We all know that complicated electronic devices need to be fully maintained in order to continue to work, and this includes your air conditioner. Performing regular and comprehensive maintenance on your air conditioning unit will not only be much cheaper than having to repair massive problems or even replacing the unit when it falls apart, but maintenance can give you the confidence you need that your unit will work correctly.
But while many people know what problems to look for when they need to repair their AC unit, they often wait until a problem arises. The AC unit starts to make a weird sound, the electrical bills go up, or some other trigger causes them to catch a small problem before it gets big and then they maintain the unit.
If you don’t want to perform maintenance on your AC unit whenever a problem arises, then when should you make the check to see if your unit is working as intended? Here are some of the best times to check on your air conditioner to make sure that the air keeps on flowing!
Right Before You Use It For A Long Period
This could be because you live in an area of the world that experiences all four seasons equally harshly, or maybe you want to have the air conditioner on full blast at a certain time of the year. Still, if you want to use your air conditioning unit for a long period of time, you should probably maintain it at least a month before that period of heavy use.
For example, if you are in an area where the summers are hot and brutal, you should inspect your unit and look for some common issues. For example, make sure that all the parts are working, that there is no leakage or other signs of damage in the unit, and ensure that the filters are clean and working smoothly.
The same thing goes for your heating system right before the winter, make sure that it works and will heat your home as desired. Because the worst possible thing that could happen is that the weather turns so extreme that you need your air conditioner or heater, and they don’t work as intended.
Then, not only do you need to go through the hassle of finding the right ac repair service, but you also need to do it while battling the extreme weather. Not very fun!
As The Parts Demand
One of the most common parts of your AC unit that you need to maintain and clean are the filters. These filters trap all the dirt, dust, pollen, and other items that get inside of the air of your home, and as the AC unit moves air around in your house, those particles get sucked into and trapped by the filter. This increases the air quality in your house, and also makes sure that your lungs aren’t exposed to allergens. However, over time the filters can get dirty and all clogged up, and that causes two problems.
First, they don’t do as good of a job cleaning the air from contaminants, and second they can actually make it harder for your air conditioner to get your home to the temperature you want it to be at. As your air conditioner works harder to cool your home, that means more pressure is placed on the machine, and it runs for much longer so your electricity bills shoot way up.
So, in order to make sure that these problems don’t happen, you need to replace your filters. Depending on how dirty they get, or your sensitivity to allergies, you can replace them every 90 days, though most people recommend every 45 days in order to get the most out of each filter and your AC.
If you are changing and replacing your filters anyway, you might as well take a look at the rest of your air conditioner to make sure that it is in tip top shape!
Add Checking Your Appliances To Deep Cleans Of Your House
Whether you only deep clean once a year during spring cleaning or you decide that every month is a deep clean waiting to happen, they can allow you to do a lot of tasks you’d normally put off in the name of getting a cleaner home. If you are putting in all the effort to make your home clean, you can also make sure your home is well maintained too.
Don’t be afraid to look at the various appliances around your home and inspect them for any issues. You can make sure the pipes aren’t leaking, the hot water turns on, your home is free of pests, and that your air conditioning unit is completely free from any potential problems. Now that is a real deep clean, and it really allows you to relax when everything is done and you know your house is perfect.
You Don’t Need To Wait Until A Problem Occurs To Maintain Your AC
While many people think that their AC unit is perfectly fine until it isn’t and a problem arises for them to fix, you don’t need to wait until something makes you check your AC. Instead, schedule regular maintenance and make checking your air conditioning system something that you do consistently. You will be able to catch problems faster this way, and even if you find no real problems with your unit, you can get the peace of mind that everything is working as it should.
If you do catch a problem, then hopefully you can take it on and fix it without having to call on a professional to do the job for you! But no matter what schedule you choose to follow, make sure to be consistent, because that will give you the best chance to fix any problems. With constant and proper maintenance, you might find that your air conditioning unit lasts much longer than expected!