The temperatures are rising in Texas, and they aren’t going back down anytime soon. People across the state are firing up their air conditioners to keep their homes hospitable. Have you thought about the state of your air conditioner? When was the last time it was serviced? Have you performed the needed routine maintenance to keep it running at its best? The last thing anyone wants in the middle of a heat wave is a non-functioning HVAC system. Check out these tips to keep your air conditioner performing to its full potential:
One of the easiest tasks you can complete yourself at home is to change your air filters when necessary. This is one of the most important of the routine maintenance tasks as “Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system’s efficiency significantly”. Not only is the airflow being impeded, but the air that passes through the filter can bring the dirt and other undesired particles directly into your system. This lowers the overall efficiency of your air conditioner and could cause more problems down the road.
The evaporator coil and condenser coil slowly collect dirt over time. Even with the proper filter changes at the correct intervals, dirt and other particles will accumulate. To minimize this, “check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary”. Your condenser coil (located outside, generally) can accumulate dirt much more quickly if the unit is surrounded by foliage and/or loose dirt. It is important to “minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources”.
When it comes to maintenance procedures such as checking your level of refrigerant or checking out the status of electrical components, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Scheduling a routine checkup for your air conditioner can save you money in multiple ways. If the technician finds a small problem, it can be repaired quickly and possibly save you from a major repair down the road. For example, “Repairing a small refrigerant leak shouldn’t cost much more than the service call. Buying a new compressor when low refrigerant levels burn your current one out, however, can cost a thousand dollars or more”. Another way that this appointment saves you money is ensuring that your system is running at max efficiency, lowering your electric bill every month and keeping your home consistently cool throughout.
Keeping your air conditioner in top shape is in your best interest. It will keep you home cooler through the Texas summer, and keep your electric bills lower. You will be saving money on electricity, and by prolonging the life of your current system. Completing routine maintenance tasks and having an annual checkup for your air conditioner are the best ways to prepare for the scorching temperatures to come. Give us a call at (512) 710-8178 so that we can take care of your air conditioner, and make sure that it will take care of you!