The dog days of summer are a bad time to realize you should have scheduled a spring A/C maintenance check-up. If your air conditioner fails due to lack of maintenance, it usually happens when the system’s under the greatest load. So now’s the time to prevent an interruption of your cooling comfort during those approaching hot days. Today’s cooling equipment is complex and requires specific expertise and instruments. DIY maintenance options are basically limited to changing the filter regularly – a must for maximum performance and efficiency – and keeping the outdoor unit clear of encroaching weeds or vegetation. A springtime A/C maintenance checkup by a qualified HVAC technician takes care of all the rest and helps ensure that you’ll still keep your cool when August arrives.
Here’s what’s involved in a typical one-hour procedure:
- Compare the thermostat reading to actual room temperature on a mercury thermometer.
- Measure the current draw on the blower motor in the air handler – a good early indicator of excessive wear. Tighten all electrical connections.
- Clean the blower fan blades. Lubricate the blower motor and belt drive assembly. Check belt for wear and proper tension.
- Inspect and clean the evaporator coil of dust or dirt accumulation. Evidence of mold growth will require treatment with disinfectant.
- Check for proper function of the drip pan and condensate drain line. Look for evidence of algae or mold in the pan and drain line and treat with biocides, if necessary.
- For the outdoor unit, clean the condenser coil of dust or dirt accumulation.
- Measure the system refrigerant charge. A low charge often indicates a leak that must be traced and repaired.
- Check the health of the compressor start and run capacitors with a multi-meter.
- Activate the system. Verify that the unit turns on correctly, cools to the accurate thermostat setting, then shuts off properly.
In Terre Haute and the greater Wabash Valley, Paitson Bros. Heating and Air Conditioning is the recognized source for year-round heating and cooling expertise since 1922. Call us to schedule a spring A/C maintenance check-up and be ready to enjoy another comfortable summer.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Terre Haute, Indiana about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about spring A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Jeff Paitson is a third generation business owner who continues to run the business with the same values that have been passed down from previous generations since 1922.
Jeff’s belief is that the business belongs to Jesus Christ; therefore 10 percent of the company’s profits go toward the Maryland Community Church.
Jeff is a Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce member and in his spare time, he enjoys 
Ethan Rayburn is a lifelong resident of Terre Haute and a 2005 graduate of Purdue University.
An Eagle Scout, Ethan spent four years as a non-profit executive with the Boy Scouts of America before joining Paitson Bros. as a comfort advisor and later General Manager. In that role, Ethan has brought a renewed enthusiasm for customer care, integrity, value, and service to Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning.
Ethan enjoys singing and was a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. He also enjoys playing and coaching soccer, spending time with his family and two young boys, and volunteering his time and resources with his church, Terre Haute First Baptist Church, which he has attended from a very young age.
Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922