By Brenda Ashaka
Alpha 4 Real AC Repair & Service, Katy, TX
You probably hear a lot about how important air conditioner servicing and maintenance is. You will read it in the manufacturers manual. You will hear it from your AC repair contractor and you will see it emphasized on every air conditioner related website you visit.
But is it really necessary to service your AC every year? Should you pay money for routine maintenance even when you air conditioner system seems to be running without issue? If you’re wondering whether preventative air conditioner servicing and maintenance is worth it? Keep reading to learn the importance of staying on top of your residential AC maintenance in Houston, TX.
Why It is Important to Service Your AC
Like any other appliance, your AC undergoes natural wear and tear as time passes. Dust, dirt, and other pollutants also find their way into the system and accumulate on the outside unit and internal components.
Without regular servicing, your air conditioner won’t function as well as it did when you first bought it. Furthermore, minor problems that go unnoticed and unresolved can cause the cooling system to malfunction or break down completely.
See Also: Most Common AC Repair Problems Every Home Owner Will Face in Texas
This is why it’s important to have your AC serviced and maintained at least once year. And the best time to have an AC maintenance service contractor come in is in the late spring just before the season when you will need your air conditioning the most rolls in.
What Happens During an AC Tune-Up?
- During an AC tune-up, a qualified technician will open up the system and perform a comprehensive inspection.
- The AC repair technician will examine all components including the compressor, evaporator unit, condenser unit, fan motor, filters, coils and fins, ductwork, refrigerant, and thermostat
- The AC repair technician will clean the entire system, repair or replace any faulty parts, and recommend and install upgrades.
- Finally, the AC repair technician will switch on the AC and confirm that it’s working as it should.
Benefits of Regular AC Servicing and Maintenance
Below is an overview of the problems you can avoid and the benefits you will reap by observing air conditioner maintenance best practices.
- It Ensures That You’ll Enjoy Your Summer in Peace
- It Prevents Costly Emergency Repairs
- It Ensures You’re Breathing Clean Air
- It Prevents Bad Odors
- It Keeps Your Cooling Unit Performing At Its Best
- It Prevents a Steadily Rising Energy Bill
- It Prevents Global Warming
- It Preserves the Manufacturer’s Warranty
- It Extends the Lifespan of Your AC
- It Saves Money in the Long Run
As the hottest season kicks in, you need your air conditioning system running in tip top condition. After all, you will be relying on it to make your home a comfortable haven from the scorching heat. But there’s no way to know whether your unit is in good condition without having an experienced AC professional look at it and tune it up.
Investing in AC maintenance ensures that you’ll have an efficient and reliable conditioning unit during the summer. It prevents emergency break downs that can leave you without air conditioning in the unbearable heat.
Finally, AC servicing ensures your air conditioner will run without distracting noises that result from your AC going out of sync when parts get worn out, loosen up, or dry up.
Without a well-timed routine maintenance just before the summer days roll in, you have no way of knowing whether something is wrong with your air conditioner. When you turn it on and one of its components is faulty, it will fail you when you need it most.
Not only will you have to rely on costly 24-hour emergency AC repair, but you’ll also have to brave the uncomfortable heat and humidity as you wait for a repair technician to become available. AC professionals are busiest in the summer.
You can prevent this kind of situation by having your unit inspected and tuned up just before the air conditioning season sets in.
The conditioned air passes through the air filters where dust, dirt, pollen, bacteria, mold, and other particles are filtered.
If the air filters, air ducts, and vents aren’t cleaned or replaced regularly, the above pollutants can find their way into your house. Breathing this unfiltered air triggers all kinds of respiratory problems and health issues.
One of the perks of regular AC maintenance is the quality indoor air that will circulate in your space. When servicing your system, AC technicians sanitize the entire system ensuring that you and your family breath clean, healthy air.
Over time, dirt, bacteria, algae, and mold build up in your AC system. Pests, birds, and small rodents get trapped, die and rot in there. If you go a long time without having your unit checked by a professional, you will start to notice bad odors coming out.
You can prevent this by getting your cooling system inspected and cleaned regularly. Your AC technician will remove all the contaminants in there and keep your AC clean and fresh.
As with any other electrical appliance, it’s expected that your AC unit will lose its operational efficiency over time. If you fail to maintain it properly, your cooling system loses about 5% its efficiency every year.
The good news is that you can slow down this loss and keep your system performing optimally – at 95% of its original efficiency by adhering to the maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer or by your AC contractor.
Neglecting your unit guarantees a steady decline of your system while staying on top of maintenance can keep your air conditioning performing effectively and efficiently throughout its expected lifespan.
Did you know that having your air conditioner servicing and maintenance done regularly can save up to 25% of your monthly energy bill? Yes, proper maintenance has this big of an impact on air conditioning energy efficiency. A well-maintained air conditioner operates at optimum capacity and efficient power consumption.
Failure to adhere to routine servicing of your system guarantees one thing: a steady rise in your energy bills. Your unit’s cooling efficiency will go down and it will start to work harder and draw more power than necessary in order to cool your home. The result? Cooling your home will be more expensive every year.
One of the common AC problems that happen when you fail to have an AC professional come in to inspect and service you AC is that the refrigerant can start to leak.
This refrigerant is an environmental pollutant. If it starts to leak and goes unnoticed, it will release harmful chemicals that harm the environment and contribute to global warming. An AC technician can stop a leaking refrigerant before it happens.
Its easy to get complacent during the warranty period thinking that you’re covered should something go wrong with your cooling system.
However, regular air conditioner servicing and maintenance is usually one of the conditions stipulated within the fine print. To benefit from your warranty, you need to commit to taking good care of your cooling system.
If you neglect your unit and something goes wrong though, you’ll be in for a rude shock to learn that your failure to adhere to proper AC maintenance has voided the warranty.
The average life expectancy of an air conditioner is 10 to 15 years. This life expectancy can be halved without regular cleaning, servicing, and maintenance.
Adhering to the recommended maintenance schedule maximizes your AC’s lifetime by ensuring that it serves you well for a long time. Minor problems are identified and fixed before they can cause malfunction and break down the entire system.
Think routine air conditioner servicing and maintenance is expensive? Think again. It’s ironic that most people skip regular maintenance because they think it’s expensive only to end up spending way more money in electricity costs, costly repairs, and sooner than planned AC replacement.
Preventative maintenance of air conditioning system really delivers value for money. Investing a small amount on air conditioner maintenance today will save you a lot more money in the future.
Cost Regular Air Conditioner Service Will Save You
Here’s a break down of the potential costs you will avoid:
- It keeps you from relying on expensive 24-hour emergency repair costs by preventing unexpected break downs in the summer
- It saves potential replacement costs by ensuring your unit reaches its expected life cycle
- It keeps your cooling system running efficiently and prevents spikes in your energy bill
Conclusion
An air conditioning system is one of the most expensive appliances. It’s very important that you take good care of it. And the only way to make the most of your investment is to budget money for preventive air conditioner servicing and maintenance.
Regular AC maintenance and servicing is more than worth it. It ensures your comfort and peace of mind in the summer, keeps your energy bills reasonable, and prolongs the lifespan of your unit.
Hopefully, these reasons are enough to convince you to get your AC checked and tuned up by a professional at least once a year. Whether you have a split system, multi-split system or ducted air conditioner for home or commercial use, all air conditioners require regular servicing to perform and last as expected.
