20 Things Your AC Technician Should Do

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Hello and welcome to Houston First Time Home Buyers Edition, formally First Home Houston (FHH), where we provide useful information to help Houston first time home buyers make the most informed decision when it comes to buying, decorating, and maintaining their first home.

Recently I had to hire a new AC technician and it took me a few try before getting it right. So, from my experience, before you call the AC professional, take a look at your owners manual for a quick overview on how your system works.

No, you are not trying to become an AC expert, however, a bit of knowledge will make you more confident when speaking with the technician, that way, if he or she say something that is not correct you will know.

It also help if you are able to ask specific questions about your AC. That being said, a tune-up, cleaning, and safety inspection should take about 60-90 minutes. Regular maintenance service, may take less time. Here are some of the services the technician should perform.

First up, you do want to make sure the technician you hire is licensed, insured and give you an estimate in writing by way of email or text. If they are not upfront about the cost, you may want to move on to the next one. That said, here is what a good AC technician should:

• Check system controls.

• Change or clean air filters.

• Use a leak detector.

• Lubricate moving parts, including fan and motor bearings.

• Repair/change motors, electrical wiring, belts, floating elements.

• Defrost timers.

• Check for correct amount of refrigerant.

• Tighten electrical connections.

• Inspect electric terminals.

• Apply a non-conductive coating.

• Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems.

• Check belts for wear.

• Measure airflow.

• Check thermostat accuracy.

• Measure supply- return temperature differential.

• Inspect and clean condenser coil.

• Remove debris.

• Inspect fan blade.

• Condensate drain.

• Verify the correct electric control sequence.

While the above mentions are just a few of the technician’s duties and responsibilities, a well-trained technician will not only find the problem, but also fix it. And remember, I cannot stress this enough, regular AC maintenance will save you money.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by. Remember, if you are thinking of purchasing your first home, please contact us. We are here to help. We have been helping Houston first time home buyers since 2011 and we can help you. I hope you have an amazing day. Until next time...Diana