How Routine Air Conditioning Service Can Reduce AC Repair Costs

Air conditioning is important for lots of homes during the blistering summer months in the U.S.. However, the costs associated with running an AC are substantial. Discover how scheduled air conditioning service can decrease AC repair costs, and embrace energy-saving habits to help your unit run more efficiently. With these tips, you’ll have a comfortable home this summer without breaking the bank.

What Routine AC Service Includes

Air conditioning maintenance is an inexpensive, predictable once-a-year expense that pays you back by reducing repair costs and lengthening your unit’s life span. Here are some vital maintenance steps that help avoid air conditioner breakdowns:

• • Swap out the air filter: A dirty filter obstructs airflow and makes your air conditioner to work harder, utilizing more energy and increasing the risk of overheating. Changing your air conditioner’s dirty air filter with a clean one as part of your annual maintenance visit, and every 30 to 90 days throughout the year, encourages ideal airflow and efficiency.

• • Clean the evaporator coil: The indoor evaporator coil can become covered in dirt and dust with time, lowering its ability to absorb heat. This can cause the refrigerant within the coil to freeze, preventing your air conditioner from running correctly. Cleaning the coil takes out this insulating layer and helps the refrigerant to do its job.

• • Clean the condenser coil: The outdoor condenser coil emits heat absorbed by the refrigerant. If it’s blocked by cobwebs, grass clippings and other debris, the heat transfer process is impaired. Cleaning the condenser coil improves the unit’s function significantly, reducing wear and tear on your air conditioner that could result in breakdowns.

• • Straighten the coils’ fins: The aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser coils can become bent, restricting airflow and negatively affecting your air conditioner’s performance.  Fixing the fins with a fin comb returns them to their original position to reestablish proper airflow.

• • Lubricate moving parts: Friction in the motor and other moving elements creates heat and causes unnecessary wear and tear.  Consistent lubrication minimizes friction, ensuring smooth operation and cutting down on the need for repairs.

• • Double check refrigerant levels: A low refrigerant charge is another reason why your AC can freeze up, causing longer run times, comfort problems and unnecessary AC repairs. An HVAC professional uses specific tools to assess and adjust refrigerant levels as needed to verify proper operation and prevent a mid-season breakdown.

Other Ways to Reduce AC Repair Costs

Annual maintenance is a crucial factor in lessening AC repair charges, but here are some other techniques to help your air conditioning unit operate dependably all summer long:

• • Turn the temperature up: Increasing the thermostat setting limits the wear and tear on your air conditioner.  Pick a comfortable temperature and avoid changing it to a lower temperature.

• • Install a programmable thermostat: When set correctly, a programmable thermostat helps regulate your home’s temperature more efficiently, reducing the demand on your AC unit. An effective technique is to program setback periods of 7 to 10 degrees while you’re away or sleeping to save on energy costs and further diminish wear and tear.

• • Seal air leaks: Gaps and cracks around windows and doors let warm, humid air inside. Use caulk and weatherstripping to avoid overburdening your air conditioner.

• • Put in additional insulation: an appropriate attic insulation level encourages stable indoor temperatures and reduces your AC’s workload. If you can spot the attic floor or joists poking through the existing insulation, add more.

• • Prevent solar heat gain: The sun’s heat warms your home, increasing the demand on your AC system. Getting window coverings and pulling the blinds or shades during the hottest part of the day blocks solar heat gain and lowers the danger of a mid-season breakdown.

• • Run ceiling fans: The wind chill effect produced by ceiling fans makes a room feel about 4 degrees cooler, allowing you to raise the thermostat setting without losing comfort. Don’t forget to shut the fan off when you leave the room, as fans cool people, not spaces.

• • Use a dehumidifier: For those who are located in a humid part of the country, elevated humidity levels might make your home feel cool but clammy, causing you to lower the temperature on your thermostat. A whole-house dehumidifier takes out unwanted moisture, giving your AC a much-needed break.

• • Clean your vents: Closed or covered air vents throw off the balance of return and supply air, which can cause your AC to break down. To avoid this, leave at least 80 percent of your registers open, and make sure no furniture, curtains or rugs inadvertently obstruct airflow. Enhance circulation further by keeping interior doors open as much as possible.

• • Invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner: If your air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, think about upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. In addition to enhanced efficiency, a new system is also far less likely to break down or experience maintenance issues than an older unit, lowering your repair bills in the long run.

Schedule HVAC Service in the U.S.

By investing in scheduled air conditioning maintenance and following other recommended home-cooling habits, you’ll enjoy a comfortable interior with decreased repair costs this summer. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing offers top-notch air conditioning tune-ups to optimize efficiency and extend your air conditioner’s life span. We can also upgrade your AC unit if yours is past its prime.