Maintenance Tips to Cut Down on Air Conditioning Repair in Tampa FL

Any air conditioner will sooner or later require repair. Proper air conditioning maintenance is needed in order to cut down on air conditioning repair costs. If the air-conditioning repair called for is quite simple, perhaps you can even try to do it yourself to further save money. Some troubleshooting procedures are very easy to do and are, in fact, part of maintenance. Since air conditioning is practically a basic need in Tampa, here are some maintenance tips to lessen the need for AC repair among Tampa FL residents.

Before anything else, make sure that you have your owner’s manual on hand. Put it in an easily accessible place where you can find it when needed. It is assumed that you have read the owner’s manual upon installation of the air conditioner and that you have followed instructions on the unit’s proper use. In case you have misplaced the owner’s manual, request for another copy from your air conditioner’s manufacturer. Do this even before you encounter any problems with the unit. Through the owner’s manual, you will be able to identify the parts of your unit.

Before you do any cleaning, maintenance or repair work on your air conditioner, make sure that the power is turned off. Check the panel of switches. Better yet, unplug the unit if that is possible. If you are not sure whether or not the unit is already totally cut off from its electrical source, shut off the house’s electricity.

Make sure the power cord is not frayed or worn. Remove the control panel and unscrew the cord terminals. Use a volt-ohm-milliammeter (VOM) set to the RX1 scale to test the cord’s plug prongs. If the cord is functioning properly, the meter should read zero. If the meter reads higher, replace the cord.

Also behind the control panel, check the selector switch terminals for any burn marks. Replace if needed.

Clean your filter regularly, at least once a month. Washable filters are carefully scrubbed with mild detergent, rinsed well and dried completely before reinstalling. Some filters are disposable and need to be replaced.

Clean your evaporator and condenser coils monthly, using a vacuum cleaner. Carefully straighten out the fins using a fin comb.

Check if your drain ports are clogged. Clean them out with wire monthly. Sometimes air conditioner models have several drain ports. Make sure you clean all of them.

If the fan is noisy or does not function, try cleaning it first. Open the unit and vacuum away dirt. Follow this with a soft cloth. Once clean, check if the fan blades are loose and tighten the setscrew with a screwdriver or Allen wrench. You may also need to tighten the fan on the motor shaft using a long-blade screwdriver, and the fan housing bolts with a wrench. A fan with an oil port needs to be oiled every month with several drops of 20-weight non-detergent motor oil.

When the air conditioning repair necessary is beyond your capability, though, especially when the problem is with the motor or compressor, it is recommended that you call for expert AC repair service personnel. The money you have saved through proper maintenance and simple troubleshooting will come in handy once you need professional air-conditioning repair from a real service center in Tampa FL.

There are professional heating, ventilation and air conditioning repair services that handle everything from AC to furnace repair in Tampa FL. The following brands are often carried and serviced by these companies: Carrier, Trane, Amana, Goodman, Rheem, Frigidaire, American Standard, Bryant, Janitrol, York, Ruud, Weatherking, Tempstar, Payne, Comfortmaker, Gibson, Heil, Intertherm, Lennox, Luxaire and Tappan.