Maintaining your air conditioner is essential for any Tybee Island, Georgia, resident. But what’s involved, and how often should you have the air conditioner serviced?  As long as you adhere to professional recommendations, you’re all set.

Why Should You Schedule Regular Air Conditioner Maintenance?

Air conditioners may be designed to last for years, but they require regular maintenance in order to live up to those manufacturer promises. A/Cs are designed to filter and cool the air in your home, which naturally means that dust, allergens, and other debris find their way into the system. While air filters catch the majority of this debris, dust accumulation can still affect the unit’s condenser coils, ductwork, and other vital components.

When this happens, the air conditioner must work harder to get the job done, which compromises efficiency. A homeowner who doesn’t schedule regular maintenance may end up paying a lot more for home cooling than they did last summer, and all because the unit is working overtime to keep up.

How Often Should You Schedule Air Conditioner Maintenance?

Experts recommend having your A/C unit maintained annually to keep it operating at peak efficiency. This means that even if you don’t suspect any issues with your air conditioner, you should still stick with that appointment to have the unit inspected, serviced, and cleaned. It may not need repairs, but that’s okay, as annual servicing actually reduces the likelihood that you’ll need more expensive repairs or replacements on down the road.

While professional opinions vary, most homeowners choose to have their air conditioners serviced in the spring. Doing so provides the best opportunity to get your A/C ready for the cooling season, but it isn’t required. You can easily stick with a fall or winter servicing schedule and your air conditioner will be prepped and ready to go next summer.

Regardless of when you schedule your annual HVAC service, it’s essential to stick with it. Continue to schedule the maintenance at the same time each year to enjoy the full benefits and keep your system in top shape.

Can You Clean Your Own Unit?

Unless you are a certified HVAC technician, you should never attempt to clean, inspect, or service your own air conditioner unit. Doing so can cause damage or even void your warranty, which only leads to more expensive fixes. Even if you think the issue is minor, you’re always better off calling an expert.

What you can and should do, however, is change your air filters regularly. How often you change the filters depends on a number of factors, including your indoor air quality, whether you own pets, how many people live in the home, and whether anyone suffers from asthma or allergies.

In most cases, you should aim to change the air filters once every 90 days. With pets, change the filters monthly. If you live alone and are a neat freak, you can even go as long as three months between changes. Just be sure to check the filter regularly and change it when it starts to look dirty or clogged.

There are other things you can do to keep your air conditioner running at peak efficiency. For starters, remove any weeds, limbs, or plants from around the exterior unit and keep it free from debris. You can also provide a shade over the unit, such as an awning. Use ceiling fans to help circulate the air from the air conditioner and keep every air vent open. Be particularly mindful that you don’t block these vents with furniture or other items.

What Happens During an Annual HVAC Inspection?

During your annual HVAC maintenance, the technician will inspect, clean, and repair any parts of the unit that need it. This includes checking the refrigerant levels for signs of leaks, measuring the airflow, oiling all moving parts, tightening all connections, and ensuring all electrical connections are working properly. The technician will also advise you on any potential problems and how you can address them.

Don’t put off your annual HVAC maintenance any longer. Contact McDevitt Air at 877-692-9402 to schedule your yearly checkup. 

Image provided by Bigstock

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