does A/C unit need yearly "Tune Up"?
 

New to Florida and whole house a/c.

Can some one tell me if a Yearly service is recommended on the Carrier units supplied in the new builds?

I use to get my furnace serviced up north yearly but how often do these A/C units need to be serviced and wondering what it entails?

Thanks

You are going to get responses that say yes, "I do it myself", all the way to I've never serviced my system and it's still going strong for 20 years.

The facts are:
1) You need to pour some hot water down the condensate line one a month.
2) Over time the start capacitor will start to wear out and need replacing.
3) You need to clean the outside condenser and inside evaporator coils at least once a year.
4) You will need to change the filter probably every 6 -12 months.
5) The freon level needs to be checked at once a year to make sure you don't have a leak.
6) You want to check the current draw on the Fan and Compressor once a year.

So, can you do this stuff yourself?
Yes for #1, #4, and maybe #3 & #6 but not #5 and #2 needs explanation.

For #2, Yes, you can wait for your system to stop running and go on Amazon and purchase and install a new start capacitor. But as the capacitor wears out, it puts additional strain on the compressor potentially shortening its life, so you want to test it and change it when it starts going out of spec... And yes, if you have a reputable HVAC company, they will tell you when the start capacitor is out of spec and recommend you change it. Also, there are the cheap $20 Chinese capacitors, and the more expensive $60+ American Made capacitors on Amazon. The Chinese ones will not last as long and you will be spending more money in the long run vs getting the better American made capacitor.

Unless you have the special gauges and know about refrigeration, #5 is not a DIY task. But with a sealed system you shouldn't be leaking any freon and you want to check the freon charge to make sure you don't have a leak. When you have a significant leak, the system will eventually just blow hot air. Generally, your HVAC system could develop a very small leak and freon will leak out over time.

Generally, most Villagers have a maintenance plan with a reputable HVAC contractor here in the Villages. But there are a significant number who do maintenance themselves and many who just ignore their system until it stops running.

So, does yearly maintenance prevent failures? Yes and no. You can prevent start capacitor failures, premature compressor and fan failures and leak failures, condensate drain failures, but no maintenance plan is going to guarantee no failures over time.

My opinion is, if you don't want to get caught in the heat of the summer with no A/C then get a maintenance contract with your favorite HVAC contractor. Talk to your friends and neighbors and see who they use. Avoid the "chuck with the truck" guys. If you like to gamble, then do nothing or DIY knowing that you are leaving out some critical checks.

Hope this helps.

I have never paid anyone to "service" my HVAC system. I change my filters every six months, pour a gallon of hot water down the condensate drain about every three months, and make sure the outside condenser unit coils are clean. I think that most HVAC companies make most of their money on annual or bi-annual maintenence visits. However, I don't know of anything a technician can do that will prevent a failure or extend the life of the system. Note that many system failures are caused by a defective capacitor, but I don't know of any HVAC company who ever replaces the capacitor as a preventative maintenance measure.

Some people actually think that paying a company for regular maintenance will make them a priority customer when they need a repair, but I don't think this is true at all. Also, I have never seen a maintenance contract that guarantees any priority service to customers who have regular maintenance performed. I once asked Munn's if they provide any written agreement regarding their so-called priority list, and their response was that it is only a verbal promise.

OK Thanks Guys Great info

I do the water down the drain once a month, Check and change the filter regularly
And am planning on getting a spare capacitor. I also clean the outside coils

So I guess I need to get the freon checked and air handler cleaned once a year

I have paid for service in the past but I still do much of it on my own. I am on the fence about paying for service in the future.

I have had two failures but the service would not have caught or prevented those. One was a failure of the expensive blower motor; I don't know what electronic component failed but it is not something they test (I've watched). The other problem was caused by an anole climbing behind a circuit board and shorting it out. In both cases Munn's came out the day I called and I was up and running by evening.

The service check did clue me in to a failing capacitor that I then replaced myself. Munn's would have charged me for it but another poster mentioned that SunKool replaced theirs for free. I believe I have the tools to check the capacitor myself but I also have a spare in the garage - if it seems to fail again then I'll swap in the spare to see if that fixes it before calling Munn's.

Changing the air filter regularly is something a homeowner can easily do.

Pouring hot water (maybe with a little vinegar or Dawn depending on who you ask) down the condensate line monthly is important. I was outside at 4am one morning attempting to get the clog out of my line. Five minutes on the first of every month pouring hot water is MUCH better than the alternative! (this also reminds me to tap on the hot water expansion tank in the same closet)

Here is an easy tip. On a hot and humid day, check the outside unit suction pipe, which is the one with black insulation on it. When the AC is running, the pipe at the unit should be cold and wet. If it is not, you may have a problem with your refrigerant or your compressor.

For $100.00 annually, I see it as a no brainer to get this service performed. We use DeSantis as they installed units in both of our homes here in TV.

"Need" might be a bit strong and once per year might be more often than necessary. Opinions will vary. Those trying to sell you service will say it is essential. Those that have never had it done will say they have saved money by not paying for it.

My system is 11 years old and while the coolant has been checked, it has never been added. the inside coils have been cleaned twice in the last five years but I can't say whether that was needed or whether it was done because the technician was here and had the coils exposed anyway.

My new carrier came with Chinese capacitors, so that meth out window on new units. I bet 90% made in China or elsewhere over seas? My last TRANE had Chinese capacitor over 9 years old. Capacitors can easily be checked with multimeter (Utube). You are right know way knowing if Freon low unless if not cooling efficient. They also check cooling efficiency and heat side in fall. Some homeowners can do most things on annual tune up. The problem I have some businesses look to scam non savvy customers when they get their foot inside house. So my advise find company that’s earned its trust. I prefer munns out of the other two I had. One company I wouldn’t let them change my water hose.

If you are only getting the condensate drain checked annually, that is not often enough. You need to be pouring hot water down the drain at least every 3 months. I think it is a good idea to replace the filter every 6 months. I use Merv 11 filters, which have made my house quieter and less dusty. I buy FilterBuy filters from Amazon. Also, if you are paying $100 for maintenance, I would ask them specifically what they are doing that will prevent your system from failing. Are they ever replacing the capacitor to avoid a failure?

Although the outside condensor coils will get more dirty than the inside evaporator coil, the evaporator coil can still get dirty needs to be cleaned. If your evaporator coil gets dirty, even a little, your efficiency will drop, maybe significantly because the coil won't remove the heat properly from the inside air passing through it. Also, while they have the air handler open, if you have a heat pump they will check to make sure your Auxillary heat is working as well and they will also check the reversing valve on the condensor to make sure that works as well.

So, to put things in perspective, although yearly maintenance can prevent some common failures there are some it can't. But for example, say your reversing valve on your heat pump, if you have a heat pump system, is stuck in the cooling position, if you don't check it during a maintenance, when you need heat, the system will fail or if your start capacitor is out of spec., it may still work but the first time we get some really hot weather it will fail because heat is what destroys this particular device so, in a sense you are preventing getting stuck for an emergency call. At the end of the day many don't really understand the complexity of your HVAC system and rely on doing some basic maintenance, which is fine, but in reality you need a professional from a reputable HVAC company to check the system and do any needed maintenance at least once a year if you want to reduce the risk of getting stuck at an inopportune time.

I do the condensate maintenance myself during the year. We have the HUGE April air filter system that we change once a year at $60.00 and then it is barely dirty. I watch them as they are very through in testing. They installed it so they know best.

We pay for an annual service plan with Sunshine AC that includes furnace & A/C maintenance & system checks every 6 months. This also includes service discounts, no emergency service charges, and a promise to repair units within 24 hrs of an outage. It isn't all that expensive and I look at it as some insurance against getting stuck without A/C for more than a day due to a break down.

Are you sure that most HVAC companies check the items you mentioned in your post? And, if they do and they find an issue, do they repair it for free? If not, I think that some homeowners would feel scammed and refuse to pay for the repairs. I doubt that they send their best technicians for maintenance visits. On their website, Sunkool shows a 21-point checklist of items they perform, but I don't see these items listed. Also, if you read the list, I don't think they spend enough time at the house to perform all of the items on their list. Personally, I think most HVAC companies are more interested in getting the $100 or more maintenance fee. Some even recommend coming every 6 months. If I were trying to prevent failures, I would replace the start capacitor every 3 years or so, but I have not heard of a single company that does this. Call me skeptical.

We also use Sunshine, the Tech's are professional and seem well trained. They spend about an hour going over the system.

So far, in 5 yrs, the Cap, expansion valve and blower motor have been replaced no charge under service contract/warranty.

Selling a rental home, the buyers home inspector flagged the HVAC temperature differential was less than 20 degrees at the room outlets.

Sunshine immediately sent the tech to check the system. He verified all was working in accordance with Mfg Spec and issued a report stating there is typically a 2-3 degree temperature drop in the attic duct work on a 95 degree day.

The builder only guarantees 15 degree drop measured at the room outlets.

Is their promise to repair a unit in 24 hours in writing, with compensation if they don't?

Are you sure that most HVAC companies check the items you mentioned in your post? Yes a reputable HVAC company will check all these items.

And, if they do and they find an issue, do they repair it for free?No they do not. Depending on your maintenance agreement you will pay for the part and labor.

I doubt that they send their best technicians for maintenance visits. No way to verify this but you don't need the "best" technician for maintenance generally.

On their website, Sunkool shows a 21-point checklist of items they perform, but I don't see these items listed. I've heard this before so time to get another company but I'll bet they do everything since I know SunKool is reputable.

Also, if you read the list, I don't think they spend enough time at the house to perform all of the items on their list. If your system has been maintained, generally it should take under an hour to perform this maintenance. I have Sunshine and I get an e-mail confirming all that was done and the readings they took. I check their readings to what I witnessed and they are the same. They have an iPad and as they are taking readings they are entering all the information so you can compare to previous maintenance visits.

If I were trying to prevent failures, I would replace the start capacitor every 3 years or so, but I have not heard of a single company that does this. Right, no company is going to do this since the life of the capacitor will depend greatly if your condenser unit is in the sun all day or not and how much you use the system and what temperature it's set to. The more starts, the more wear on the capacitor.

I know you are skeptical but that's OK, just trying to describe what needs to be done. Since I have a background in HVAC, since moving to the Villages I've tried a couple of companies and personally, I feel the most comfortable with the Sunshine techs. Granted, every company has there "good" and "less good" techs but I know with Sunshine it's going to be done correctly and honestly and I also know if I have a concern and call them, they will make it right.

The OP could save a lot of typing by just "YES"

Being a snowbird, we always get our A/C checked by Patrick's in April. Earth Day special, $22. They check and service everything listed. I don't think I'd want to fool with a capacitor anytime soon. They can store plenty of electrical energy.

Are you sure it's $22? I saw their advertisement recently for $19.95. I remembe this because this is the same price that Earl Scheib would pant any car, any color in the 1960's.

Get the Freon checked? If the system leaks, it leaks. I don’t agree with that at all. Checking for a leak doesn’t prevent a leak.

April 22 was "Earth Day". So it was $22. Maybe cheaper after us snowbirds leave.:icon_wink:

I was once an A/C engineer and think that retired guy is giving good advice. I change the filter and flush the drain a couple of times a year. I don't like it when the service tech hooks up the gages to check the refrigerant charge level, as I've seen them lose a considerable amount of refrigerant when they do it. Making sure that the outdoor coil is clean is also important.

For us, it was easy. In Oregon, we had a large house with 2 heat pumps and 2 gas furnaces for backup heating when outside temps dropped down below 35°.

Over 45 years, we replaced all systems except gas furnaces 3 times. Average life was 12-15 years.

Original systems were no name generics that only lasted a few years. First replaced with Lennox, then Trane, and finally with Carrier.

We had annual contracts, and systems were checked every 6 months. Lennox failed after 10 years, but could not be repaired due to lack of replacement parts. Replaced by Trane systems that failed in year 9 of a 10 year warranty contract. Last systems were Carrier, and they were the best.

Happy to see Carrier in wide use south of 44. We've had our home in Marsh Bend for almost 6 years. Still have annual maintenance contracts with checkup by Sun Kool every 6 months. Only failure has been capacitor, which I replaced myself but let Sun Kool know for records. Complete systems checkup to make sure freon levels are ok.

Only changes made was addition of UV lights for bacteria control.

We keep systems set to 77° for cooling, 70° for heating, and units set to come on for air circulation once per hour. Also keep overhead fans on low all the time.

Why a contract? Peace of mind.

Munn’s replaced my capacitor during my annual service @ no charge. It was out of spec and beginning to fail. Saved me a headache and them a Friday evening service call because that’s when they usually fail. I also keep a spare capacitor just in case.

We actually have sunkool’s 2x a year maintenance plan for both units. I change my own filters. They come out before summer then before winter. Cheap! I’ve been doing this for 15 years living in the south, in the north,I did a yearly maintenance plan.

For the first 5 years, parts are covered which is why they changed the capacitor for free. Other parts like the compressor are covered for 10 years. Right before my 5 years, we discovered our Auxillary heat unit was not working. Sunshine replaced it for free.

I agree on loosing some refrigerant but on the new carrier variable speed inverter systems, the techs can use an app that connects to the condenser via bluetooth and they can read all the pressures without connecting any gauges to the unit. Very cool.

I agree with your first sentence 100%.

Rule #1: Everything works until it doesn't, so regular maintenance helps prolong the working period until the day of doesn't.

Recommended? depends upon the individual.owner: DIY handy? motivated to do or not? reside all year round or not?

Advantages: having a maintenance contract MAY get you faster service if there is failure, you may get in line faster during the summer,

DISadvantages: depends upon your wealth level, your tolerance for the inconvenience of your lifestyle being interrupted, and your tolerance for strangers coming into your house, and your backup plan for being stuck in line during a weekend/holiday, etc when you are 57th in line in August

So pick your poison: .. . paying a bit a money for customer priority when there is a failure, or DIY save a bit of money and take your chances.

We had a something fail, i don't think it was the capacitor, as it was a copper link something something outside, the day before we had to leave. Sunshine came and fixed the issue that afternoon. . . and then installed the correct part when it came into inventory without coming into the house.

WE choose to have to pay to get in line faster when there is a failure, and chose to have someone else do the DIY stuff especially when we might not be home for several months at a time. .

We have used Munns for our HVAC service since our house was built 11 years ago. Annual maintenance and emrg service (capacitor). Been very happy with them over the years...

BUT, when they called me a month ago to confirm our upcoming annual service, they informed me that the annual maint cost is going from $99 to $145 next time. Whaaaaat? 45% increase... I was not pleased at all. But they came out a few weeks ago and did a great ($99) job. The guy was here over an hour. When done he showed us pictures he took (about 15) of all the areas of our HVAC with before/after, like cleaning coils etc. ---good marketing to show why maint/cleaning is needed.... Paid the $99 happily.

I do the normal hot water in drain, filters, etc etc myself. He used a suction method to really clean as well.

My bottom line, as I like Munns - I will extend the annual maint to around 18months now. Basically the same cost but less often. I do like having the maint done by pros. Bottom line peace of mind.

Probably, if you want to keep the warranties.

yes, by Munn's.

My AC failed on a Saturday morning in July a few years ago. I called Munn's, and they had it repaired within 3 hours. No maintenance agreement. To me, a verbal promise to provide priority service with no consequences is worthless. Also, it can be argued that an unscrupulous contractor looking for new business will provide priority to non-customers to grow their business. If you don't have a maintenance agreement, there are at least 5 or more competent HVAC companies who you can call to get a repair.

Munn’s comes every 6 months to service our HVAC. They bring a laptop and hook it up to diagnostics and the report is with all the measurements in the system are emailed to you. They flush the system with a power suction pump, and take the casing off and clean and adjust things. That’s when they also change my filter. Same price if the come once a year or twice a year. It’s a small fee for an important item in your house. Money well spent as far as I’m concerned.

I agree that checking pressures with gages should not be part of routine maintenance. There are several methods to verify that the charge is adequate.

Keep It Sealed
After initial installation and system commissioning, there is no reason to install gauges. It runs the risk of creating leaks, losing refrigerant from installing and removing hoses, or otherwise accessing the sealed system and violating system integrity.
All information pertaining to the sealed system's performance can be accurately evaluated using temperatures alone with knowledge of design. A thorough understanding of system design and field practice of benchmarking systems will save time, increase equipment life, and reduce refrigerant emissions.
Checking The Charge Without Gauges | ACHR News

YES, Yes and Yes. We use Sun Kool maintenance plan. They come twice yearly and it has paid off. During our last scheduled maintenance, the technician found a part that was failing on our three year old air handler and replaced it. Now we don’t have to worry about the AC going out on Forth of July. (Yes that’s happened before) if there is a problem we are a priority. Always great service.

Another Thing I forgot to mention is warranty is with Strada who installed it
First 5 years is parts and labor
Not sure how that impacts yearly service

A/C
 

SunKool comes twice a year to clean and check unit for mold/efficiency inside and outside for around $200. We change filter as needed and flush with hot water monthly. Worth the price.

Oh boy can I tell you a SunKool nightmare. Consider what life would be like without air conditioning for 3 weeks in AUGUST and you have an idea of how incompetent their techs can be. It took a call to Carrier to get the needed part for my AC that was only 3 years old. Thankfully I was covered for parts and labor but I would run from SunKool! I now use One Hour Heating and Air.