mold, and bacteria, so it needs to be flushed out, especially in Richmond’s humid climate. 

If the condensate drain is not cleaned out regularly, it could back up, causing a great deal of water damage to your system.

Test refrigerant levels

Your air conditioner runs on refrigerant, and it’s important to make sure refrigerant levels remain consistent. 

If it starts dipping, you’ve probably got a leak somewhere, which may necessitate checking the service valves and tubing for leakage.

Check electrical components

The numerous electrical components in your air conditioning system need to be kept clean with all connections tightly fitted together. Contactors that are worn, pitted, or rusted may lead to motor and compressor failure, so making sure those are clean and tight is key to continued operation.

The capacitor is also part of your AC’s tune-up. It acts as a sort of battery for the motor, and if it goes out, the system won’t work.

Finally, if there are any worn or exposed wires, those need to be taken care of as soon as possible since they present a safety issue.

Additional Items For Home AC Tune-Ups

Additional items that might be part of your home AC tune-up in Richmond include the following:

• Cleaning the blower assembly
• Inspecting ductwork
• Lubricating all rotating/moving parts
• Inspecting safety devices
• Inspecting the disconnect box

Naturally, you’ll want to make sure you get an experienced technician to perform your home AC tune-up. That way, you can be sure that any potential issues in your system are caught early and that your air conditioner runs smoothly throughout the summer.

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