Regular AC Maintenance Will Save You Money

You can save on the high costs of AC repair just by getting into a regular maintenance routine. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your appliance warranty, there are many things that you can do yourself. You should also have a professional come in at least once a year to check and maintain parts of your air conditioner that you don’t feel comfortable with or jeopardize your warranty.

The first thing you should do is find your warranty and owner’s manual. The warranty should clearly state what items can only be performed by a professional, which may suggest some companies on their preferred list. Then you should go over your manual and look in the section under routine maintenance to find out what parts of your air conditioner you have access to. This area will also give you a list of replacement parts, such as the right filter for your unit and the type and size of the belts. You can also check other things about your appliance, like the ducts. More on this webpage

Some things must be performed regularly to ensure your air conditioner always operates at peak efficiency. The more efficient your unit is, the less energy it will consume and the less work it will have to do to keep your home cool. One of the things you need to check and replace at least once a year is the filters. These filters draw in the surrounding air and cool it down. There are a lot of dust particles and other contaminants, and without the filter, these could easily get in and clog the machine or even come into your home. HEPA filters can eliminate 99.9% of these, but only if they are changed regularly.

You can also reduce AC repair costs by checking your air ducts regularly. If you have access to these, you should take a flashlight and a mirror and check them to see if they are clear of dust and debris at least twice a year. You can still check for blockage if you don’t have easy access. Turn your AC up, and once it kicks in, go around the house, and check all the vents. They should not only be putting out a lot of air, but cold air, and if one or more isn’t, chances are you either have a blocked line or some other problem.

Depending on the unit, you may access the pulleys and belts. If you do, you must remove the panel at least once a year to ensure the belts are tight. You first need to turn off the system and the power to the unit to prevent it from coming on or giving you a shock. Check the tension; if the belt gives more than a quarter of an inch, this is too loose. It needs some play, but not a lot. If you can’t adjust the tension yourself, you will need someone to come in and do it for you. Another way to save on AC Repair is to have a professional come in at least once a year and thoroughly check the system.