What Do We Check During an AC Tune-Up?

  When we send someone into your home for an AC tune-up, you can rest assured knowing you’re getting the best in the business. At Moore Home Services, we train our technicians that no two air conditioners are the same. Every single one has its own life, and therefore, its own quirks. This is the biggest reason we recommend two HVAC tune-ups per year. We want our customers to stay cool comfortable all year long and above all, we want them to be safe and for their HVAC systems to be efficient. That’s why our techs break every bit of the inspection into 3 key parts: inspection, cleaning, and testing.

AC Tune-Up Inspection:

Fan Blade for Balance

 

• Without a fan, where would the air go? It would just hang there and not be pulled or pushed anywhere. This makes the fan blade an essential part of any AC system.As most of us know, fans spin, and anything that constantly spins needs to be balanced. An improperly balanced fan can cause significant damage to the refrigerant line, aluminum parts, or, in some cases, it could completely fall off.We balance your fan blade by adjusting its weight. All fan blades have weights in them, and our techs will adjust as necessary to make sure everything is spinning as it should.

Duct Supply and Return

 

• All HVAC systems recycle air that’s already in your home. This air needs to have an exit and entry point, that’s why your home has supply and return ducts. Supply ducts guide air to the HVAC system while Return ducts push air back into the home.These ducts need to be free and clear of any obstructions so air can flow freely through your home. A Moore Home Services HVAC tech will inspect the ducts to make sure nothing is blocking your airflow.

Indoor Coil and Blower Assembly

 

• Even when it’s hot out, your furnace is doing a lot of work. All central heating and cooling systems have two main parts: an outside condenser and an inside furnace. Both parts have coils and both coils need to be checked.Your HVAC system has two coils. One located outside in the condenser and one inside with your furnace. During an AC tune-up, our techs will take apart your furnace and give the indoor coil a professional cleaning and in-depth inspection. While your furnace is open, our techs will look at your blower assembly. The blower assembly gives treated air the extra push it needs to be distributed through your home.

Bearings for Wear

 

• Fans work best when they have a smooth rotation. For condensers, bearings are needed to keep the fan smooth and steady. However, these little devices need to be oiled in order to work properly. During an AC tune-up, your tech will check the bearings and give them some oil.

Electrical Connection

 

• If you’ve ever stood outside and listened to your condenser, you can tell there’s a lot of vibrating going on in that appliance. It’s not surprising some wires can come loose after a season of use followed by a season of wind and rain. Our techs make sure to check every electrical connection and verify it’s working correctly.

Refrigerant line

 

• Without refrigerant like Freon, there would be no cooled air in your home. Refrigerant can be in gas or liquid form, and it’s supplied to your system from a single line. During the tune-up, our techs will make sure there are no bends or breaks in your line.

Heat Exchanger

   

• Even though the heat exchanger isn’t used during the summer season, we’ll still check it out. We want to be sure your heat exchanger made it through the winter and is ready for the next fall and winter. This could be an expensive repair, so we’ll want you to know the status of the part sooner rather than later.

Clean:

Condenser Coil

 

• When it comes to cleaning, Moore Home Services promises a professional service and our techs will not disappoint. We recommend leaving your condenser uncovered during the winter, which means it’s subject to the elements. In Santa Rosa we don’t need to worry too much about winter weather, when we clean your condenser, we’re making sure it’s free from leaves, dirt and other debris.

HVAC Air Filter

 

• Any HVAC air filter has two big jobs. One is to keep your family safe from harmful air contaminates. The second is to keep your furnace from getting too dusty. We recommend changing your air filter twice per year, and during a tune-up we are happy to take care of that for you.Our technicians carry a standard 1” filter on their truck. They will also thoroughly wash and dry any washable filters you may have. Do you have a filter preference? That’s all good, just make sure to tell our tech and give them the filter you want replaced.

Condensate Drain

 

• The air cooling process creates a lot of condensation. Modern AC systems are designed to drain that condensation through a drain. On average, your condenser can create up to 5 gallons of condensation every day it’s in use. Hence the reason it’s necessary to have a clear and functional drain.

Outside Condenser

 

• When it comes to your HVAC system, the condenser is front and center. After all, it is part of your landscaping. We believe it should be treated as something to be looked at. That’s why we clean it from the inside out and put a nice wax over the outside. It has the same effect as waxing your car. This mixture helps keep your condenser bright and shiny.

Test and Measure:

Electrical Wiring

 

• Remember the electrical wiring we mentioned above? Once our techs put it all in place, they’ll make sure to test everything they can. This ensures your electric is ready for the warm summer ahead. Our techs are equipped to fix any electric on the slight chance something isn’t working.

Thermostat Evaluation

 

• Your thermostat is like the remote control of your entire HVAC system. After testing the electric, the next step is to test the thermostat. Our techs will make sure your HVAC system can properly read and understand all thermostat settings. And they’ll even replace the batteries for you.

Metering Services/TXV

 

• Thermal expansion belt, or TXV, is a small part that has a lot of responsibility. Sometimes called metering service, the TXV will regulate how much liquid or gas refrigerant is coming into your system.Just like most other things, your AC should only be operating at full blast when you tell it to. The AC unit needs to correspond to settings programmed on the thermostat. The TXV makes sure your condenser is only getting what it needs. When it’s working properly, this helps preserve your refrigerant supply and stops unnecessary wear and tear on your system.

Service Valve Operation

• Just like your car has a tire pressure gauge, your compressor has something similar. It’s called a service valve and our techs check it during a tune-up. When they check it, they’re making sure no gas or refrigerant is leaking out of it. They’ll test it with an electronic sniffer or soap bubbles. Our techs are also outfitted with replacement valves so they can be repaired on the spot.

Safety Devices Operation

• One of the best things about newer HVAC parts is that they’re outfitted with new and improved safety devices and sensors. These devices and sensors can go so far as to turn off the entire system if something is unsafe.A great example of this is the condensation drain. When the drain line backs up it leads to machine damage and drywall damage. To stop this from happening, a safety sensor will turn off the entire system.Safety is top of mind for our techs, so they make extra sure your safety sensors are working.

Refrigerant Charge Evaluation

 

• If your condenser is a heart, refrigerant is the blood. And your condenser can have problems with high and low blood pressure. This is where the refrigerant charge comes in.Getting too much refrigerant is akin to having high blood pressure. It forces the system to work overtime and puts too much stress on it. Not enough refrigerant and the system isn’t working as well as it could. It’s not keeping things cool. The refrigerant charge makes sure the condenser gets the right amount of refrigerant.

Primary Motor Control Operation

• Every condenser has a primary motor that keeps it going. And just like most other things, that motor has a lifespan. During a tune-up, a Moore Home Services tech will conduct a quick visual inspection to see if the motor still has some life left.The techs are on the hunt for soot remains and charred surfaces. These are little signals that the motor may need to be replaced. Catching a small problem before it becomes a big one can save you from a big headache.

Fan Motor Amperage and Voltage

• The fan in your condenser should always be at a specific amperage and voltage level. When a fan motor is running too fast or to slow, it could be an indicator that it needs to be replaced. Every one of our techs has a special meter that will let them know the exact amperage and voltage of your fan motor.

Secondary Motor Control Operation

• The whole system needs electricity to run, and that’s where the secondary motor control comes in. This motor control regulates the electricity that’s used by your condenser. It releases the proper amount of electricity at the right time to power everything forward.We like to test the secondary motor control because it’s an easy fix. When left unchecked, the secondary motor control can damage the compressor and the fan, both of which can be relatively expensive.

Compressor Amperage Draw and Voltage

• Just like the fan motor, the compressor needs to be operating at specific, manufacturer provided draw and amperage levels. When these levels are left to run wild, you’re stuck with larger than normal utility bills.

Temperature Difference at Supply and Return

 

• For the last part of our AC tune-up, we need to come in your home. This is because our techs check the temperatures at your supply and return vents. There should be a specific temperature difference between the supply and return vent.

We Offer the Best AC Tune-Up Santa Rosa Has to Offer

Moore Home Services is a Diamond Certified company that proudly serves our Santa Rosa, Sonoma, and North Bay communities. We understand the critical need for air conditioning and the need for a great AC tune-up. That’s why we employ only the best HVAC technicians who are expertly trained, friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Moore Home Services is Diamond Certified and proudly serves our Santa Rosa community. To schedule an appointment, call the number at the bottom of the screen or click here to book online.