What You Should Know about Air Conditioner Maintenance

Air conditioners, like many other appliances, need maintenance from a professional Austin air conditioning company. When you turn on your air conditioner during the first hot summer day, you want to make sure that it will work. Air conditioner maintenance can help with this.

When to Schedule Maintenance

The best time to schedule maintenance for an air conditioner is before you will need to turn it on. This means it should be serviced in the spring if possible. This will give you a chance to know whether or not the system is ready to be up and running for the summer season. By scheduling it in the spring, you can also beat the rush that comes when homeowners find that their air conditioning isn’t working. If you keep up routine maintenance throughout the year, then your system should perform at optimal levels for years without any major breakdowns.

How Often Should It Be Done?

AC maintenance should be done once a year. If you also have a heating system, you can get that checked in the fall as well, but every year is the best for optimal performance.

Why Maintenance Is Important

AC maintenance is important for a few reasons. Dirt and dust will build up throughout the system as you run it. When the dirt hits the condensing coils or causes buildup in the air filters, then your system loses efficiency. Many experts believe air conditioners lose about 5% of efficiency each year because of the buildup of grime and dirt. With annual maintenance, you can prevent this loss of efficiency. When your air conditioner runs at better efficiency, you will save money on your utility bills. Your system is also going to have wear and tear over time. The maintenance appointment gives your technician a chance to inspect all the moving parts and make any recommendations for repairs. This means there will be less of a chance of an unexpected breakdown when you need your air the most. Small repairs can be a lot easier on a budget than a full replacement. Small issues can turn into big issues and cost you a lot more.

What’s Done during Maintenance?

An AC technician will check the different parts of the air conditioner, including drain lines, coils, motor, refrigerant levels, and connections. Some companies will have maintenance contracts where you get the services as well as discounts on any repairs that are needed. This will remind you to get it done yearly.

If you haven’t had air conditioner maintenance in a while, schedule an appointment with your Austin air conditioning company. You will be happy you did so you can stay cool all summer long.