Real Property Management Impact

Why Service Your AC Equipment Before A Heatwave

One of the unlucky times for your Orange County rental property’s air conditioning (HVAC) system to break down is during a heatwave. When the weather heats up, AC units must work more to keep their tenants comfortable, and it may be, depending on your location, a habitability issue. However, if your unit has not been yet inspected or serviced recently, you’re taking a significant risk that something will fail just when you need the AC the most. Hence, it is essential to get your AC equipment ready for hot weather before it happens. You can achieve this by following a few simple preventative maintenance tasks on your AC unit each spring.

One practical strategy to keep your AC system running efficiently is to ensure that the condensation drain line is often clean. Clogged condensation lines can result in the drain pan filling up, which will trigger a float switch to shut off the unit. If the unit shuts off, things will heat up quickly inside your rental house, causing your tenants to feel hot and unhappy. At the same time, emergency service calls during peak season are not easy to acquire or inexpensive, and you can eventually pay for an expensive service call that could have been prevented with simple maintenance.

Clearing an AC unit’s drain line is a simple matter of pouring ½ cup of bleach in the line a few times per annum. By carrying out this simple maintenance task, you can avoid those heatwave emergencies and keep your Orange County rental property’s AC equipment working properly throughout the hottest parts of the year.

There are other basic maintenance tasks that can help you avoid an AC shut down at the worst possible time. Clearing debris away from your unit can ensure it functions efficiently and prevent overheating. Additionally, you need to clean the blower fan and condenser coils at least once annually, and that the filters must always be replaced. These are minor tasks that are usually neglected, but they can lead to big problems and expensive repairs down the road if neglected.

When annual and seasonal maintenance isn’t completed, the probability of a total shutdown greatly increases. If you don’t have the chance to perform regular maintenance yourself, you can always have a professional HVAC technician do it for you. Most HVAC experts will also inspect your unit and the major components, from the fan motor to the compressor, for signs of problems. They can alert you if anything seems likely to fail with the heavy operation and give you a chance to fix the problem before the heat arrives.

Of course, remembering to schedule regular HVAC service can be difficult sometimes, especially for the reason that it is usually only needed once or twice a year. The better solution for busy rental property owners may be to outsource property maintenance to professionals who will ensure the annual maintenance required is accomplished. If you would like to see more about how to save time while ensuring that your rental property’s HVAC system is ready for hot weather, contact us online or give us a call at 919-439-8989 today.