Central Air-annual check up

nicole · 04-28-2009, 05:35 PM

We need to have an annual check up on our central air conditioning system. The manufacturer does not have any suggestions other than to use "your local professional".

Does anyone have any recomendations for a company who is honest, trustworthy and does a good job? I look in the paper and the phone book and while there are plenty to choose from, I have no idea if they are any good.

Thank you!

Nicole

swnoel · 04-28-2009, 08:07 PM

I'm a HVAC technician and installer.

You might not need to do anything, if the system is not very old, your not experiencing any problems, and you change the filter regularly.

Then again... if you feel that you need someone to look at it.

I'm sure someone will be willing to take your money.

dpg · 04-29-2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swnoel

I'm a HVAC technician and installer.

You might not need to do anything, if the system is not very old, your not experiencing any problems, and you change the filter regularly.

Then again... if you feel that you need someone to look at it.

I'm sure someone will be willing to take your money.

Can you please be more specific for all of us? Are there general "rules" regarding how long a system will go without professional maintenance? What's "not very old" one year, three, ten?? Do you have any tell-tale signs or issues to look for when a technician should be called in?

SIKSUKR · 04-29-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpg

Can you please be more specific for all of us? Are there general "rules" regarding how long a system will go without professional maintenance? What's "not very old" one year, three, ten?? Do you have any tell-tale signs or issues to look for when a technician should be called in?

If your system is performing as it has in the past there really is nothing that needs to be done except as swnoel said,changing air filters which should be done on a regular basis.I have about 12 hvac systems in my building and until one starts icing up or not cooling well,you dont need to do much except keep your coils clean.Your evaperator unit outside could use an occasional hosing down on all the coils to clean off dust and dirt.The unit will run more efficient.And do change those air filters.

Mat · 04-30-2009, 01:00 PM

As already said if the system is working properly there really isn't much to do except clean the filters! Heres what I do. I blow off and hose down any dirt and dust on the condenser unit which is the one that sits outside of your house. I also use a condenser cover sold at Home Depot to cover the unit through the winter. This keeps out dirt snow and ice which can create lots of inside rust. The evaporator coil or (A- coil) is inside the main plenum of the inside unit. There is usually a gravity condensate drain on this unit which can sometimes clog up if dirty. I clean out the trap on this drain because it did clog on me once and I had puddles of water in my basement. Sometimes there is a small condensate pump mounted on the side of the indoor unit. You may want to clean it out also to prevent clogs. Anyway thats all I do to my system.

nicole · 05-04-2009, 06:42 AM

Thank you everyone for your advice.

04-28-2009, 05:35 PM	#1
nicole Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 139 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 178 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	Central Air-annual check up We need to have an annual check up on our central air conditioning system. The manufacturer does not have any suggestions other than to use "your local professional". Does anyone have any recomendations for a company who is honest, trustworthy and does a good job? I look in the paper and the phone book and while there are plenty to choose from, I have no idea if they are any good. Thank you! Nicole

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04-28-2009, 08:07 PM	#2
swnoel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 529 Thanks: 83 Thanked 194 Times in 118 Posts	I'm a HVAC technician and installer. You might not need to do anything, if the system is not very old, your not experiencing any problems, and you change the filter regularly. Then again... if you feel that you need someone to look at it. I'm sure someone will be willing to take your money.

The Following User Says Thank You to swnoel For This Useful Post:
nicole (05-04-2009)

04-30-2009, 01:00 PM	#5
Mat Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ma and Alton Bay Posts: 42 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	As already said if the system is working properly there really isn't much to do except clean the filters! Heres what I do. I blow off and hose down any dirt and dust on the condenser unit which is the one that sits outside of your house. I also use a condenser cover sold at Home Depot to cover the unit through the winter. This keeps out dirt snow and ice which can create lots of inside rust. The evaporator coil or (A- coil) is inside the main plenum of the inside unit. There is usually a gravity condensate drain on this unit which can sometimes clog up if dirty. I clean out the trap on this drain because it did clog on me once and I had puddles of water in my basement. Sometimes there is a small condensate pump mounted on the side of the indoor unit. You may want to clean it out also to prevent clogs. Anyway thats all I do to my system.

The Following User Says Thank You to Mat For This Useful Post:
nicole (05-04-2009)

05-04-2009, 06:42 AM	#6
nicole Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 139 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 178 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	Thank you everyone for your advice.