5 Effective Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips To Know

One of the most important features in any home is the air conditioning unit. This is the item that helps keep us comfortable and relaxed in our home.

However, when it is not working correctly, this comfort can quickly be erased. Keeping your unit functioning properly means scheduling annual servicing and regular maintenance.

It is also essential for you as a homeowner to do a bit of work on the unit to keep it working properly. Air conditioner maintenance can lengthen the life of your air conditioning unit.

This regularly scheduled care not only keeps your home or office comfortable during the warmest seasons, it allows you to budget for many of the repairs or upgrades necessary in the future.

Here are five effective things you can to do extend the life of your air conditioner and ensure it is performing at its best.

Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean and Cool

Be sure the outdoor component is kept free of mulch and debris. The outdoor unit should sit flat, off the ground, to keep water from pooling in the bottom. Plant shrubs or trees around your outdoor unit to shield it from direct sunlight.

The first thing you will want to do is to keep bushes, debris and tree limbs away from your outdoor unit. You may need to trim trees and bushes away from the unit to make this a reality.

It is also best to check for debris at least once a month. Trash, leaves, and dirt can quickly build up in the unit causing it to not function properly.

The cooler your unit is kept, the less energy it uses to keep your home comfortable.

Change Your Air Filters Regularly

Air filters keep impurities from coming into your home through your ducts.

As the filter collects debris, it begins to clog and blowing air through a clogged filter can reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner. They also lead to poor indoor air quality, which can have adverse health effects.

Therefore, it is essential that you change your filter at least every month.

When buying an AC filter, look for the minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV. The MERV ranges from 1 to 12 with the higher numbers meaning better filtration.

Just know that a better filtration range means the AC unit must work harder to force air through a finer filter.

Changing your filters routinely extends the life of your air conditioner and helps keep you healthy. Adopt this change in your air conditioner maintenance routine.

Fix Any Air Leaks

At least once per cooling season, it is important to check your airflow for air leakages. This is an important air conditioner maintenance task because air ducts can lose up to 30 percent of their airflow through leaks.

If you have central air conditioning, you should consider having your ducts cleaned on a regular basis.

Over time, dirt can build up in these items, causing your unit to become overworked and inefficient. Dirty air ducts cause issues like leaks and damage to the ducts.

Cleaning them on a regular basis can help stop this type of damage from occurring in the first place.

To check for leaks you can use the ”smoke test,” which involves lighting a stick of incense and holding it next to any potential leaks.

If the smoke moves then you know you have a leak. You can fix your airflow leaks by using either foil tape and ducting mastic for central AC units or foam and tape for window units.

Also, be sure that the vents in each room are not obstructed. If the vents are blocked, it will result in poor airflow.

Hire Professionals for Yearly Air Conditioner Maintenance

Every home AC unit needs regular tune-ups and professional cleaning and servicing every year.

Regular inspections will keep your air conditioner in optimal condition, and address potential problems before they result in expensive repairs.

The company that installed your AC unit should have put you on an annual cleaning schedule when your unit was installed.

Make sure that your professional service happens before the cooling season starts so that your unit is ready for the hot summer months.

But even if the season has started you can still get your unit serviced. It’s never too late to conduct air conditioner maintenance.

Yearly visual inspections by a knowledgeable HVAC professional allow you to keep your warranties, guarantees, and service commitments intact.

Many companies have certified specialists handle the regular care and air conditioner maintenance.

Whether they cover parts and labor, or just parts of the air conditioner, these contracts offer benefits that can help save money on the future care of your unit.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats let you specify the temperature based on the date and time.

This keeps your air conditioner running only when you need it. It’s a great way to save energy and stay comfortable.

Also, avoid using humidifiers. Part of the air conditioner’s job is to reduce indoor humidity. When you use a humidifier, the air conditioning will run longer to keep up.

Keep Your AC in Top Shape

Hot weather and summers are perfect for picnics, swimming at the beach, and playing outdoors.

However, hot weather can be pretty miserable if you don’t have a properly working central air conditioning unit in your home.

Your air conditioning system is one of the biggest investments you will make in your home. You want it to last as long as possible. With proper care, a central air conditioner has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

By following the five air conditioner maintenance tips mentioned, you will no longer have to worry about whether your AC unit will survive the summer.

Keeping the outdoor unit clean, changing the filters regularly, cleaning the air ducts, and having annual professional tune-ups is guaranteed to keep your air conditioner working better and for longer.

 

As trusted Apache Junction air conditioning contractors, the HVAC experts at Mark Daniels Air Conditioning & Heating are dedicated to providing exceptional air conditioning replacement and repair services. If your AC isn’t working properly, get in touch with us today!

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