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All homeowners will quickly realize that being a homeowner is much more than just paying the mortgage. You’re also responsible for all of the components that make up your home. In particular, this means that you’re also responsible for maintaining your HVAC system. Each HVAC system will require a different type of maintenance. AC units require air conditioning services.

Most experts will suggest scheduling and air-conditioning service at least once a year. The same goes for basically every other component in your home, including the heating. In general, when it comes to the AC unit, the best time to schedule an air conditioning service is during the spring. This is because you’re going to need the AC unit to be in its best shape during the summer, which is when it’ll be in operation throughout the entire day for days on end.

This article will guide you through all that you need to know about an air conditioning service. If you have any further questions about getting an air conditioning service in Cleveland, TN, contact Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air.

What’s Involved in an Air Conditioning Service?

Most people only take their cars in for a service whenever the lights on the dashboard pop up. They have no idea what goes on during the service. The same can usually be said for air conditioning services. Most homeowners only know that they need to get the air conditioning service once every year or two, but they have no idea what the service actually entails.

An air conditioning service is actually composed of many different things. We’ll go through most of them in this article. Some HVAC companies will offer additional services that may further help protect your AC unit from where and tear.

A General Cleaning and Checkup

You have no idea how much dirt and dust builds up within your AC unit every year. If the dirt, dust and contaminants are not removed, your AC unit will become a lot less efficient. The dirt can clog the filters and damage inner parts.

The first step of an air conditioning service is usually a thorough check up. The technician will want to identify whether any of the leaks or cracks within the unit. While they’re doing this, they’re going to need to remove any of the dirt, debris and contaminants that are in their way, which is where you get the cleaning from.

An Air Filter Replacement or Cleaning

If you’ve used your AC unit quite often during last summer, there’s a good chance that the filter needs to be replaced or at least cleaned. This is the next step in the air conditioning service because the technician will usually have taken enough parts apart that they can easily reach the filter with ease. If the filter is clogged, it could cause ice to accumulate within the unit.

The homeowners will take advantage of this part of the air conditioning service to talk with the technician about the type of filter that they use. There are actually many different types of filters out there, and each type is able to filter out a different thing. For example, some filters are better at getting rid of dirt and pollen while others may be better at getting rid of virus and bacteria in the air.

Coolant Level Check

Next up, the technician will need to check the coolant level within the AC unit. If there is not enough coolant within the unit, your AC will start to malfunction. This is generally attributed to the fact that the cooling coil temperature will drop below its intended level. The technician may also want to take this time to check for leaks and other issues that may have led to low coolant levels.

An Even More Thorough Cleaning Followed by an Inspection

Last but not least, the technician will do a thorough cleaning of the condenser coil and evaporator coil. They will also clean the evaporator and condenser fan as well.

Once everything within the unit is clean, they’re going to do a very thorough inspection to make sure that there aren’t any cracks and leaks anywhere in the system. In particular, it’s important to look for cracks in the seals, as they can easily let air out and cause your HVAC unit to become even more inefficient.

The inspection will also look at the condition of all of the parts to see whether there is anything that needs to be addressed. It’s always a good idea to fix minor problems while they’re still easy to fix. If you wait, you might end up with a major catastrophe on your hands. More importantly, this catastrophe could be very costly to fix.

8 Tips on How to Prepare for It

Although you don’t necessarily need to do anything once you’ve called a technician for an air conditioning service, you should still prepare for it. This will make the process go a lot more smoothly, especially during these tough times. Once you’ve scheduled an air conditioning service, you should also consider making time to do the following.

#1. Clean Up the Surrounding Area

First and foremost, you should consider cleaning up the area that’s closest to the air conditioning. Take away any large obstacles that may prevent the technician from accessing the AC unit. This includes meeting couches and large furniture out of the way. Some technicians charge by the hour. The longer that you have them there, the more expensive your bill will be.

Ideally, you should have cleared a path from the entranceway to all of the key points of the AC unit. This will allow the technician to easily get in and out with ease. Make sure that the pathway is large enough for them to carry any equipment with them if it’s necessary.

#2. Lay Out Plastic Mats or Newspaper on the Floor

Another thing that you want to do is lay out plastic mats or newspaper on the floor from the entrance to the AC unit. An air conditioning service can get rather messy really quickly. You never know what type of dirt, dust and contaminants may come flying out of the unit once you open it. By having plastic mats or newspapers laid out on the floor, you’ll have a much easier time with the cleanup. Some technicians will also clean up the home for you. In which case, you’ll be helping them get out of your house quicker.

If you have large furniture around, you might want to cover the furniture as well. The more that you cover up, the less cleaning that you’ll likely have to do.

#3. Have Relevant Paperwork Around

You might not necessarily have all the information about your AC unit memorized off the top of your head. However, you do have all of the relevant paperwork needed for the technician to get a good idea of the features of your AC unit. Before the technician arrives for the air conditioning service, make sure that you have all of the relevant paperwork ready and available for the technicians should they have any questions.

#4. Make Sure There’s Parking Space

This isn’t something that many homeowners think about; however, you should really consider whether there’s any parking space nearby for courtesy. If you live in an apartment or high rise, figure out whether the HVAC contractor can park at the front or whether they’ll need a visitor’s sign from you to access your visitor’s parking.

If you live in a house, you need to think about whether there’s any parking space in the driveway or at the front of the house. If there’s no space in the driveway, you might want to consider moving one of your cars so that the technicians can park there when they arrive. If there’s no space out front, you might want to let the technicians know before they arrive, so they know to park a street away.

#5. Familiarize Yourself with Your Unit and Terminology

There’s a chance that the technician might find something wrong with your unit while they are performing an air conditioning service. To make sure that you fully understand what’s going on, take some time to familiarize yourself with your unit, as well as common terminology associated with AC systems. This way, you’ll get a better idea of what’s wrong with your unit. You’ll also be able to more accurately describe anything odd that you may have noticed.

#6. Have Your Pets and Children in Another Room

Don’t have everyone hover over the technicians while they’re performing the service. This could distract them and cause them to take a much longer time than necessary. Make sure that you have your pets and children in another room to avoid any issues. It’s also a good idea to let other family members know when the technician will arrive. This way, they can plan their day accordingly. An AC service can get quite loud depending on where you are in the house.

If your pets hate being stuck in one room, you might want to ask a family member or a friend to free up some time during the day to take them on a walk. If no one’s available, you might even want to call a pet sitter to come keep your furry friends company.

#7. Bring Up Issues

If you’ve noticed that your AC system makes a weird sound at certain times or if you’ve noticed that it doesn’t cool as efficiently as before, you should bring it up during the service. In fact, bring up as many issues as possible, so that the technician has a good idea of what could be wrong.

To help the technician out, keep a record and log of what you’ve noticed prior to the service. The more information that you’ve collected, the better. Your data could really help the technician figure out what’s wrong with your unit, especially if it’s doing something that’s out of character.

#8. Ask About the Procedures and Policies

With COVID-19, some HVAC companies have new policies and procedures. For example, some companies may require all members within the household to wear face masks while they’re talking to the technicians. Or, the HVAC companies may require that all customers pay with credit card over the phone or online through the bank rather than with cash.

To make sure that you are fully prepared for whatever new policies and procedures have been enacted, speak with the technician or a representative of the company ahead of time. Make sure that you are well aware of any changes that may have been made or anything that the company may need from you.

For example, some HVAC companies may ask that you maintain social distance from the technicians while they are working. In these situations, you might want to send the company a list of the concerns that you’d like them to go over ahead of time. This way, you won’t have to shout at the technician when they’re in your home.

Call Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air for an Air Conditioning Service in Cleveland, TN

It’s a good idea to call a professional to complete an air conditioning service in Cleveland, TN once a year. If once a year is too much for you, you can consider getting a service once every two years. By servicing your AC unit regularly, you can rest assured that it is in as good of a condition as possible. Your unit will require fewer repairs and will have a much longer life.

There are many HVAC companies that serve Cleveland, TN; however, one of the best and most reputable companies in this area is Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air. We offer a wide range of HVAC services, including air conditioning services. We can walk you through the entire process, so that there are no surprises on the day of.