Air Conditioner Maintenance

Summer is just around the bend so it is time to start planning AC maintenance. I neglected this task with my first house and it cost me a lot. The refrigerant line had a slow leak that would have been detected by a pressure test. Instead I ended up calling a professional after it stopped cooling. $300 to refill the refrigerant and my electric bill doubled for the month!
One other scenario I've seen several times is the condensation pipe will become blocked by fungus and flood the attic/basement (where the evaporator is located). All it takes is a couple minutes to clean it out with bleach to prevent this problem. This is especially important for folks in humid environments.
For DIY types most of the AC cleaning can be done with moderate difficulty, but it is good to get a professional (about $100) in at least once a year to check the line pressure and inspect the system.
























Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/1102617/air-conditioner-maintenance site