“Routine maintenance” are the two words that will save your air conditioner’s life. And we really want to place emphasis on the word “routine.” Only getting maintenance once every few years is certainly more helpful than none at all, but you’d still be sabotaging your air conditioner’s potential.
Maintenance can only help your air conditioner for a limited time before the machine naturally begins to wear down again. We know that many homeowners avoid it because they don’t like the idea of spending money, but we can assure you that neglecting maintenance will actually cost more in the long run (and we’re not just saying that because we’re an HVAC company in Ponchatoula, LA). Routine maintenance always makes sense, and here’s why:
Routine Maintenance Prevents Serious Issues
Air conditioners are very efficient machines, but they only stay that way when every single component of the machine is operating at its best. If one component goes down, it can have a domino effect on the entire system. Something as simple as too much dust on the evaporator coil can lead to it freezing over, which could then endanger the compressor—a very expensive piece of the AC to replace.
Maintenance is one, predictable cost. But a repair issue can cost hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars to fix. In this case, neglecting maintenance is just a gamble with no reward.
Higher Efficiency = Lower Bills
If your AC isn’t running at its best, it will cost you more money to operate every month.
Air conditioners are given a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating. This dictates how efficient they can be when operating at their best. From the point of installation, your air conditioner should have been sized and configured specifically for your home based on factors like square footage, location, and seasonal temperatures—all so that it can run at its highest SEER rating.
Of course, your AC can only reach its SEER potential if it is regularly maintained. An air conditioner’s efficiency naturally drops every year, but maintenance can help bring it back up. Without regular maintenance, your AC simply is not operating at its highest efficiency.
Better Performance Leads to a Longer Lifespan
To truly get the most out of your air conditioner, you’ll need it to last as long as possible. Scheduled maintenance will help squeeze the extra years out of your AC’s lifespan by protecting and replacing the individual components within.
Whenever your AC has to go through long periods without proper maintenance, it will have to work harder than usual to perform at high standards, which increases the amount of wear-and-tear on the machine. As these hours of extra effort add up, the overall quality and lifespan of your AC will suffer. Keeping your AC up to date with maintenance will help to reduce this wear-and-tear.
Plus, when your AC has reached the end of its lifespan, you don’t want to make the mistake of spending money on repairs for a dying system. Regular maintenance will help your HVAC technician to see the overall performance of your system and to recommend a replacement when the time comes.
Is it time for air conditioning maintenance? Don’t delay! Contact Professional Heating & Air today to schedule a service.