AC Maintenance in Chippewa Falls, WI
Top-rated air conditioning system maintenance in Chippewa County
Our team at Hurlburt Heating AC and Plumbing is here to help you get the most out of your air conditioning system this summer. A well-maintained air conditioner can last you 15-20 years if you take steps to care for it properly.
Whether you have a central air conditioner, heat pump, or mini split, Hurlburt’s team of experts can get you on the right maintenance schedule.
Our goal at Hurlburt is not to sell you a new AC at our convenience but rather to help maintain the one you have for as long as possible. Of course, there comes a point where it isn’t cost effective to keep repairing an old AC, but with proper maintenance, we hope to keep that date far into the future.
What’s involved in AC maintenance?
When our trained technicians come out to service your air conditioner, we do a full inspection of the system, check the coolant charge and clean the drain lines and remove any debris lodged in the coils of the outdoor condenser.
Why is AC maintenance so important?
Regular AC maintenance allows us to better monitor the health of your air conditioner and catch potential problems before they become costly repairs down the road. For example, if you have a leak somewhere in your AC system and we don’t find out about it in the spring at your annual tune up, it might get bad enough to overheat the compressor and cause significant damage to the system.
The compressor is the heart of your air conditioner and if it is weak or doesn’t receive enough coolant to cool itself, it could be the end of your AC unit. A lot of the time, we can take care of these problems before they cause damage.
The other part of AC maintenance is to maintain efficiency and extend your unit’s lifespan. When the system is regularly inspected and cleaned, it allows for the best performance and longevity possible.
How often do I need to have my air conditioner serviced?
We recommend you have your AC serviced once a year, preferably in the spring before we get into the heat of summer. In Wisconsin, our air conditioners sit all winter long so it is a good idea to have them checked out before the weather starts to get hot.
Most homeowners only call us when there is a problem. If your air conditioner is only a few years old, you’ll likely be fine with having it serviced less frequently. However, we still recommend you try to have it done every other year at the bare minimum.
If your AC is older, we highly recommend a yearly service so we can help you extend its life as long as possible.
What AC maintenance you should do yourself
The most important thing you can do as a homeowner to extend the life of your air conditioner is to regularly change your furnace filter. If the filter is dirty, it restricts airflow to the entire system, making all the internal parts of your air conditioner work harder as it struggles to maintain your temperature setting.
If you have a 1’’ filter, make sure you check it every month. For these types of filters, you should choose one with a MERV 7 or MERV 8 rating. If you use a higher MERV rating, you could actually restrict airflow too much even though the filter is clean.
If you have a mini split, you should clean the filters every 6-8 weeks. These filters do not need to be replaced, only cleaned. They are easily accessible behind the service door and all you need to do to clean them is rinse them off in the sink.
If you have any questions about filter recommendations, don’t hesitate to contact us. No question is too small and we are always happy to help.
The other piece of AC maintenance you can do yourself is to regularly inspect and clean the outdoor condenser. Airborne dirt, dander, grass clippings, and cottonwood seeds can all get stuck in the fins of your AC condenser coil. You can rinse this debris out yourself with a simple garden hose and spray nozzle. Don’t use too much water pressure or you’ll damage the aluminum fins.
All you need to do is spray the debris downwards until the coils are clean. If the fins are dirty, they can hinder your AC’s ability to release the heat it absorbs from your home. You might need to do this a couple of times per year if you live in an area with cottonwood trees. As soon as you see those seeds fly, it’s time to get out the garden hose!
Why choose Hurlburt for your AC maintenance in Chippewa County?
Hurlburt Heating AC and Plumbing has been in the HVAC business since 1959 and have been servicing Chippewa Falls just as long. We’ve grown with the community and have expanded to employ a team of highly-trained and trusted technicians to take care of all aspects of AC service and maintenance.
Let our knowledge and experience guide you in setting up a maintenance schedule to keep you cool throughout the Wisconsin summer and get the longest life possible from your home air conditioner.
