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For many people, the summer is a time of year that they dread rather than look forward to. Many people tend to stay indoors as much as possible when it gets hot outside because of the heat or just general laziness.
And while this might be more comfortable in the short term, several downsides are associated with staying inside all day. The biggest downside is that leaving your air conditioning unit unmaintained can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Without regular AC maintenance, your unit could break down or develop mold build-up or other issues that will make your home less comfortable and – potentially – less safe.
Why Should You Maintain Your AC Regularly?
There are a few different reasons for this. First and foremost, the longer you wait to schedule maintenance for your unit, the more likely you’ll need costly repairs. This is especially true if you’re leaving your AC completely unmaintained.
In addition, several other problems can occur if you neglect your unit for too long. These can impact your comfort, safety, and your AC system’s efficiency. AC maintenance requires you to keep an eye on a few different aspects of your system, including the following:
- Cleaning or replacing filters Changing or adding refrigerant levels
- Testing for leaks Checking for and fixing other problems in the system
- Keep an eye on these various aspects of your AC system.
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What Does Air Conditioner Maintenance Involve?
While different maintenance schedules depend on your AC unit‘s brand and model, there are a few general things that you’ll want to keep an eye on no matter what. The first thing you want to do is make sure that your filters are kept clean.
This applies to indoor and outdoor filters but is especially important for the indoor unit, as dust and debris in the indoor filter can impact your AC unit’s efficiency. You’ll want to ensure that your AC gets the right amount of refrigerant and that the system is entirely sealed.
This includes ensuring that all pipes are properly connected and that there are no leaks in the system. The last thing you’ll want to do is pay attention to the system’s sound. If your AC makes strange noises, it’s a sign that something is wrong and needs to be addressed immediately.
Reasons Why You Need to Maintain Your AC
As we’ve discussed, there are several reasons why you should make regular AC maintenance a priority. These include the risk of sudden and expensive repairs, the potential for mold build-up inside the system, the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, and the impact on your system’s efficiency.
If you’re keeping an eye on your AC’s filters, refrigerant levels, and overall condition, you’ll be able to spot potential problems before they become serious. This will help you avoid sudden and expensive repairs and keep your system running as efficiently as possible.
Neglecting your AC, on the other hand, can result in problems that affect your comfort and your safety, as well as the efficiency of your system.
Signs That You Should Immediately Call a Repairman
Suppose your AC starts making strange noises. If you notice that your AC is making noises that it shouldn’t be making, it’s a sign that something is wrong. This could be a sign that there’s a problem with the unit itself or that there’s a leak in the system.
In either case, it’s a sign that you must call a professional as soon as possible. – If your AC starts to smell bad. If the smell coming from your AC system is a bad smell – something like a skunk smell that can indicate a leak or other problem – you should call for repairs immediately.
While the smell may go away on its own, it’s more likely that it’s just the beginning of a much bigger problem that could have serious consequences.
Problems That Can Lead To Bigger Problems
One of the most common problems resulting from failing to maintain your AC is mold build-up. If you have issues with leaks in your system, for example, water could get into the AC ducts and start to grow mold.
This mold can then find its way into your home and cause several health problems. In addition, the mold could cause significant damage to your system, requiring expensive repairs.
Another problem resulting from not maintaining your AC is the build-up of debris in the outdoor unit. If you don’t get out there and clean up the debris around your outdoor unit, it can block the airflow and cause your system to overheat. This could cause serious damage to your system and be a fire hazard.
Problems That Could Lead to Comfort and Safety Issues
Another problem resulting from failing to maintain your AC properly is that it could be less efficient. As we mentioned above, neglecting the filters and refrigerant levels can cause your system to run less efficiently, meaning that it won’t cool your home as quickly or thoroughly as it should.
Additionally, failing to keep an eye on your AC system can put you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. If there’s a leak in your system, it could cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to enter your home. AC maintenance is the best way to address these issues and prevent serious problems.
What Should You Do During AC Maintenance?
While the above tasks are part of AC maintenance, there are five other things you should do to keep your AC running smoothly and efficiently. These include: Keeping your home clean and organized, Keeping your HVAC unit clean, and Keeping indoor AC filters clean, using a dehumidifier during particularly humid periods.
Having a clean home and keeping indoor AC filters clean can help keep allergens out of your home. Keeping your HVAC unit clean can help reduce the risk of mold, mildew growth, and other problems.
Using a dehumidifier during particularly humid periods can help prevent excess humidity from causing problems in your AC system. All these things can help protect the efficiency and functionality of your AC system and keep your home comfortable.
Reasons To Be Concerned If You Miss Scheduled Repairs
If you miss one or more scheduled repairs for your AC system, there are several reasons to be concerned. First and foremost, if you miss a scheduled maintenance appointment, you could be missing out on a significant energy efficiency benefit.
Regular maintenance can help keep your AC running efficiently and significantly reduce your energy bills. If you miss multiple appointments, though, you could start to lose that benefit.
Another reason to be concerned about if you miss a scheduled appointment is the impact it can have on your system’s lifespan. If you skip regular maintenance, your system could break down and need replacement before it should. This could lead to premature replacement and high costs down the line.
The Dangers of Failing to Maintain Your AC
There are several dangers associated with failing to maintain your AC, including some that could threaten the health and safety of you and your family. The most immediate danger is that your system could break down and leave you in the middle of a hot summer without AC.
You could try to work around the problem by using fans or other cooling methods, but none of these can replace a functioning AC system. Another danger is that your system could fail to operate efficiently and increase your energy costs.
Regular maintenance can help keep your AC running as efficiently as possible and reduce utility bills. Finally, failing to maintain your AC system could result in the need for premature replacement, which will be extremely costly.
If you don’t keep an eye on your AC system, it could break down sooner than it should and need replacement. This can be a costly and inconvenient experience.
Final Take
Keeping up with AC maintenance is important to ensure your unit functions at its best and lasts as long as possible. AC units require routine maintenance to operate efficiently and keep your family safe.
The best advice for keeping your system in tip-top shape is to keep it clean. Regular cleaning will not only extend the life of your AC unit, but it also increases efficiency and helps keep the inside of your home cleaner.
