Chillin' with Zinn: Time for your A/C tune-up
By Beth Newcomb
If you’re like me, the idea of an air conditioning tune-up falls under the category of, “I need to do, what?”
“Just like your car needs a regular oil change, your air conditioning unit should get a tune-up every year to keep it running at an optimum level,” says Randy Zinn Sr., who, along with his wife, Colleen, is the owner of Zinn Mechanical, one of the area’s leading residential and commercial heating and air conditioning specialists.
Because your AC unit is exposed to the elements on a year-round basis, it only stands to reason that things like weeds, leaves, grass clippings, mulch and other yard debris would make its way into the unit. That’s not a good thing.
In fact, Randy says, all of that natural material can cause your AC compressor to work twice as hard as it should and use twice the energy, which can ultimately lead to premature failure. Properly maintained, your AC unit should last 20-30 years, he notes.
And while not an uncommon service, a Zinn AC tune-up surpasses the kind offered by the other guys in that it’s as thorough as they come.
When your Zinn tech visits your home, he takes your unit apart and thoroughly cleans it. He checks the electrical connections and the amp draw on the compressor, the motor and even the motor bearings.
“Not everyone is as thorough,” Randy states. “Some places just blow air through the unit, but it really needs to be washed and cleaned.”
Zinn will also check your refrigerant and add some for a modest charge if need be. But, surprisingly, Randy says, a lack of refrigerant is rarely the issue.
“People usually have too much,” he says. “We often have to reduce the amount of coolant to make the system function properly.”
Zinn also checks the indoor components related to your AC unit and replaces your furnace filter if it’s the kind that measures two inches or less. They can replace the larger filters for a small fee.
If you didn’t realize an AC tune-up was even a thing, you’re not alone. Randy says a lot of people don’t realize how important it is. But it is. That’s why I scheduled mine immediately after interviewing him for this story.
Ready for a New System?
The mechanical part of the Zinn Mechanical name means that Randy and his team specialize in creating HVAC systems from scratch.
Instead of removing an old furnace and dropping a new one in its place, Randy carefully analyzes the air flow requirements in each home and spends time asking homeowners a lot of questions regarding their wants, needs and lifestyle. Then he heads back to the office and creates a plan for how the ductwork should be installed.
As an authorized American Standard dealer, that’s the brand Randy and his crew count on to keep customers warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Randy says one of the biggest aspects his Zinn Mechanical brings to the table is its focus on faith.
“We’re a Christian company and our values are reflected in everything we do,” he stresses.
“We don’t do things because they’re easier. We do things because they’re the right thing to do. That’s the promise we make to our customers and it’s largely the reason we’ve enjoyed a word-of-mouth referral business since we started in 2005.”
Zinn Mechanical is located at 1486 Medina Road, Suite 203, in Medina, and services homeowners throughout the area and beyond. To schedule a no-obligation HVAC system evaluation to determine if it’s time for you to upgrade, you can call the company at 330-722-0159. The web address is ZinnMechanical.com. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with on-call emergency assistance available 24/7/365.