Residential AC Maintenance Service in North Central Illinois Area
Once an air conditioner has been properly installed, regular servicing is needed to ensure optimal performance of the system. In addition to duct cleaning, fan and blower blades must also be cleaned. All moving or rotating parts also need to be lubricated to reduce friction. If there are worn out parts, replacement should be done. Every couple of months, the air filter in your AC should be replaced, or at least cleaned and refitted. These measures will help to improve indoor air quality, eliminate unusual noises emanating from the AC, increase the energy efficiency of the air conditioning system and extend the lifespan of the AC unit. Our technicians are well-trained, experienced and certified to handle any type of residential air conditioning service. Call Town & Country Services today for the most reliable AC service.
Benefits of Annual Air Conditioner Maintenance
Part of the process towards having a well maintained AC is choosing the right maintenance contractor. You need to hire a company with a great reputation and experience in servicing a wide range of different systems. Choose an experienced contractor with highly trained competent professionals. Town & Country is a family owned business that has been in the industry since 1919 and strives to provide professional services to each customer. Each and every client is treated with the highest regard and services offered according to their unique requirements.
A Guide to Energy-Efficient Cooling (from Energy Star)
The average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills, with nearly half of this going to heating and cooling costs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can help you make smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that can help save on energy costs, improve your overall comfort at home, and help fight global warming.
Did you know the energy used in the average house is responsible for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as the average car?
When power plants burn fossil fuels to make electricity, they release greenhouse gases. By using less energy at home, you help reduce the emissions that contribute to global warming. ENERGY STAR is the government-backed program that helps us all save money and protect our environment with energy-efficient products and
practices. Whether you are looking for recommendations about energy-efficient equipment, getting a quality installation, HVAC maintenance, or ways to make your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently, EPA's ENERGY STAR program can help.
Consider Making a Change if Any of the Following Statements Apply
Some of your rooms are too hot or cold. Inadequate air sealing or insufficient insulation could be the cause. No matter how efficient your heating and cooling system is, if your home is not properly sealed and insulated, you will not be as comfortable and your system will have to work harder.
Your home has humidity problems, excessive dust, or rooms that never seem to get comfortable. Leaky or poorly insulated ductwork might be the cause.
Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up. In addition to the rise in energy costs, the age and condition of your heating and cooling equipment may have caused it to become less efficient.
Your heating and cooling equipment is more than 10 years old. Consider replacing it with newer, more efficient equipment. And remember, high efficiency levels begin with ENERGY STAR.
You leave your thermostat set at one constant temperature. You could be missing a great energy-saving opportunity. You can set a programmable thermostat to adjust your home’s temperature at times when you’re regularly away or sleeping.
You used EPA’s ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick (www.energystar.gov/yardstick) to compare your household’s energy use to others across the country and your score is below five. That means you’re using and paying for more energy at home than most Americans. Visit the ENERGY STAR Home Advisor (www.energystar.gov/homeadvisor) to get recommendations for home improvement projects that will increase your score by improving your home’s energy efficiency and comfort.
Maintain Your Equipment
Dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating and cooling system inefficiency and failure. To ensure efficient system operation, it’s important to perform routine maintenance.
Change your air filter regularly. A clean filter will prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system, which can lead to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure. Check your filter every month, especially during winter and summer months, when use tends to be heavier. Change your filter if it's dirty— or at least every three months.
Tune up your HVAC equipment. Proper maintenance by a qualified technician is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent future problems. Contractors get busy during summer and winter months, so it is best to check the cooling system in spring and the heating system in the fall. Plan the checkups around the beginning and end of daylight-saving time each spring and fall.
Overall AC System Maintenance Checklist
Check thermostat settings to ensure the heating and cooling system turns on and off at the programmed temperatures.
Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause your system to operate unsafely and reduce the life of major components.
Lubricate moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increase the amount of electricity you use. Lack of lubrication can also cause equipment to wear out more quickly, requiring more frequent repairs
or replacements.Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). If plugged, the drain can cause water damage in the house, affect indoor humidity levels, and
breed bacteria and mold.Check system controls to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
Inspect, clean, or change the air filter in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Depending on your system, your filter may be located in the duct system versus the heating and cooling equipment itself.
Clean indoor and outdoor coils before warm weather starts. A dirty coil reduces the system’s ability to cool your home and causes the system to run longer, increasing your energy costs and shortening the life of your equipment.
Check your central air conditioner’s refrigerant charge and adjust it if necessary to make sure it meets manufacturer specifications. Too much or too little refrigerant charge can damage the compressor, reducing the life of your equipment and increasing costs.
Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow. Proper airflow over the indoor coil is necessary for efficient equipment operation and reliability.