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How often should you have your air conditioner serviced?

Schedule air conditioning inspection twice a year with a professional air conditioning service company. With two annual air conditioning inspections, an HVAC technician can catch any potential issues that might otherwise cause your air conditioner to stop working. 

What is involved in HVAC maintenance?

With a maintenance program, the twice-a-year air conditioning inspection should include the following items with an air conditioner inspection checklist something of this nature:

• Thermostat test
• Wiring check 
• Components and connections inspection
• Supply registers and return vents check
• Blockages cleaned 
• Air filter check and replace
• Drain line and drain pan check and flush
• Safety control test
• Condensate pump check
• Capacitors and contactors check and replace
• Condenser coil check
• Lines and coils inspection
• Compressor, condenser fan motor, and blower motor checks
• Refrigerant check and recharge, if needed
• Evaporator coil inspection
• Airflow test
• Ductwork inspection for air leaks and kinks

Does your AC need maintenance?

Because today’s air conditioning systems are highly sophisticated compared to the past, there is a greater chance that problems can arise in these sophisticated systems. That’s why, while they can provide years of reliable service, routine maintenance and upkeep are necessary. As mentioned, to keep your air conditioner working at peak level, air conditioner maintenance should be performed twice yearly. Many manufacturers will require regular professional maintenance to keep your warranty valid.

Air conditioning maintenance benefits

Air conditioner maintenance can benefit you in a variety of ways, especially if the maintenance technician follows a checklist as thorough as the one listed above.

Air conditioner maintenance is preventative maintenance. That means the checks that are made often will catch any potential problems that can cause your AC to break down at the worst time.

Most HVAC technicians estimate that 80% of the repairs they make could have been prevented if the AC they repaired had this type of preventative maintenance.

Here are some other benefits of maintenance:

• Improved performance: The AC will cool consistently throughout the home.
• Improved energy efficiency: When the AC performs at peak levels, the energy efficiency improves. You end up saving money on energy bills.
• Extended lifespan: Maintenance will add years to your AC’s life.
• Warranty maintained: Many manufacturers require maintenance to uphold warranties.
• Comfort maintained: You’ll stay comfortable when you need it most in every part of your home.
• Improved indoor air quality: Maintenance helps remove dust and other contaminants inside your home.

How often should you clean your AC coils?

While you should get preventative maintenance twice yearly for your whole air conditioner, you should keep one part–the coils–cleaned regularly. Your coils get dirtier easier and more often than other parts and it’s best to get them professionally cleaned about every three months. This will prevent any lasting damage to this essential part.

If you don’t clean your coils, it can make it harder for the AC unit to perform heat transfer. Your AC will end up running for a longer time, making it harder to cool your home. This adds to the wear and tear on parts and increases energy usage.

If your AC is running but not cooling, clogged and dirty coils could be the cause. This is just another reason to get the coils cleaned on a regular basis.

How often should mini-split ACs get serviced?

If you’re cooling your home with a mini-split AC, you still need to get it maintained regularly. With a mini-split system, you’re probably safe to get it serviced about once per year, preferably in the spring, just before heavy use in the summer.

How long does an AC unit last?

A quality air conditioning system that is professionally installed and well-maintained can have a lifespan of up to 15 years or longer. There are various factors that can affect the lifespan of an air conditioner, inspections being one of the key factors. Other factors include: 

• Air Filter: The air filter should be changed, or cleaned if yours are reusable, every 30 days at a minimum. This is the key factor that every homeowner can maintain that helps extend the life of your air conditioning.  
• Location: Where the air conditioning system is located is another important factor in the lifespan of the system. The coils and filter will get dirty faster in dry arid climates, thus needing cleaning and replacing more frequently. A humid climate will often create the need to change the thermostat more frequently.
• Operation: An air conditioning unit that operates 24/7/365 will have a shorter lifespan as this increases the wear and tear of the unit. If you need to keep your system running all day and night, every day you should schedule your air conditioner maintenance twice yearly and change your air filter twice every month. 
• Exterior Component: The component outside your home is just as important as the interior component. Don’t wait for your annual air conditioning inspection to have it checked. A visual check by you once a week to pull away any grass and weeds growing around it and remove any debris and trash that has blown against it. If the unit is exposed to sun all day, check out having a cover built over it that will protect it from the sun and other elements can help it run less, easing the strain on your energy bill. 

What are some common problems with light fixtures?

Light fixtures are usually fairly resilient. Most of the time, when there’s a problem, it turns out to be a burned-out light bulb or a problem with the light socket that needs to be adjusted.

If these problems don’t light up your home, then you probably have an issue with your light fixture. That usually means something is disrupting the electrical flow to the fixture. Testing for fixture issues can often be as simple as turning the power off and checking the fixtures and the breaker box. Here are some issues you might discover:

• Loose wiring connections that need to be checked by an electrician.
• Flickering light bulbs which means the switch contacts are going bad.
• A bad light socket will need to be replaced.
• With recessed lighting, you could have improper wattage in the fixture.
• Tightly packed insulation can cause overheating and fixture burnout.
• A faulty limit switch may require you to replace the fixture.

How much does it cost to change a light fixture?

Costs will vary with a light fixture repair, but typically they will range between $75 and $175. The nature of the repair will affect the cost, as will the accessibility of the fixture and the wiring connections. It will usually take about an hour to complete a light fixture repair.

You’ll usually notice that you have a problem with your light fixture if it flickers or dims or doesn’t work if you’ve changed your light bulbs. Check too to see if the fixture is hot to the touch or if it is making a humming or buzzing sound.

Anytime you suspect you have a problem with a light fixture, have it checked out by an electrician because it could indicate a bigger problem with your electrical system. Licensed electricians like those at All Star Plumbing Air, Electrical and Generator will be able to assess whether your faulty light fixture is the only problem in the system or if it is much bigger. We’ll make the assessment so you can make an informed decision about repair options.

Can ceiling light fixtures be repaired?

Any qualified electrician should be able to detect and repair or replace a ceiling light fixture. The electrician will also be able to assess whether there is a bigger problem with your electrical system.

How do you diagnose bad wiring?

In many instances, a faulty light fixture will have faulty wiring. A light fixture repair, then, will require the electrician to check the bad wiring.

You can often tell that you have bad wiring because the lights will flicker or dim. Blown breakers and fuses are also typical signs of bad wiring. If your outlets are blackened or charred, you probably have bad wiring, as well.

Anytime fixtures are hot or switches or outlets emit electrical shocks, your wiring is bad. In this case, you definitely want to get an electrician out to make sure your home’s electrical system is safe and to make repairs.

You’ll want to immediately address any burning smell, as well. This is a serious sign of bad wiring.

When you have a certified electrician check for faulty wiring in your home, they will check for a variety of issues including looking for signs of fraying or other damage such as cracked insulation around the wiring. They will also look for exposed wiring dangling from ceilings or walls.

If you notice any frayed or damaged wiring, you can make a quick fix by wrapping it with electrical tape. Only use electrical tape, as other types of tape are not safe to use. This type of fix is usually temporary, and it’s best to get help from an electrician to resolve any electrical repairs. They’ll have the right skills, tools, and equipment to get the repair made safely.

What is the most common cause of electrical problems?

The leading cause of electrical problems is loose connections. Almost 30% of all electrical failures are caused by loose connections.

Following that, moisture in the electrical system causes about 17% of all failures.

Here are 8 more common problems that cause electrical failures:

• Line disturbance
• Defective or inadequate insulation
• Lightning
• Short circuit or foreign object
• Dirt, dust, or oil
• Overloads
• Collisions
• Other

Can a cut electrical wire be repaired?

If you just have minor damage to the wire’s outer jacket, you can make a repair using electrical tape under certain circumstances. The insulating layer of the wiring cannot, however, be repaired. Any cut wire must be spliced or replaced.

If you’re splicing wires, you keep safety in the back of your mind. When splicing use only electrical tape. Electrical tape is specifically designed for wiring. Other types of tape like duct tape should not be used as this type of tape or any other tape will not be safe.

When making a repair, while tape may sound like it’s the easiest way to repair wire, using connectors is actually easier and often safer. You can find all different kinds and sizes of connectors on the market today for making an electrical repair.

What maintenance is needed on a tankless water heater?

Fortunately, another advantage of tankless water heaters is that they are low maintenance. This, of course, does not mean they never need maintenance. Here are a few things you need to take care of to keep your tankless system working properly:

• Cleaning the inlet filters
• Cleaning the air filters
• Inspecting the unit visually for damage or other issues
• Descaling or providing a heat exchanger flush

How often should tankless water heaters be serviced?

You should have a professional perform tankless water heater maintenance annually. When professionals perform maintenance, they flush out mineral deposits that might have been collected in the unit, especially on the heat exchanger. Mineral deposits can disrupt the water heater’s function, and its ability to produce hot water on demand (that’s the main reason you installed the tankless system in the first place, right?).

Regular maintenance can be performed annually unless you have hard water in your area. Hard water–water that is high in dissolved mineral content–tends to cause scaling in water heaters and other appliances more often than water with less mineral content. If you have hard water in your area, you might want to consider having a professional service it more than once per year.

Can I do my own tankless water heater maintenance?

If you’re looking to save money and have some DIY experience with plumbing, you’ll probably find tankless water heater maintenance pretty easy. Even, then, you need to be careful with the maintenance you do yourself–if you damage the unit, you might end up voiding any warranties.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable with DIY, you’ll want to get a pro out to take a look at your unit. Again, whether you do it yourself or get professional help, you’ll want to do the maintenance work at least once per year.

What is the most common issue with tankless water heaters?

When you install a tankless water heater, you expect it to be highly energy efficient and produce hot water on demand. Producing hot water on demand is its primary advantage.

Unfortunately, tankless water heaters don’t always do this well.

You might have to wait a minute or two for hot water if your tankless system does not have a recirculation pump. Recirculation pumps send unused water back to the water heater. While you can install a recirculation pump on an existing tankless system, if you are considering installing a new tankless unit, make sure to get one with this type of pump.

Another problem that might be present is the lack of a buffer tank. Some newer systems actually have this type of water storage system in place. Check with a professional to see about buffer tanks.

Other common problems include:

• Low water pressure: Check with your water utility to see that they are providing enough water pressure. Have a plumber check your plumbing for problems like leaks that may cause low water pressure.
• Water is too hot: Check your temperature settings. Clogs in your plumbing lines can also cause water to get too hot.
• Noise: For gas water heaters, check your burner–if the flame is yellow instead of blue you’ll need to check your gas line. Dirty fans also cause the system to be noisy.

What is the life expectancy of a tankless water heater?

In addition to supplying hot water on demand, tankless water heaters are known for their longevity, another advantage they have over standard tank water heaters. Tankless systems, with good maintenance, will last anywhere between 15 to 20 years, whereas a standard tank water heater has a lifespan of about 10 years.

How do you know when a tankless water heater needs to be replaced?

With a lifespan of between 15 to 20 years, you’re going to get a lot of use out of your tankless water heater. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and you’ll need to replace the unit at some point.

When do you do this?

If you wait it out and let the tankless system run its 20-year course, you might find that as it ages, even with regular maintenance, you’re going to spend some money on repairs. If you’re spending more on repairs than it would cost to buy and install a new system, then you’re better off replacing the unit.

If you’re not getting enough hot water, even if you’ve repaired the system or it’s not very old, and this becomes a continual problem, you’ll probably want to consider replacing the unit.

Should I replace my old water heater with a tankless water heater?

If your standard tank water heater has run its course, you’re probably weighing your replacement options. And you might be looking into getting a tankless system.

What you choose in the long run will depend on your needs. While tankless water heaters save space, provide hot water on demand and save money on utility expenses because they are energy efficient, they are also expensive to install.

Another key issue is household size and hot water demand. A larger house with greater demand may require more than one unit to be installed. On the other hand, if you have a smaller household and less demand, a tankless unit may be the perfect fit for you and you’ll save money in the long run.