26 point air con check list

An Air Comfort Systems Maintenance Visit is definitely needed sometime during the air conditioning season, and should be scheduled during any season the air conditioner normally operates. (an outdoor temperature of at least 65 degrees is required)  If your air conditioner receives regular maintenance by a skilled Air Comfort technician, it should keep cooling reliably throughout the summer..  Here's what we check -- "bargain" tuneups just don't compare!

1	Check Expansion Valve	The Expansion Valve is a device that is used to meter the amount of refrigerant that runs through the system.  It is important that the sensing probe is not corroded or misaligned and that the tube connecting the valve to the sensing bulb is not kinked.	BENEFITS:  Keeps the system cooling at peak efficiency, providing comfort and economy of operation..
2	Inspect and Clean Evaporator Drain	A clogged evaporator drain can cause water damage to the furnace as well as affect indoor humidity levels.	BENEFITS:  Extends the life of the system and promotes comfort.
3	Check and Adjust Bypass Humidifier Dampers	Open bypass dampers allow cold air to go through humidifier and back into the furnace.  If the damper is open, it will lower the air conditioner's efficiency and can contribute to a frozen A-Coil, which means no cooling from the unit. (These dampers should be closed in summer and opened in winter.)	BENEFITS: Prevents costly service calls and allows for maximum cooling.
4	Check Thermostat Operation	An improperly working thermostat can call for more or less cooling than you desire.	BENEFITS: Saves money, increases comfort.
5	Check Thermostat Selector	The Thermostat Selector controls the heat/cool switch in the thermostat.  If the selector is loose, or has begun to develop burnt contacts, it could contribute to a no-cool or no-heat situation.	BENEFITS: Prevents costly service calls.
6	Check Circuit Breaker	We check for excessive corrosion, and over-heating of the fuse or breaker.  We also check for proper breaker labeling, as required by the National Electric Code	BENEFITS: Prevents costly service calls, and prevents system failure. Helps prevent fires.
7	Check Temperature Across the Evaporator	We measure the actual degrees of temperature drop throughout your system.  This assists our technician in pinpointing whether or not your system is actually cooling to its full capacity.	BENEFITS:  Assures that the system is operating correctly and efficiently.
8	Clean and Check Condensor Cabinet	We check the condensor cabinet for signs of damage, i.e. a broken fan guard could hinder air through the coil and also allow children dangerous access to the moving fan and open electrical components.	BENEFITS: Determines that a unit is safe to operate and is working at its peak efficiency.
9	Clean Condensor Drain Pan	The condensor drain pan has several small drain holes in the bottom of the pan.  Leaves and other foreign debris can close these holes, allowing the pan to fill with water.  The water then can cover the refrigeration lines, coils, and even the bottom of the compressor motor, which can contribute to a shorter life of the air conditioning unit and expensive breakdowns..	BENEFITS:  Prevents system damage and costly repairs.
10	Check Fins on Outside Condensor	By checking the fins on your unit, our technician can ensure peak air flow through your unit..	BENEFITS:  Saves money, extends the life of your coils. Maximizes your unit's cooling  capacity
11	Clean Condensor Coil	Foreign material on the condensor coil reduces the system's capacity to remove heat from the house.	BENEFITS: The coil is cleaned from the inside out.  Saves money, extends system life.
12	Check and Oil Condensor Fan Motor	Most fan motors have oil ports to provide lubrication to keep the unit from unusual wear and tear through normal usage.	BENEFITS:  Lubrication of the outside fan unit will extend its life.
13	Check Voltage and Amperage on Motors	Improper voltage and amperage can significantly reduce the life of the compressor, capacitors, and contactors.	BENEFITS:  Extends electrical component life, saves money, and eliminates repairs.
14	Check Fan Blades for Tightness and Pitch	If the fan blade is loose, or at the wrong pitch, the motor could be turning at the right speed, but the fan might not be running at the propere RPMs (revolutions per minute).  This would cause the unit to run hot and not cool the house properly.  It would also shorten the life of the fan motor.	BENEFITS:  Extends component life, saves money, and prevents repairs and noisy operation.
15	Check Start and Run Relays and Contactors.	Ensures that system will start and operate when needed.	BENEFITS:  Prevents future service calls under crisis situations.
16	Check Temperature Across Condensor Coils	Improper refrigerant charge (too much or too little) could damage the compressor and would cause high electric bills through a curtailment of the system's efficiency.	BENEFITS:  Saves money and conserves energy, prevents possible system damage.
17	Check Wiring Assembly	Loose connections cause improper voltage to various components, making them either inoperative or causing eventual failure.	BENEFITS:  Extends life of system, ensures safety.
18	Check Head Pressure	Like blood pressure in the human heart, if the Head Pressure in the air conditioning system gets too high, it can damage the valves that operate the system.	BENEFITS:  Extends the life of the system, helps prevent expensive repairs.
19	Check Refrigerant Lines	Refrigerant lines outside the home can be damaged by children standing on them. Lines should be checked for dents and kinks. Interior line insulation should be checked for proper coverage to prevent condensation from damaging furnishings, ceilings and walls.	BENEFITS:  Helps prevent system failure and damage to property.  Saves money and provides for maximum cooling from the unit.
20	Check Furnace Blower	Proper speed and air movement of blower cage are necessary for adequate air flow.	BENEFITS:  Reduces costly service calls, saves money on utility costs.
21	Check Safety Pressure Sensors	Essential for proper protection of the system..	BENEFITS:  Extends system life, reduces the need for costly service calls.
22	Add Up to One Pound of Refrigerant at No Extra Charge, to Balance the System.	This will normally cost between $50 and $100 if you were to call one of our competitors.  **NOTE** On July 1, 1992, a federal law went into effect preventing contractors from adding refrigerant to air conditioning systems with suspected or a history of leaks.  The unit must first be repaired or replaced before any refrigerant can be added.  This law was put into effect to prevent damage to the Earth's ozone layer.	BENEFITS: Proper refrigerant charge assures comfort while extending the life of your compressor.
23	Provide Free Disposable (1" thick) Filter (Where Applicable)	A dirty air filter can reduce the air flow over the evaporator coil, resulting in inadequate cooling of your home.  Dirty air filters are a major cause of increased utility bills.	BENEFITS:  Extended blower life, improved performance and efficiency.
24	Duct Inspection	Just as hardening of the arteries can damage the human body through a stroke, dirt buildup in the heating and cooling duct work will limit air movement and can severely choke the system. The A-coil has only 1/16" of air clearance, and can easily become plugged with dirt from dirty ducts.  Dirty air conditioning coils drastically affect the efficiency of the cooling system and shorten system life.	BENEFITS:  The cleaner the duct system, the healthier the home, and the longer your equipment will last.
25	Make Final Operation Check	Before we leave, we check all of our work to make certain that everything is working just the way it should.	BENEFITS:  If you, the customer are completely satisfied with the work that we performed and will happily use us again and refer us to your friends.;
26	Advise Customer of Results of Check	We believe that the customer is the most important part of our business.  We make special efforts to advise you of the current condition of your cooling system.  We believe that our customers want to know, and it's our job to provide them with this information.	BENEFITS:  You are aware of the operating condition of your heating and cooling system.  This knowledge allows you to gauge effectiveness, efficiency and potential need for repair or replacement in the future.  Minimizes unexpected expenses.