Maintain Your Air Conditioning System

Air Condition systems are often taken for granted, receiving little or no maintenance unless they break down. Like tuning up a car, tuning up the air condition system can reduce your operating costs and prolong the life of the equipment. With good maintenance, your air conditioner should last about 15 years. You can keep your system running efficiently with these easy tips:

• Ensure that your system is checked every 6 months by a trained technician. They will perform preventative measure checks where any minor problems that come to light are promptly dealt with, saving major repairs, downtime and cost from higher electric bills due to an inefficient operating system
• Check all hose connections for leaks, and make sure the condensation tube is draining freely
• The most important maintenance task to help ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean the filters once per month. The benefits of good air quality are: peak cooling efficiency, increased air volume, cleaner and healthier air to breathe
• Clean the outside compressor by spraying it with a hose
• Keep plant material at least two feet away for adequate airflow around the entire condenser
• Vacuum registers and air vents regularly
• Keep furniture and drapes away from registers
• The system should not be turned off for an extended period during the summer months. This can cause mold and mildew on the finishes of your home, eventually cause unhealthy airborne bacteria
• Install a programmable thermostat if you do not have one. You can save 10-15% on your cooling bill by simply programming your thermostat back 10-15 degrees for 8 hours