Air conditioners are considered to be luxuries in some parts of the country, offering relief from those slightly warmer days. However, they can be mandatory in other parts of the country, where triple-digit temperatures are more common. One thing that remains the same regardless of where you live is your air conditioner should be regularly serviced and maintained. The technician should go through the AC system before you use it each year. This article covers things done during maintenance appointments and explains why they're so important.

Things that happen during the maintenance appointment

Cleaning

The fan and compressor motor can burn out if not properly cared for. The technician will clean and lubricate them to keep them running right. They'll also clean the condensation pan and drain to avoid future clogs and overflow issues. 

Inspection

The technician will check the air conditioning components to verify nothing's wrong. Some of these include:

• Thermostat
• Refrigerant level
• Condenser
• Blower
• Evaporator coils
• Electrical connections
• Wiring
• Drain
• Condensation pan
• Ducts
• Air filter

Servicing 

The technician may make some adjustments to the system. Some of these can include: 

• Adding more refrigerant if the levels are low
• Tightening components and connections as necessary
• Recalibrating the thermostat as needed
• Replacing a dirty air filter

Why routine maintenance is so important

Your air conditioning system may have worked fine when you last used it. However, as it sits unused for the rest of the year, things can happen inside it. Dust can accumulate, and moisture can enter certain areas. These can cause components to stick or to have damage from moisture. Rodents can even enter the system. Rodents can chew on wires, belts, and hoses. These are just some examples of how things can change from when you last used the AC to now. 

It isn't a good idea to run your air conditioning where there are problems with it. However, if you aren't having it serviced and maintained, then you won't realize there are problems. If you unknowingly use the system, you can force it to work with worn or broken parts. Additional stress would then be placed on good components, which can cause them to break. You may face much larger repair bills because you used the AC without having a technician go through it. The damage may be so significant you need to replace the whole air conditioning.

To get started, contact an air conditioning maintenance service in your area.