AC & Sump Pump Annual Maintenance

While making your spring cleaning list, you need to remember that your air conditioner and sump pump need an annual maintenance check. Both are something many people overlook. Both are vital to your home’s wellbeing, and ongoing maintenance efforts will extend the longevity of your home and save you money in the long run.

Air Conditioners:

Like every other system with moving parts, air conditioners need to be lubricated, cleaned and maintained to operate efficiently. Oftentimes people believe once the unit is installed, they can forget about it until it’s time to be replaced.

Your home’s AC, similar to a car’s AC, labors day in and day out in the warmer weather after sitting dormant during long winters and, without upkeep and care, each will lose its effectiveness from wear and tear.

Preventative maintenance on your unit can:

Save You Money. A well-running AC is more efficient, using less energy, and thus draws less electricity and reduces your energy bills.
Improve Your Comfort. An air conditioner that is not well-maintained will not keep a consistent level of cool air flowing, thus struggling to keep your home at your preferred temperature.
Extend the Life of Your AC. Regular maintenance can extend the life of your unit by catching potential issues early and keeping the system running smoothly.
Breath Easier. Having your home’s air ducts reviewed annually can eliminate the chances of potential airborne particles. According to the EPA, indoor airborne pollutants maybe 2-5 hours higher than outdoors. This makes the importance of clean and well-filtered air more critical.

Our service and maintenance technicians at Lee Home Service will find issues before they become significant problems. Our annual maintenance checks will save you from having to replace the entire unit. The members of the Lee team are expertly trained to find ways to extend the life of your air conditioner by performing all of the annual tasks required to keep your home cool and comfortable.

Here’s a checklist from Energy.gov of what experienced electrical technicians, such as Lee’s talented team members, will do to review your AC:

Check for the correct amount of refrigerant
Test for refrigerant leaks using a leak detector
Capture any refrigerant that must be evacuated from the system instead of illegally releasing it into the atmosphere
Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems
Measure airflow through the evaporator coil
Verify the correct electric control sequence and make sure that the heating system and cooling system cannot operate simultaneously
Check and clean the coils,
Check and adjust the blowers for proper airflow
Review the unit’s cover for any potential damage or defects
Inspect electric terminals, clean and tighten connections, and apply a non-conductive coating if necessary
Oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear
Check the accuracy of the thermostat.

While at your home, Lee’s technicians will advise you on the status of maintenance and service that might be necessary to keep your warranty active. If your technician discovers something significant, it might require you to consider getting a new unit.

Sump Pumps:

Spring is always the optimal time to perform a service check on your home’s sump pump. As the rains continue to encourage spring flowers, they also bring the threat of flooding and potential water damage to your home!

Sump pump maintenance is vital to the longevity of your home. Sump pump systems drain excess water that accumulates in a basin commonly found in the basement or crawlspace of your home. A system that works properly helps to keep your home dry year-round.

Some of the top reasons that sump pumps fail are:

Power failure
A struck switch
Overwhelmed pump
Clogged or Frozen Discharge Pipe
Lack of Maintenance
Improper Installation

A properly working sump pump will help you to avoid costly damages all year by removing excess water from melting snow in the winter, and rain, throughout the year. Homeowners can catch many of the reasons pumps fail early with annual maintenance. The lifespan of your pump can be dependent on diligent yearly inspections and upkeep.

Here are simple steps:

Pour water into your sump basin and make sure the pump float rises and the sump begins to pump.
Inspect and clean the inlet screen on the sump pump.
Look over your pump’s power cord, checking for damage or possible cracks.
Make sure your pump switch is working correctly.

It is also essential to think about the possibility of power outages during bad weather and rainstorms. If your primary sump pump fails, a battery backup pump can be a lifesaver due to a power outage. Many battery-powered sump pump systems are as robust as your primary system and can run for up to 10 hours. Those 10 hours can save you from costly repairs and replacement costs.

Battery-operated sump pumps are also crucial during other instances. If your primary pump loses power when a circuit breaker is tripped, for example, your battery-operated pump will keep your home from experiencing water damage. Several backup sump pumps also include an alarm system that will alert you when your primary pump has stopped working. This alert can save a homeowner from severe damage and expenses that would have occurred if they hadn’t noticed their main pump ceased to function.

The importance of annual maintenance can not be overstated when it comes to your home’s air conditioning system and sump pump. The simple steps can save you money and prevent endless amounts of headaches.

To make this annual checklist even less stressful, you can also take advantage of Lee Home’s Service Annual Maintenance Agreement! Why worry over the upkeep and maintenance of your AC and sump pump system when our experts in electrical and plumbing can take care of it for you. Gain peace of mind with the experience and skills of the Lee team behind you.

Lee Mechanical is your trusted partner for all of your air conditioning and sump pump needs.

Contact the Lee Team at (262) 657-9490 today to ensure a COOL and DRY summer for you and your family.