It is hard to drive down the street without seeing a billboard advertising a $59.00 air conditioning tune-up. It is not just billboards; you can look just about anywhere and see an advertisement for a $59.00 tune up and then the next company ad you see is for a $58.00 tune-up. I have even seen $39.00 tune-ups, and I believe if we wait long enough and companies get desperate enough, we may see ads for free tune-ups on our air conditioners! Have you ever stopped to ask why tune-ups are so inexpensive and seem to become cheaper year after year. Think about what it costs to send a fully-trained air conditioning mechanic in a fully stocked truck with all of the proper tools to your home. Think of the office staff that has to answer the phones when you call to schedule and then dispatches the technician to your home, of course; there is paperwork to process after the technician completes the tune-up and all for the low price of $59.00 or less. One way a company can be profitable performing a tune up on your air conditioner for $59.00 or less is if they do it quickly and forgo conducting a thorough examination and cleaning of your system and skipping critical steps. Short of that, a company would soon lose money.
 
To make sense of these ridiculously low prices and why they are not in your best interest, you need to ask two questions. The first question is "What is an air conditioner tune up and why do I need one?" The most direct and straightforward answer is that an air-conditioning system is a mechanical piece of equipment that is prone to breakdown from wear and tear and use as well as lack of use. Just like your car needs regular maintenance so does your air conditioning system because preventive maintenance prevents or at least reduces breakdowns? Also, just like your car, the air conditioner manufacturers require yearly maintenance to maintain the warranty on your HVAC system. If your system no longer has a warranty, a tune-up can help ensure you and your family's safety, reduced operating costs, increased comfort, and peace of mind. Why? Air conditioners use high voltage electricity and refrigerant gases regulated by the EPA and having an annual inspection and maintenance helps ensure that the electrical components of your air conditioner are operating within manufacturer standards and motors, wiring, and controls are not operating hot or otherwise of concern. Also just like proper maintenance on your car can save you money by getting better fuel mileage, proper maintenance on your air conditioner allows it to work at peak efficiency reducing its power consumption to operate and providing higher cooling capacity and comfort for you and your family.
 
So, now that you have a better idea of why you need to have your air conditioner tuned up and maintained the next question you need to ask what work can I expect a technician to complete on a tune up and who sets the standard? ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) is a national nonprofit organization with more than 60,000 industry professionals and business that work together to promote professional contracting, energy efficiency, and healthy comfortable indoor environments. They are also the organization that writes the standards for design, maintenance, installation, testing, and performance of indoor environmental systems. ACCA wrote and updates the ACCA Standard 4 every five years which establishes maintenance and tune-up standards for residential heating ventilating and air conditioning applications. It is by these standards that the tasks to be performed are defined and outlined. Any tune-up performed should provide you with the specific measurements of the components tested and recommendations to repair or replace any item that falls outside of the manufacturers' recommended specifications. Additionally, a tune-up should include a thorough cleaning of the outdoor condenser coil, as well as a cleaning of the electrical compartments and components. One of the most important items to check on any tune-up is a measurement of your systems "Static Pressure." Static pressure is a lot like your blood pressure and knowing if it is within a healthy range can prevent a lot of costly issues.
 
Of course, anytime you choose a company, make sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured, as required by law. A simple check of the California Contractors State License Board or CSLB can let you know if the company you choose meets those requirements and if they have had any violations of the contractor laws. Additionally, check online reviews and, when doing so, remember that no one is perfect and five stars out of five may be too good to be true. Take time to read the negative reviews and, more importantly, how the company responds. Last, and most important for your safety, choose a company that drug-tests and background-checks its technicians.
 
With summer approaching, no matter how much we hope for mild temperatures, we know the heat will come. Regardless of whether you live here during the summer heat or not, your air conditioner needs yearly service even if you do not use it. Just as a car that sits on the curb or in a garage and takes a beating from lack of use and the heat, so does your A/C system. Make sure you choose the right company that will do the proper tune-up and will make you aware of any areas of concern. Keep your home and your family safe and comfortable this summer and schedule a tune-up today.
 
It is hard to drive down the street without seeing a billboard advertising a $59.00 air conditioning tune-up. It is not just billboards; you can look just about anywhere and see an advertisement for a $59.00 tune up and then the next company ad you see is for a $58.00 tune-up. I have even seen $39.00 tune-ups, and I believe if we wait long enough and companies get desperate enough, we may see ads for free tune-ups on our air conditioners! Have you ever stopped to ask why tune-ups are so inexpensive and seem to become cheaper year after year. Think about what it costs to send a fully-trained air conditioning mechanic in a fully stocked truck with all of the proper tools to your home. Think of the office staff that has to answer the phones when you call to schedule and then dispatches the technician to your home, of course; there is paperwork to process after the technician completes the tune-up and all for the low price of $59.00 or less. One way a company can be profitable performing a tune up on your air conditioner for $59.00 or less is if they do it quickly and forgo conducting a thorough examination and cleaning of your system and skipping critical steps. Short of that, a company would soon lose money.
 
To make sense of these ridiculously low prices and why they are not in your best interest, you need to ask two questions. The first question is "What is an air conditioner tune up and why do I need one?" The most direct and straightforward answer is that an air-conditioning system is a mechanical piece of equipment that is prone to breakdown from wear and tear and use as well as lack of use. Just like your car needs regular maintenance so does your air conditioning system because preventive maintenance prevents or at least reduces breakdowns? Also, just like your car, the air conditioner manufacturers require yearly maintenance to maintain the warranty on your HVAC system. If your system no longer has a warranty, a tune-up can help ensure you and your family's safety, reduced operating costs, increased comfort, and peace of mind. Why? Air conditioners use high voltage electricity and refrigerant gases regulated by the EPA and having an annual inspection and maintenance helps ensure that the electrical components of your air conditioner are operating within manufacturer standards and motors, wiring, and controls are not operating hot or otherwise of concern. Also just like proper maintenance on your car can save you money by getting better fuel mileage, proper maintenance on your air conditioner allows it to work at peak efficiency reducing its power consumption to operate and providing higher cooling capacity and comfort for you and your family.
 
So, now that you have a better idea of why you need to have your air conditioner tuned up and maintained the next question you need to ask what work can I expect a technician to complete on a tune up and who sets the standard? ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) is a national nonprofit organization with more than 60,000 industry professionals and business that work together to promote professional contracting, energy efficiency, and healthy comfortable indoor environments. They are also the organization that writes the standards for design, maintenance, installation, testing, and performance of indoor environmental systems. ACCA wrote and updates the ACCA Standard 4 every five years which establishes maintenance and tune-up standards for residential heating ventilating and air conditioning applications. It is by these standards that the tasks to be performed are defined and outlined. Any tune-up performed should provide you with the specific measurements of the components tested and recommendations to repair or replace any item that falls outside of the manufacturers' recommended specifications. Additionally, a tune-up should include a thorough cleaning of the outdoor condenser coil, as well as a cleaning of the electrical compartments and components. One of the most important items to check on any tune-up is a measurement of your systems "Static Pressure." Static pressure is a lot like your blood pressure and knowing if it is within a healthy range can prevent a lot of costly issues.
 
Of course, anytime you choose a company, make sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured, as required by law. A simple check of the California Contractors State License Board or CSLB can let you know if the company you choose meets those requirements and if they have had any violations of the contractor laws. Additionally, check online reviews and, when doing so, remember that no one is perfect and five stars out of five may be too good to be true. Take time to read the negative reviews and, more importantly, how the company responds. Last, and most important for your safety, choose a company that drug-tests and background-checks its technicians.
 
With summer approaching, no matter how much we hope for mild temperatures, we know the heat will come. Regardless of whether you live here during the summer heat or not, your air conditioner needs yearly service even if you do not use it. Just as a car that sits on the curb or in a garage and takes a beating from lack of use and the heat, so does your A/C system. Make sure you choose the right company that will do the proper tune-up and will make you aware of any areas of concern. Keep your home and your family safe and comfortable this summer and schedule a tune-up today.