Professional AC Maintenance: What’s Included?

Have you ever had maintenance completed on your home’s cooling system only to wonder what is included with it and if it was done properly? Most people are familiar with air filter replacements, but certified technicians can provide a whole lot more with a dedicated, professional AC maintenance service. A biannual visit from a heating and cooling system technician can provide preventive care and help maintain your central AC’s cooling efficiency.

Since 2007, Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric has provided AC maintenance services in thousands of homes in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Our technicians are familiar with all of the top central cooling system brands to provide the best preventative services possible.

• Testing the AC’s energy efficiency
• Replacing the air filter(s)
• Checking refrigerant levels
• Cleaning the outdoor unit
• Inspecting the condition of the ductwork
• Check the condition of the wiring
• Tighten any loose screws and connections
• Applying lubricant to the bearings as needed

The list may seem long, but we’ll summarize and explain what each maintenance is. By the end of this article, you’ll gain a better understanding of the services professional technicians offer for air conditioner maintenance so that you can find a business that only has your AC’s best interests in mind.

Let’s jump right in!

What to Expect with Professional AC Maintenance?

Depending on several factors, expect to pay between $70 and $200 for professional air conditioning system maintenance. Regardless of which technician you choose to perform maintenance on your AC, you should expect high-quality services and an easy-to-understand breakdown of what was completed and whether any repairs are needed.

Whether you’ve already booked an appointment or are preparing to book one, it helps to gather a few information about your AC for the technician. Knowing the answers to how old your AC is, where it’s located, and when was the last time it was serviced can help your technician better prepare for a visit.

All the services below are what’s usually included in professional AC maintenance, but they can vary from company to company. Always be sure to ask about what services are included in cooling system maintenance, especially a cooling test.

Cooling Test for Air Conditioners

A cooling test is standard in professional AC maintenance and helps a technician determine if the unit is charged correctly and properly cooling a home. A technician will use a special set of tools to read the temperature of an air conditioner near the vents and return the vent to see if it’s operating at full efficiency.

This type of test within a maintenance check can help shed light on any potential issues with an air conditioner. For example, if a homeowner reports that parts of a home aren’t receiving enough cool air, then the technician can run a cooling efficiency test to confirm any difference in temperature readings.

Either before or after performing a cooling efficiency test, the technician can replace the central AC’s air filters.

Air Filter Replacement for Air Conditioners

Replacing an air filter can take about 5 to 15 minutes for a technician to complete. The short time it takes to replace can end up preventing hours and money necessary to complete any repairs if the filter replacement was neglected. Failing to replace air filters can lead to early breakdowns and loss of energy and cooling efficiency.

Air filters should be replaced either monthly or every three months. It’s recommended that you ask a technician performing AC maintenance to show you how to replace your air filter between their yearly visits. Air filter replacements are simple and one of the few DIY AC maintenance tips available.

When technicians replace air filters as part of their AC maintenance, they will often use standard filter replacements. For an extra fee, technicians can offer other types of filters.

• Filters for people with Asthma
• Homes with pets
• People with allergies

Air conditioners rely on air filters to capture contaminants but also on refrigerant to produce cool air. Luckily, one of the professional AC maintenance tasks is inspecting refrigerant levels.

Check Refrigerant Levels

Professional air conditioning system maintenance will also include checking the refrigerant levels to ensure they’re up to the manufacturer’s standards. From Lennox to Goodman , every heating and cooling system brand has similar specifications for refrigerant levels.

Technicians use pressure gauges to check the refrigerant levels in an AC unit. The results can determine whether the refrigerant levels are okay or low. Air conditioners continuously reuse refrigerant for the cooling process, and if the levels are low, it could indicate a leak somewhere along the system.

After confirming that the refrigerant levels are below the required specifications, the technician may begin to identify where the possible leak is located. If the refrigerant levels are fine, then the tech can proceed to the next maintenance service, which is cleaning the outdoor unit.

Clean the Outdoor Unit

As part of their professional maintenance, technicians dedicate some time to cleaning and washing the outdoor unit of a central air conditioning system where the condenser is housed. Although the unit is designed to handle outside weather conditions, it is still susceptible to getting dirty.

To clean the outdoor unit, technicians power off the entire AC system. They then remove the top cover of the unit and use a brush and vacuum to remove any dust, dirt, and debris that has accumulated there over time. Sometimes wiping the unit is enough if its maintenance has been kept up.

The interior of the outdoor unit is then sprayed with a coil cleaner. After 10 to 15 minutes, the technician will use a hose to rinse off the cleaner’s foam. Once the components dry, the technician will screw the top cover back on and move on to the next part of AC maintenance.

Inspect Ductwork

Technicians inspect the ductwork to ensure it’s in good working condition and to find any underlying issues, such as leaks or airflow obstructions. It’s common for ductwork to get dirty with dust and other debris throughout the year.

Some heating and cooling companies offer ductwork cleaning services as part of their maintenance, while others can include them for an extra charge. After the inspection, the technician will inform the homeowner about the condition of the ductwork and recommend any future service.

Besides checking the condition of the ductwork, technicians will also check the air conditioner wiring.

Check Wiring

Another duty included in professional service involves a technician checking the wiring of the AC unit. Air conditioners run on electricity, so technicians dedicate time to checking the wiring, capacitors, and access panels to ensure they’re in good condition. It’s common for technicians to dust off the connections and wiring.

Technicians measure the voltage of the wires as well, ensuring that the AC is receiving enough power per the manufacturer’s recommendations. While inspecting the wires, the technician will also look for any loose screws and connections.

Tighten Connections and Loose Screws

Air conditioners have plenty of screws, connections, and fittings that technicians check during maintenance to confirm they’re tight and not loose. Any loose connections are tightened, or new screws are added to prevent any air leaks.

As the screws are tightened and the connections are secured, technicians will also apply any lubricant to the bearings of an air conditioner.

Apply Lubricant to Bearings

Technicians will also pay attention to the central AC’s bearings by applying lubricant and checking to ensure they’re not worn out. Lubricants specifically made for air conditioner components help prevent friction and slow down wear and tear.

Bearings without lubrication have a higher chance of wearing out and may cause the motor of the air conditioner’s fans to overheat. Applying lubricant is just one of the many different services completed through maintenance that can extend the lifespan of an air conditioner.

Professional AC Maintenance: Next Steps

Professional maintenance encompasses many things, from replacing air filters to lubricating bearings. Now that you know what services are included in professional maintenance, you can feel more confident knowing that your home’s air conditioning system is being taken care of.

Whether it’s a routine maintenance check or a complex AC repair, our technicians at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric have years of experience in servicing cooling systems throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. We have worked with hundreds of air conditioners in all sorts of conditions and know how vital AC maintenance can be when it comes to keeping homes cool during triple-digit-degree weather.

If you’re interested in learning more about professional AC maintenance services, contact us using one of the buttons below. You can also book an appointment directly through our online HVAC scheduler.

Air conditioning system maintenance should be scheduled before the start of the heating and cooling seasons (winter and summer). In between technician visits, you can do some DIY AC maintenance. But how does DIY AC maintenance differ from professional services? Read this article on DIY versus professional AC maintenance to learn more.