How to Prevent Common AC Problems This Summer

When the Hampton, Virginia weather heats up, homeowners rush to turn the temperature up on their air conditioners. If you haven’t scheduled AC maintenance, a variety of things can go wrong. Here are four ways to handle AC problems:

1. Keep the Condensate Drain Line Clean

The condensate drain line allows moisture collected by your AC to exit the system. Backed-up water can overflow and damage your property. Trapped water can create leaks in your ceiling and make your cooling coils freeze up. Water that collects in the condensate drain pan can get contaminated, cause foul odors and contaminate indoor air. Clogged condensate drain lines almost always result from poor maintenance.

2. Get Refrigerant Leaks Repaired Promptly

If your AC is not keeping your home cool, you may have a refrigerant leak. A tune-up includes a refrigerant level check. If there is insufficient refrigerant, your service technician will adjust the level and test for leaks. Small leaks can usually be patched to prevent further leakage, and the system can be recharged and restored to an operational state.

3. Prevent Frozen Evaporator Coils

Frozen coils can be caused by condensate drain line clogs, poor airflow, low refrigerant levels and dirty coils. Operating your equipment with frozen coils can damage the system. Annual maintenance includes a thorough coil cleaning. It also includes an inspection to reveal any issues that could be interfering with airflow or causing refrigerant levels to be low.

4. Keep Cooling Coils Clean

Air conditioners are coated with grunge after a season of high performance. That dirty buildup makes it hard for the unit to move heat out of your home. Utility bills will increase and cool air output will decrease. Thoroughly cleaning the coils prior to using the system can prevent these problems and optimize equipment performance.

The experienced service technicians at Lighthouse Mechanical Heating and Cooling can prevent all of these AC problems with AC maintenance. Have your system serviced during the spring, and it will repay you with hours of cool, refreshing air. Visit us online to learn more, or call us at (757) 251-0579 to schedule service.