Maintaining your air conditioner is essential for keeping your home comfortable and energy efficient. An annual tune-up is the best way to ensure that your air conditioner is running at its peak performance. During a tune-up, an HVAC contractor will inspect the indoor unit coil for dirt, check the thermostat wires, replace the filter, and clean the condenser and condenser coil. It is also important to check for air leaks around doors and windows, as these can increase air conditioner performance.
If you have an older air conditioner, it may be time to consider replacing it. When setting up your air conditioning unit, it is important to inspect the inner coil to make sure it is clean and free of dirt or debris. If filters are not replaced often enough, dirt and dust can pass through and be deposited on the coil, making the system less efficient. During the set-up process, an HVAC professional will identify any issues that could be causing your air conditioner to not expel cold air.
Common reasons include a faulty thermostat, a clogged filter, or a dirty condenser coil. Cleaning and tightening all of the thermostat wires, replacing the filter, and cleaning the air conditioner condenser and condenser coil will significantly reduce the risk of your air conditioner expelling hot air with a cooling setting. To keep your air conditioning system running at its best, it is important to schedule regular maintenance visits. An annual tune-up is recommended for optimal performance. This service, which is sometimes referred to as “clean and check”, should be done every spring before the cooling season begins.
If you live in a warmer climate or make heavy use of the system, consider scheduling a second regular maintenance visit during peak season to keep system performance at a high level for the rest of the year. In addition to scheduling regular maintenance visits, it is important to inspect and replace your air conditioner filter regularly. How often you should replace your filter depends on a few factors such as the size of your home, the number of people and pets that live in it, and the level of air pollution in your area. While most average homeowners can regularly clean or replace an air conditioner filter themselves, calling a qualified HVAC technician to adjust the air conditioning system regularly can help ensure reliability and longevity and in some cases prevent major problems from arising. If you've made annual adjustments to your air conditioner, changed filters frequently, and kept the unit clean and well protected from outside elements, you'll likely go many more years without seeing it since you installed it. By having an HVAC contractor check the air conditioning system in spring, homeowners can ensure that their unit is in excellent working condition during summer season.
