Spring Central A/C Tune Up — Why It’s Needed
Image Soure: DreamsTime
The article explains why a Central A/C tune-up needs to be performed each spring. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Al’s also provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s is near your home in Plano, Allen, Frisco, and McKinney. We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel-charges.
Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service
During A Central A/C Tune Up:
1. Dirty components will be identified and cleaned.
2. Diagnostics will identify low refrigerant level and / or components that are about to fail.
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Spring Central A/C Tune Up — Why It’s Needed
This Is Part 1 of 2: Click Here To Read Part 2-Diagnostics: AlsPlumbing.com Central A/C Tune Up – Part 2 Diagnostics
For your HVAC System to operate at maximum ability & efficiency -plus- last longer — the system must be maintained properly. Neglected systems run longer and harder. This results in higher cooling & heating bills + the system wears out faster.
The only way an HVAC System to run at maximum efficiency is if it’s in a like-new state of maintenance. An A/C Tune Up is like having your car’s engine tuned up & its oil changed. It ensures the engine is maximizing gas-mileage (tun up) -and- not wearing excessively (due to dirty oil).
The 3 things That Decrease Central A/C Efficiency The Most:
- Dirty Air Filter
- Dirty Outdoor Unit (Condenser coil)
- Dirty Indoor Cooling-Coil (Evaporator coil) — inside the furnace or ductwork and can’t be seen without removing a panel.
Image Source: Can Stock Photo
A Clean Air Filter Increases A/C Efficiency By Up To +15%
The United States Department Of Energy (DOE) States: “A Clean Air Filter Increases Central A/C efficiency By Up To +15%. ** When your air filter is dirty — air-flow through the HVAC System is reduced. This causes the system to run longer and harder — resulting in higher cooling & heating bills -and- wearing the system out faster. If you increase A/C efficiency by +15% — you lower cooling bills by -15% -and- the HVAC will last +15% longer.
** Source: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/maintaining-your-air-conditioner
A Clean A/C Outdoor Unit (condenser coil) — Increases A/C Efficiency By Up To +30%
Image Source: DreamsTime.com
The U.S. DOE States: “A dirty condenser coil can increase outdoor unit energy consumption by up to 30%.” ** Hot refrigerant flows through the outdoor unit’s coil. The unit’s fan pulls air through the coil to remove the heat from the refrigerant.
The outdoor unit moves around 400 Cubic Feet of air per Minute (CFM) — for each ton (12,000 BTU’s) of cooling capacity. *** A 3-ton outdoor unit moves 1,200 CFM of air when it’s running. This draws a lot of contaminants into the coil — and it becomes increasingly clogged if not cleaned each spring.
Click Below To See Before & After Cleaning Photos Of An Extremely Dirty Outdoor A/C Unit Coil:
Before & After Cleaning Photos Of Clogged Outdoor A/C Unit Coil
** Source: https://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/8282/title/clean-hvac-system-coils-save-energy
*** Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279691120_Impact_of_evaporator_coil_airflow_in_residential_air-conditioning_systems
A Clean Indoor Cooling-Coil (evaporator coil) — Increases Efficiency By Up to +19%
NOTE: The indoor cooling-coil (evaporator coil) is inside the furnace or ductwork and can’t be seen without removing a panel.
The home’s indoor air passes through the indoor cooling-coil (evaporator coil) while the blower fan is running. Cooled refrigerant flows through the indoor cooling coil. The cooled coil removes the heat and humidity from the air as it passes through. This coil must be clean for your air conditioner to perform at maximum efficiency. If the coil is clogged– the A/C to run longer & harder.
The indoor cooling coil has the same air-flow as the outdoor unit — about 400 Cubic Feet of air per Minute (CFM) — for each ton (12,000 BTU’s) of cooling capacity. *** A 3-ton outdoor unit moves 1,200 CFM of air when it’s running. This draws dust into into the coil — and it becomes increasing clogged if not cleaned when needed.
A clogged indoor cooling coil reduces air-flow. One study says that if the indoor cooling coil is 1/3 clogged — it reduces A/C’s cooling ability by as much as -19%. So, it’s fair to say 1/3 clogged indoor cooling coil increases cooling cost by +19%. It also causes the HVAC system to run 19% longer and harder — and wear out at least 19% faster. *5
The indoor cooling coil is wet when the A/C is running. Because it’s wet dust can easily stick to the coil.
Dust & water create a perfect environment for mold growth. When the indoor cooling (evaporator) coil is molded — when the furnace blower fan is running — it’s blowing mold-spores all over your home. The photo we provided shows the dust clogging the indoor cooling coil to be black with mold.
Click Below To See A Diagram Showing The Location Of The Indoor Cooling (evaporator) A/C Coil:
Location Of Indoor Cooling (evaporator) Coil
Click Here To See A Clogged & Molded Indoor Cooling (evaporator) A/C Coil:
Dirty & Molded Indoor Cooling (evaporator) Coil
Note: A Frozen Indoor Cooling Coil Is Due To:
- 1. Not enough air flowing through it (because of a dirty air filter and dirty coil).
- 2. Low refrigerant charge.
Click Here To See A Frozen Indoor Cooling Coil: Frozen Indoor A/C Cooling Coil
*5 Source: https://www.airah.org.au/Content_Files/TechnicalPublications/hvac-factsheet-cleaning-coils-09-13.pdf
Shown: Air Conditioner Refrigerant-Tank & Installation Gauges
Image Source: Shutterstock
Proper Refrigerant Level Increases Efficiency By UP To +100%
To cool at maximum efficiency, an air conditioner (or heat pump) must be fully charged with refrigerant. The lower the refrigerant level — the lower the cooling efficiency. Low refrigerant causes the A/C to run longer & harder — increasing cooling bills -and-reducing its lifespan. During peak summer heat, an A/C that’s low on refrigerant won’t be able to cool the house.
The refrigerant must stay at a specific charge / level. If the refrigerant level drops, it reduces the air conditioner’s cooling ability. Refrigerant doesn’t get used up. If refrigerant is low — it’s due to; a leak (most common), corrosion, or loose connections somewhere along the refrigerant line.
The report stated: “A system 20% low of refrigerant (in a 3-ton / 36,000 BTU system) reduces cooling ability by up to -24% at 95°F.
The actual decrease in A/C efficiency is directly related to how low the refrigerant level is. For this reason there is no average decrease in efficiency due to low refrigerant
Low refrigerant reduces the indoor cooling coil’s ability to cool indoor air. If refrigerant level drops enough, the indoor cooling coil will begin to freeze.
Low refrigerant also lowers efficiency of the outdoor A/C unit. The compressor in the outdoor unit is designed to operate with a specific amount of refrigerant. If refrigerant gets low enough, the outdoor unit’s compressor will work longer and harder — shortening it’s lifespan.
LET’S DO THE MATH — IF YOU HAVE ALL THESE:
- dirty furnace air filter (up to -15%)
- dirty indoor cooling coil (up to -15%)
- dirty outdoor unit coil (up to -30%)
- 20% low on refrigerant (up to -24%)
Your cooling bill is as much as +84% higher than if these items were properly maintained! These same percentages apply to how much faster the A/C is wearing out.
How A Central Air Conditioner Works
Click Here To See A Diagram Of a Central A/C System
The 3 Components Of A Central A/C System:
- Cooling / Evaporator Coil: This component (inside the furnace -or- directly above the furnace in the ductwork) — converts refrigerant from a liquid to a gas. This causes the refrigerant to become cold.
- Outdoor / Condenser Unit: This unit (outdoors) — converts the refrigerant from a gas to a liquid. This allows the heat in the refrigerant to be released. The unit’s fan pulls air through its coil — and the is released into the outdoor air.
- Blower / Fan: This fan moves indoor air through the indoor cooling coil and throughout the house. The blower / fan is located in the furnace.
Central A/C Tune Up Includes:
Components Cleaning (as required)
Diagnostic Inspection
Benefits of Spring Central A/C Tune Up
- Better Cooling Performance and indoor comfort.
- Lower Energy Bills: If your central A/C is able to cool your home — that doesn’t mean it’s working at its peak ability & efficiency. A neglected system slowly loses efficiency as it ages. A large part of the reduction is due to dirt build-up on the system’s components.
- Fewer Repairs: All the components depend on each other. At Tune Up will discover if one is not working correctly or is about to fail. A a component that’s not working properly can cause needless strain on other components.
Example: If the refrigerant is low, the outdoor unit works longer and harder, and can’t cool as it was designed to.
- Less Chance Of An Emergency Breakdown: Neglected equipment is most likely to fail when you need it most — because that’s when it’s running the most. Often times, an emergency call results from the failure of a components that would have been discovered during a Central Air Tune Up.
Example: Your a/c system has batteries (called capacitors). They provide an electrical boost needed to start s motor running. They are the most likely component to fail (they are rechargeable batteries and wear out). This can leave you miserable on a sweltering summer day.
Click Here To See A Central A/C Capacitor: Photo Of Central A/C Capacitor
- Less Chance Of Catastrophic Breakdown. Worn inexpensive components can cause damage the most expensive components.
Example: Your a/c outside unit’s compressor is turned on and off by an automatic switch (called a contactor). If this switch fails and does not disengage — the compressor will run non-stop until it’s damaged. Contactors are inspected during a Central Air Tune Up.
Click Here To See Central A/C Contactor Switch: Photo of Central A/C Contactor Switch
- Longer Equipment Life: Your HVAC System will last longer when it’s working at its peak ability & efficiency — that’show it was designed to operate. Neglected systems run longer and harder than they need to. This wears the system out sooner.
Example: A Dirty Coil In The Outdoor Unit Causes The Entire HVAC System To Run Up To 35% More . This causes it to wear out 35% faster.
Click Below To See Before & After Cleaning Photos Of An Extremely Dirty Outdoor A/C Unit Coil:
Before & After Cleaning Photos Of Clogged Outdoor A/C Unit Coil
- Safer Equipment Operation: A neglected HVAC System can create safety concerns.
Example: Vibrations can cause loosen an electrical connection. The wire may come out of its connection and touch another connection — causing a short-circuit. This will damage other electrical components.
A Spring A/C Tune Up Includes:
- Inspection & Cleaning (as needed). Note: Cleaning may cost extra.
- Diagnostic Check Up.
Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Al’s also provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s is near your home in Plano, Richardson, and Garland. We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel-charges.
Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service