Annual Air Conditioner Maintenance for Continual Success
For all the things we expect dependable service from, we get regular service. You wouldn’t drive your car without an annual inspection, and you wouldn’t skip your annual check-up at the doctor’s office. So why would you skip an annual tune-up for your air conditioner system?
Spring is finally rolling in, which means that summer isn’t too far behind. So while you’re making plans to clean out the garage and dust ceiling fans, think about having a professional come by to check out your air conditioner. It’s time for an AC tune-up.
Do I Really Need an Annual Tune-Up?
Well, the short answer is, not really. Your heating and cooling unit most likely won’t break down suddenly without warning. Usually, you’re going to notice a reduced efficiency or a rise in your monthly bill before you face a total malfunction in your air conditioner unit.
But you don’t wait until your engine catches fire before you bring a car to a mechanic for an oil change, either. So, let’s talk about some of the reasons why it’s best to have a regular, yearly inspection of your central air conditioners.
Every Reason You Need to Get an Annual Tune-Up for Your Central Air Conditioners
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Air conditioner tune-ups include some fairly simple procedures. Your technician will calibrate your thermostat, replace your air filter and perform a full inspection. They look at all of the small moving parts and make sure that your AC unit as a whole is working properly and efficiently.
If you do a good job of maintaining your AC unit, and its surrounding area, you’ll only get a quick visit from your technician. As long as you have no problems, they’ll be gone within an hour.
Repair
Even if the above-mentioned is the case, paying for an inspection is going to cost a lot less than paying for repairs. We understand it can seem like a hassle to pay someone to tell you that you had no problems. Still, it’s better to pay for the inspection rather than pay for repairs down the road. Those costs to repair your AC unit can be as low as a couple of hundred dollars, but on the high end, it can be more than $1,000.
Replacement
If you have really bad problems with your AC unit, you could be looking at a replacement, which will cost you even more. The national average for a new air conditioner system is about $5,500 dollars, which makes those inspection and maintenance bills seem like chump change.
Be All You Can Be
Like any machine, your air conditioner runs most efficiently when it’s maintained in proper working order. A bicycle chain does its job no matter what, but it works best when you keep it sufficiently oiled, right?
Think of your air conditioner unit in the same way. Moving parts need to be lubricated, vents need to be cleaned, and sometimes pieces need to be repaired or replaced. Keeping up with your air conditioner’s maintenance is going to keep it running at maximum efficiency, and for much, much longer.
Maximizing Energy Efficiency
To go back to our bicycle analogy, let’s think about our bike chain again. A well-oiled chain and a rusty chain can still do the same job. But if you have a rusty chain, you’re going to have to pedal twice as hard, and you’re still running the risk of it breaking, leaving you with a bike that won’t get you anywhere.
There’s a good reason why the U.S. Department of Energy recommends annual maintenance. Look, replacing your air filters twice per year can save your unit’s energy consumption by 5-15% alone. Simple things, like clogged filters or inaccurate thermostats, can greatly reduce the efficiency of your unit.
That means you’re going to be cranking the thermostat in your home harder, and that translates to higher energy bills coming out of your wallet. You can’t blame the kids for messing with the thermostat if you’re not keeping up with air conditioner maintenance!
Don’t Wait Until You Have a Problem
One of the best parts of spring is the comfortable temperature. In the hotter parts of the country, I’m sure people are already running their units, but I haven’t even thought of turning mine on yet.
That means it’s the perfect time to get it looked at! The snow has melted and the ground is thawing, so why not schedule a service?
Strike While the Iron Isn’t Hot
just, imagine: it’s July, it’s 90 degrees, and you close up the windows and turn your AC unit on. But fifteen minutes later, you feel like you’re sitting in a sauna. You look at the thermostat and realize the AC isn’t working.
If you haven’t been in this situation, trust me, you don’t want to be. When the brutal heat of summer comes around, you’re going to want to be able to rely on your air conditioning unit to keep cool air pumping through your home.
Keep Your Summer Easy-Breezy, Lemon-Squeezy
Summer is traditionally the busiest time for any service company, and we’re no different. A service scheduled during the summer is just generally going to take more time because that’s when everyone needs their air conditioners the most. So if you don’t have a problem with your unit, that’s the perfect reason to get it looked at.
If you get your unit inspected in the spring, you’re much less likely to be scheduling a repair in the summer.
Give Your AC Unit a Long Life with Regular Maintenance
Summer is all about having fun, so don’t let air conditioner repair be the reason you’re spending money instead of spending time having fun. Air conditioner tune-ups might not be the most exciting part of your spring schedule, but it’s going to make your summer a lot cooler and way more comfortable.
And if you need a professional technician to come by, don’t worry, we know a guy.
