Knowing how your entire HVAC system will help you to understand how necessary it is to keep regular maintenance on it throughout its lifespan. Your HVAC system must be maintained correctly in order for you to gain the full benefits of a fresh, clean, healthy air flow with lower utility bills. Here are the three primary workings that work together in your HVAC system.

The Indoor Unit And Thermostat

For cooling your air the indoor unit has to draw air from the house through the filter. The air is then passed over the coils which are filled depending on your system type with super-cooled refrigerant. The heat from the air in your house is drawn into the refrigerant and those temperature changes cause condensation and moisture in the air. This condensation drips off the coils into a drain pan and down into a drain pump that moves the water outside down a drain tube.

For heating your air the indoor unit has to draw air from the house through the same filter again. The air is then passed over the coils to be dehumidified but it is not cooled. Then it goes into a chamber to be heated by an electric heating element or a gas flame depends on the type you have.

The thermostat is the device that communicates to the unit when to cycle on and deliver the right temperature air. Older thermostats are mercury-switch thermostats and are highly inefficient and unreliable. Newer digital models will better maintain the Indoor Weather and save you more money. The programmable thermostats that we provide for you even have more features these days.

The Outdoor Unit

The refrigerant that is used in the indoor unit to cool the air is sent and stored from the outside unit. After used, the warm refrigerant returns to the outdoor unit’s condenser coils through the refrigerant pump to be cooled again. The fan, with its fan motor, blows air on it and cools it down which you see rotating in the unit. The aluminum finned blades of the fan allow maximum airflow and heat transfer to cool the refrigerant. That is why the outside unit needs free airflow to the fan, motor and coils to operate efficiently.

The Duct System Provides Ventilation

When the air is the right temperature according to the thermostat you programmed and has done its whole process described above, the air then travels through your ducts. The duct work helps to remove stale air and odors from normal indoor and outdoor contaminants depending on what is involved with your system. There are new products out there that you can add to your system to help kill more bacteria and pollen that come into your home but the ducts are the minimum of the process. The air passed through the ducts is then exited out of all of your vents with its controlled temperature, humidity and cleanliness depending on maintenance and efficiency of your system.

Your electrical breakers in your home are a safety device designed to keep from electrical overloads that could cause fires. Some reasons why your breaker trips are, bad weather or a weak breaker. If it continues to trip after you turn it on then leave if off, this could be a serious problem that needs to be repaired.

Keep in mind that you are dealing with electrical components so it is safer to use a professional, an Indoor Weather Professional that is!

Here are a few common causes of a breaker tripping through your AC:

Loss of refrigerant

Dirty furnace filterFrozen evaporator coil

Bad compressor

Worn circuit breaker

Some of these parts cause the breaker to trip because they are working harder to achieve the same results, causing extra load on the entire system making the breaker incapable to handle it. A tip to start would be to replace the furnace filter so you are not restricting the air flow over the coils. If the problem continues to occur the best thing to do is call a professional because the most likely cause of this would be a decrease in refrigerant.

Do not ignore these electrical problems because it will only cause more of a problem and more of a hole in your wallet.

Here are some proper ways to elongate your homes Air Conditioning unit. Following these suggestions will help to maintain your unit to operate longer than the typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

Give it a Rest

When you plan to leave your home make sure your AC is turned off because systems that run all day tend to wear down quicker. When you leave make sure your thermostat is set to about 5 to 7 degrees over room temperature to keep the system on but not in the cooling down mode. Another suggestion would be to completely turn off your system at night and open a few windows and a fan to circulate.

Leaks Checks

Once a year you should call a technician to come look for leaks. Our Service Agreement is a simple way to pay a cheaper fee and not have to worry because we will give you a call to remind you. When there are leaks in your unit it will start to decrease the power and eventually breakdown causing a larger financial problem. Maintenance checkups will ensure that your system will not breakdown, like at a serious times like in the middle of Texas summers.

Outdoor Unit Cleaning

Your outside unit of your whole system, the condenser, contains a fan or compressor with a motor.  So being that it’s outside, you need to keep it clean from nature’s debris.  Exposed parts like that can easily be washed down with a water hose causing less of a chance of mechanical failure.

Check your Airflow

Proper airflow throughout your ducts is very important to ensure that your system is working as manufactured. You should not have any type of furniture blocking the registers and air returns in your house. The same type of blockage also comes from dirty filters, so make sure to change those frequently.

By signing up with our Service Agreement you will see a change in the quality of your system and a decrease in your wallet by avoiding any big expensive fixes!