Why it is important to maintain your air conditioner

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 22, 2014

Thank goodness that old man winter has loosened his grip. It was just about a month ago that we were shoveling snow, but now warmer weather has finally arrived. With that being said, it is time to start thinking about air conditioning. Many of you are probably not paying attention to the square or round metal box outside your home called the air conditioning (AC) unit. When warm weather arrives, we all take for granted that we can easily switch on our thermostat and the rest will take care of itself.

However, not paying attention to your AC unit can end up costing you more in cooling or repair costs. Basically you need to treat your AC unit like your car. Even though the AC unit only gets used about four months out of the year, having a contractor give it a tune-up before summer arrives will ultimately help extend its life and operate more efficiently, saving energy. The contractor will inspect the thermostat, motor, wiring, coolant levels and other efficiency checks as needed.

In addition to having a tune-up each year, there are several things you can do to help your AC. First, inspect your AC unit’s air filter each month. When it’s clogged with dust and you can no longer see the filter material, replace it with a clean filter. A dirty air filter allows dust buildup inside your system and restricts airflow. A clean filter is essential for efficiency and comfort, and for improving your indoor air quality. Next, keep the area around your indoor unit clean to prevent dust from entering the system. Following these tips will ensure that your AC unit runs efficiently throughout the warm months.