Just like your car requires regular maintenance to extend its life and run optimally, your air conditioner needs routine service. Keep a maintenance journal and consistently servicing your A/C unit not only extends its life, but can also save you a fortune on avoidable, but potentially expensive, repair and replacement costs. Something as easy as changing your air filter regularly can prolong its efficiency and improve your home’s air quality. 

Do you want to learn more about how to keep your A/C unit running like new? Check out this energy.gov guide to maintaining your air conditioner.

YES! When installing or servicing your A/C unit, it is imperative to turn off the power that supplies your unit. Shutting off your air conditioner’s power protects your equipment and the unit from damage, but more importantly, it protects you from being shocked by electricity. 

A safe way to check to see if you have successfully turned off your A/C unit is to try and turn your heating and cooling on from your thermostat.

Learn more about shutting off your A/C’s power supply here.

Another easy step you can take to increase the efficiency of your air conditioner and protect your investment is by cleaning your outside condenser unit yearly. Most homeowners can perform this relatively easy DIY cleaning project, but you’re not sure or don’t have the time, you should hire a professional to clean your unit for you.
It’s important to keep an eye on the area around your unit, and you might have to clean your condenser more often when leaves and grass clipping accumulate around the condenser faster than normal.

Nobody gets excited about moving your air conditioning unit, but if your unit is not properly leveled, it could trigger refrigerant leaks or fail to function properly. Invest in a level and inspect your unit at least once a year. Condensers can potentially become unlevel due to the settling of the earth under the unit.

YES! Dirty coils prevent your air conditioner from functioning efficiently. The evaporator coils in your A/C unit are a critical component involved in cooling your home off, but they also function to remove moisture from the air to prevent humidity. Since these coils are prone to moisture from condensation, they often collect dust and dirt. 

The good news is cleaning your coils is an easy job to perform.

Okay, so we just discussed how your evaporator coils collect condensation. To prevent all the moisture in that coil from flooding your A/C unit, the condensate drain line removes that moisture preventing it from building up. The constant build-up of moisture in your drain line makes it susceptible to mold and mildew. The resulting build-up can clog your drain or cause your unit to freeze.

This is one of the most common reasons homeowners have to call an A/C expert, which can cost you a bundle.

Luckily, you can avoid damage and repair expenses with a manageable once- or twice-a-year maintenance plan.

Here’s a quick read if you want to learn more about cleaning your condensate drain line.

As you can imagine with all the air blowing around throughout your A/C unit, dust can rapidly accumulate. Well, that’s exactly why you should never forget to replace your blower filter and do it regularly. 

You’d be surprised how much dust and debris can collect in your unit in a relatively short time. Fortunately, routinely replacing your air filter is a simple job almost any homeowner can do to keep your unit running optimally and to improve your air quality.

Here’s a quick guide to teach you anything you might want to know about air filters.

A properly configured programmable thermostat will help you maintain the perfect temperature in your home automatically throughout the day when installed correctly. Cooling your home efficiently is easier with a programmable thermostat that is sure to help save you money.

Here a quick read uncovering more about the benefits of a programmable Thermostat.

To keep your air conditioning system running smoothly and efficiently, proper routine maintenance and service needs must be performed.

Most of the tasks we’ve mentioned here can be handled by most homeowners, but some problems require the attention of a certified technician.

When in doubt, you can call upon the knowledge and experience the experts have to diagnose a problem quickly and get your system up and running safely and efficiently.