Air conditioners fail on the hottest day of the year because that is the day they work hardest. Most of those failures start as a dirty coil or a slightly low charge that a spring tune-up would have caught for a fraction of the emergency cost.
Coil cleaning
The outdoor condenser coil collects cottonwood, dust, and grass clippings all summer. The indoor evaporator coil collects dust that gets past the filter. Dirty coils cannot move heat, so the system runs longer for less cooling and the compressor works under strain. Cleaning both is the core of a tune-up.
Refrigerant check
A system low on refrigerant cools poorly, freezes the evaporator coil, and can burn out the compressor. Refrigerant does not get used up, so a low charge means a leak. Catching it early means a small repair and a top-off instead of a compressor replacement.
Filters and airflow
A clogged filter starves the system of airflow, freezes the coil, and lets dust through to the evaporator. Change filters monthly in heavy use. During the tune-up we also check the blower, the ductwork connections, and the condensate drain, which clogs with algae and overflows into the furnace or the ceiling below.
Electrical and safety
Capacitors weaken with age and heat, and a weak capacitor is the most common reason an AC hums but will not start. Contactors pit and stick. We test both, tighten connections, and check the disconnect so a small part does not take the whole system down in July.
The math
A tune-up costs about the same every year. An emergency call in a heat wave costs more, comes with a wait, and often involves a part that failed because of a problem maintenance would have caught. A clean, properly charged system also uses less electricity every hour it runs.
Need a hand with this?
Central air and ductless mini splits. Repairs, tune-ups, and new installations before the Chicago summer hits.
AC Repair & Installation in Chicago
