Published Darla Grant-Braid - April 1, 2016
It’s that time of year again. Spring! For most of us, that means shaking off the salty remains of winter, getting organized and preparing for the warmer days ahead. In other words, spring cleaning! While you undertake the task of preparing your home for spring, remember that this is also the time to maintain your air conditioner.
EiEiHome spoke with Dustin McDonald from Martino HVAC —a Greater Toronto Area heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality specialist, about how to get your air conditioner ready for spring and summer.
“For most homeowners, spring is the ideal time to schedule an air conditioning tune-up”, McDonald says. “After sitting idle all winter, your system may be a little rusty and have few kinks [and] a tune-up is the best way to eliminate any negative impact the winter may have had”.
Why Maintenance Matters
While the temptation for some homeowners may be to neglect regular air conditioning maintenance, McDonald assures us that it is just as important as vehicle maintenance.
“Maintenance that is performed early in the season can identify or prevent many small problems from becoming more expensive problems later on when the summer heat really kicks in,” McDonald says.
“You’ll also beat the long waits and higher prices that come during the summer months, when peak demand occurs…and when you really want your air conditioner to be working”.
What Needs to Be Done
First and foremost, McDonald asserts that air conditioner maintenance is not a do-it-yourself project. “[…] there are high voltages and high currents involved,” he says. “Let a professional do it”.
During your service appointment the technician will check on the various components of your air conditioning unit, including coolant levels and the air filter. The evaporator will be cleaned, along with the condenser coils and drains.
Among those things, checking the filter is especially important.
“Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system’s efficiency significantly,” McDonald says. “[…]Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%”.
McDonald explains that during a service call, your technician will also be looking out for any red flags that may lead to larger problems.
“If your coolant is low, it’s not because it got burned up the way your car burns gas,” McDonald says. “It means there’s a leak, and that’s a problem because coolant is toxic. [It] will also lead to compressor failure”.
How Martino HVAC Can Help
The experts at Martino HVAC offer basic air conditioning services as well as long-term maintenance plans, serving homeowners throughout The GTA. Don’t sweat the threat of summertime air conditioning malfunctions. Contact the experts at Martino HVAC, today.
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