Take Care of Your AC Unit to Avoid the Need for Repair

Air conditioning repair services are vital for any homeowner. Your HVAC system is one of the most important components in your home, and if you own a home long enough, you are at some point going to need repair and/or replacement of your air conditioner. Though it’s inevitable, there are some things you can do to take care of your AC and prolong its life.

One of the best and easiest things you can do for your air conditioner is to change the filter regularly. This is an easy and relatively inexpensive task. Depending on what kind of AC unit you have and what kind of filter it contains, you may need to do this several times a year or only once. In addition to helping improve the air quality in your home, a clean filter also helps your AC operate more efficiently, which saves you money on cooling costs and also puts less stress on your unit, which should help it last longer.

There are other AC maintenance tasks you can perform yourself. One of those is hosing off your compressor unit outside your home at least a couple of times a year. Because it is exposed to the elements, your compressor gets dirt, leaves and other debris in it that can reduce its function and also make it prone to damage. Cleaning it off using your garden hose can help ensure it stays free of problems.

It’s also a good idea to have a professional perform maintenance on your AC unit at least once a year. A company that specializes in air conditioning repair services and maintenance can perform any needed maintenance tasks as well as take care of any small problems before they become big ones, helping alleviating the need for AC repair.

Even if you take great care of your air conditioning unit, if you own your home for a long time, you are probably going to have to replace it at some point. About 20% of homes have air conditioning units that are at least 20 years old, and even the best maintained AC units will become less efficient over time. Though a new AC unit is expensive, you will offset much of that cost with increased efficiency. Installing a new high-efficiency AC unit can reduce the amount of cooling needed in your home by about 20%-50%.