It may be time to service your air conditioner if you’ve been wondering, “How often should I service it?” Before summer comes and the heat makes you melt, make sure you have a local HVAC professional service your AC.
Do not attempt to fix it yourself as you may void your warranty or lead to a large ac repair bill. Have your AC repaired at least once a year instead to stay cool all summer-long.
Do You Need to Get Your AC Serviced Every Year?
Yes, you do. That’s the short answer. It saves you money, which is one of the best reasons to have your air conditioner fixed regularly. Some problems with the unit might not be noticed until they are much bigger and cost more to fix if you don’t repair it.
For smaller, less expensive problems, having your AC system fixed regularly is a good idea. Not much time will be spent on this yearly check. Unless the problem is very bad, you won’t have to clear out your whole day because it only takes about an hour or two to finish.
A well-kept air conditioner, on the other hand, loses 5% of its efficiency every year and uses more power, which means your energy bills will go up. Since the system isn’t getting regular upkeep, it’s under more stress and lasts half as long.
How Often to Service Your AC
Making sure your AC is repaired at least once a year in early to mid-spring is very important. You should also have your unit repaired in the fall for the best performance. When the weather gets cooler, an HVAC expert will work on your furnace to get it ready to handle the heating needs.
Avoid Summer and Winter Tune-Ups
Most ac maintenance happens in the summer. You might get too hot while you wait for the HVAC expert to fix any problems they find if you wait until it gets hot outside. Some parts might need to be ordered, which could mean you won’t have air conditioning for days. Contact a nearby air conditioner expert before summer arrives.
It’s also not a good idea to schedule repairs in the winter, since running the unit in cold weather can damage it. When it gets cooler outside, the oil inside your unit hardens. If the oil doesn’t move around as much, the system may not work right.
For relief during the winter when it’s getting hot, opening the windows and letting fresh air cool you down is a better choice. Or, you can put a fan next to an open window to make the breeze stronger.
Signs Your AC Needs Maintenance
Do not wait for your air conditioner to break down to fix it. If you see any of these problems, they could get worse and cost more to fix later.
Moving Warm Air Around
If something is wrong with your AC, this is one of the first things you’ll notice. If the airflow is warm, it could mean that the AC is leaking coolant or the fan isn’t working right.
Not Much Airflow
When the airflow in your AC is low, it’s usually because the fan is broken or there is a blockage. If the wind slows down, you should look into it even if it’s still cold outside.
Higher Energy Bills
The above signs of a weak and/or warm airflow go hand in hand with higher energy costs. Before you see your electric bill, you might not know that you’re turning up the AC more than normal.