The best time of year for an air conditioner inspection tune-up is in the spring. Your HVAC pro is more likely to catch a small issue before it becomes a major problem when temperatures rise.
Schedule AC maintenance with a local pro
It’s best to schedule routine HVAC maintenance with a local pro twice a year. In between those visits, however, you can complete DIY AC inspections. Our HVAC Maintenance Guide walks you through a monthly air conditioner inspection checklist.
AC inspection checklist
What is an air conditioning inspection? During your preventative maintenance tune-up, your technician thoroughly inspects your cooling system. All components are examined to ensure they are in good working order.
Then, maintenance is performed to undo the damaging effects of seasonal wear and tear. Cleaning each area, tightening bolts, and lubricating parts can prevent major malfunctions.
This twice-yearly maintenance helps your AC perform at its best. Better performance enhances comfort inside the home with reliable cooling and more consistent temperatures. You’ll benefit from lower energy consumption (which supports lower utility bills!) and an extended lifespan of the system.
What’s on the air conditioner checklist?
Your air conditioner inspection includes the following checks and maintenance tasks:
- Cleaning of the evaporator and condenser coils to improve energy efficiency and heat transfer
- Refrigerant level testing and adjustment if needed to ensure your system has the proper amount of refrigerant for efficient operation
- Blower component testing and adjustment to deliver proper airflow through the cooling system
- Thermostat inspection to ensure proper communication with your air conditioner
- Electrical connection inspection and tightening to ensure motor voltage and current are correct, and secure electrical connections that improve safety and protect system components from damage
- Lubrication of moving parts in the blower motor to reduce friction, lowering electricity consumption
- Condensate drain inspection to ensure your drip pan and condensate drain lines are undamaged and draining properly to prevent water damage and excess humidity in the home
- System control check to make sure your cooling system safely runs and that the cooling cycle stages are accurate
Homeowner DIY AC inspection
In addition to professional air conditioner maintenance, a homeowner’s air conditioning inspection checklist includes steps you need to take throughout the summer to ensure your air conditioner works at its best.
- Check furnace filters monthly. It’s easy for your furnace filter to become clogged with contaminants over the summer, because your system is in frequent use. Take a look at the filter each month to determine if an early change is necessary.
- Improve airflow through the home. Inspect all registers. Ensure louvers are set to open. Keep all furniture, rugs, and other household items from blocking the registers to allow proper airflow through your cooling system and home.
- Clean your condenser. The outdoor unit is exposed to lawn debris, leaves, twigs, and more. Every time you mow, brush away any buildup that has accumulated. Clear away any vegetation growing against your outdoor air conditioning unit.
- Reset your thermostat for summer. Household schedules often change in the summertime, so ensure your programmable thermostat has accurate and efficient set points for the cooling season.
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