is your attic well-ventilated?

You probably know your AC is supposed to be serviced in the spring before hot weather arrives, but you may not be sure why it's so important and why annual maintenance is essential for the equipment. Here's why you need to call in an air-conditioning service each spring to perform cleaning and preventative maintenance on your AC equipment.

The Condenser Has Been Idle All Winter

The condenser sits outside all winter and is exposed to freezing temperatures, ice, snow, rain, storms, and pests. Since the condenser doesn't turn on when the AC is shut down, the parts are quiet and the condenser cage makes a perfect hideout for mice and other small pests looking for places to nest.

By the time spring arrives, the condenser could have nests, leaves, debris, twigs, and even dead mice in it. The wires could be damaged by gnawing or urine. Plus, since the parts haven't moved in months, they may need to be serviced so they will start up and work properly when the air conditioner is turned on. An air-conditioning service does a tune-up in the spring that includes cleaning, inspecting, and servicing the condenser so it's ready for hot summer weather.

The Blower Has Been Running All Winter

Unlike the condenser that sits idle all winter, the blower is hard at work pushing warm air through your house. This means the parts have been hard at work and may need to be checked and serviced to make sure they keep on working through the summer. The blower is part of the HVAC system that gets serviced twice each year. The AC maintenance technician services the blower in the spring during the AC tune-up and again in the fall during the furnace tune-up.

A service call includes cleaning the blower since dust accumulates on it during the winter. A dirty blower can overheat and shut down. A dirty blower is harder to turn, and that can burn out the blower motor. When the blower parts are easy to turn, your HVAC runs more efficiently, and this can help keep your AC bills lower in the summer.

The Refrigerant Lines And Coils Could Be Leaking

The refrigerant system in a typical central HVAC is not in use during the winter when the furnace is running. The only time refrigerant is used in the winter is when you have a heat pump that works year-round. One important aspect of an air-conditioning service call is checking the pressure of the refrigerant to ensure none has leaked out.

The pressure should always remain constant until a leak develops. If there's a leak, the AC technician has to find and repair it. The technician may also need to clean the refrigerant coils so they can perform optimally.